Her Life’s Work
by Jeannine Gage
For a quarter of a century, Juliette Kong has dedicated herself to Kids House of Seminole, a nationally accredited children’s advocacy center headquartered in Sanford.
Juliette and her team offer critical services in a safe, friendly environment for children who have been abused or neglected.
“From my first day at Kids House, I have believed in its mission to protect children,” says Juliette. “For 25 years, I’ve seen the difference we make in children’s lives – and making a difference in children’s lives is my life’s mission.”
Children’s advocacy centers like Kids House are child-friendly spaces where law enforcement, child protection professionals, medical providers, and therapists work together under one roof to respond to allegations of abuse. Rather than forcing children to relive trauma through repeated interviews in unfamiliar environments, the centers provide a single, neutral location for forensic interviews, medical exams, and therapy.
Making a Breakthrough
Juliette joined Kids House in 2001, about two years after the nonprofit organization opened its doors. Fresh out of the University of North Florida, where she double-majored in criminal justice and psychology, she returned home to Central Florida to begin her career.
Nancy Crawford, founding executive director of Kids House, hired Juliette as a case tracking coordinator, tasking her with building a system to organize incoming cases.
Within two months, Juliette proved her proficiency with case management and was moved into direct advocacy work with children and families. It was there she found her calling.
One early case cemented that. A five-year-old girl came to Kids House after suffering severe abuse. Withdrawn and silent, the child would only engage by working on puzzles. Week after week, Juliette sat with her, offering a reassuring presence. Then one day, something changed.
“She looked at me and said, ‘Will you come play with me?’” says Juliette. “She had never spoken [to us] before. And I thought, ‘Okay, I can make a difference here.”
Transitioning Into Leadership
Over the years, Juliette grew alongside the organization, eventually stepping away from casework into progressive leadership roles. She became chief executive officer in 2020.
“It was hard to leave working directly with the kids,” says Juliette. “But I got to train others to do that, to see that light bulb go on when they see what a real crisis intervention looks like and realize what a difference they can make for a family.”
Among the families who have been helped by Kids House are Shelley Curenton and her three daughters.
Shelley came to Kids House for the first time in 2009 with her 17-year-old daughter, who had just reported being sexually abused by her biological father. The teen was worried the same thing was going to happen to her two younger sisters. With help from the caring team at Kids House, Shelley joined a parents’ support group, and her daughters received therapy.
“I believe my girls and I would have made it through this experience, because we are strong,” says Shelley, “but the support we got from Kids House made it so much easier. They were with us through it all.”
Seventeen years later, Shelley is now a volunteer for Kids House and Juliette’s biggest fan.
“She is such an amazing person,” says Shelley.
A Tireless Advocate
Nancy, who saw Juliette’s potential from the beginning, is not surprised that people admire her and the work she does at Kids House.
“Juliette is incredibly detail-oriented, but more importantly, she has compassion in spades,” says Nancy. “She genuinely cares about what children and families are going through and works tirelessly to make things better for them.”
Kids House has grown along with Juliette. What began as a small, resource-strapped nonprofit is now a fully staffed organization with a $2 million operating budget and a dedicated team that serves about 1,400 children a year.
Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma credits Juliette with building strong partnerships between Kids House, law enforcement, and child welfare agencies.
“Her leadership continues to unite the community around a shared mission to protect children,” says Sheriff Lemma.
Seminole County Commissioner Bob Dallari, the Kids House board chair, agrees.
“On behalf of the board of directors, we commend Juliette Kong for her exceptional service and leadership over the past 25 years,” says Commissioner Dallari. “Her longevity, vision, and unwavering dedication have been instrumental in shaping Kids House’s success and establishing its reputation as a trusted children’s advocacy center in our community.”
For more information about Kids House of Seminole, visit KidsHouse.org.