You Thrive FL Children's Advocacy Center

10/26/2026

🍬🍭 Sweet Treats & Big Hearts! 💙💚

A huge THANK YOU to Comfort Control Specialists and Kiwanis Club of the Adventure Coast for dropping off candy and treats for our kiddos at You Thrive Children’s Advocacy Center! 🥰

These thoughtful acts of kindness bring smiles to little faces and remind our children that they are surrounded by a community that cares. It’s the little things that can make a big difference, and we are so grateful for your generosity and for thinking of our kiddos! 💕

Thank you for helping us make their days a little sweeter! 🩵💚

09/15/2026

A huge THANK YOU to the Rotary Club of Spring Hill for their generous donation of snacks to You Thrive Children’s Advocacy Center! 🍎🍪🥨

These thoughtful donations may seem like a small thing, but they make a big difference for the children and families we serve. Having snacks available helps create a welcoming, comforting environment for children who may be going through one of the most difficult experiences of their lives.

09/11/2026

💙 Behind every headline is a child.

In a recent Hernando County case, a child who endured years of s*xual abuse showed incredible courage on the journey toward justice.

Through the Children’s Advocacy Center, this child received trauma-focused therapy, support, and preparation for court—helping them find their voice, build strength, and begin to heal.

The defendant was sentenced to four life sentences.

But the real story is the child’s courage.

They are more than what happened to them. Their voice matters. They deserve to heal. And they deserve a future filled with hope. 💙

The Children’s Advocacy Center is here to make sure no child walks this journey alone.

We help children heal. We empower their voices. We stand with them.

𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗘𝗫𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗔𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗

(Hernando County, FL) Judge Daniel B. Merritt Jr. sentenced 37-year-old Gerald Allen Gilbert to Life in prison on each s*xual battery charge to be served consecutively. Gilbert was found guilty by a jury back in July of four counts of Felony Capital Sexual Battery upon a Child under 12 Years of Age.

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙢 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “𝙄𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙢 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙩. 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙎𝘼 𝙍𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙤 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙅𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮.”

Gilbert was arrested in June of 2023 following a Hernando County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) investigation after law enforcement officials received information from officials with the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama that possible crimes of s*xual battery had occurred at a residence in Brooksville, within HCSO’s jurisdiction. Law enforcement in Lamar County indicated they were investigating similar incidents involving the same victim and Gilbert.

HCSO officials obtained reports from their Alabama counterparts that stated that in May of 2022, the child victim went to a neighboring residence, stating Gilbert was threatening to kill them. The neighbor drove the child to a nearby intersection to meet with law enforcement.

While telling authorities the threats made by Gilbert, the victim disclosed numerous instances of s*xual abuse committed by Gilbert, starting when the victim was as young as three years old. The victim further indicated that Gilbert committed additional similar offenses while living at a residence in Brooksville.

During their investigation, deputies questioned Gilbert regarding the allegations. The defendant denied any inappropriate touching or s*xual acts with the child. Based upon the victim’s statement, as well as corroborating statements made by other witnesses in the case, Gilbert was arrested and charged.

Thank you to the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office for responding to the initial call in this case and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office for diligently investigating this predator. This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Angelina Rodeo.

09/03/2026

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for all of those who answered our calling for snacks. Thank you to Linnea and Daryl Senica, Debbie Hovey, and Terry Olsen. There were no gift receipts so if we are missing anyone else for snacks delivered yesterday, our apologies!

09/02/2026

💛 September is Su***de Prevention Awareness Month 💛

Sometimes the people who seem the strongest are carrying the heaviest burdens.

Sometimes the quietest people are fighting battles no one can see.

And sometimes, the ones who seem the happiest are hurting the most behind their smiles.

This month, let’s remind one another that you are not alone, your life matters, and it’s okay to ask for help. Take a moment to check in with someone you love, listen without judgment, and let them know they matter.

A simple “How are you really doing?” can make a difference.

💛 Be the reason someone feels seen, heard, and supported today.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 for the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

09/02/2026

💚A HUGE THANK YOU to Tropic Shores Realty! 💙
We are incredibly grateful for your amazing generosity and for sending all of these snacks to You Thrive Children’s Advocacy Center! 🥰

08/18/2026

🚨 A Reminder We All Need to Hear: Child Predators Don’t Have a “Look.”

The recent arrest of a Palm Beach County Clerk of Circuit Court accused of child s*xual abuse is another painful reminder of something we say often at You Thrive Children’s Advocacy Center:

95% of child s*xual abuse victims know their abusers.

They can be someone trusted. Someone with a respected job. Someone who is friendly, helpful, involved in the community, or known by a family.

That is why we cannot teach children to simply “watch out for strangers.” We must teach children about safe and unsafe behaviors, body boundaries, trusted adults, and how to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.

And as adults, we have a responsibility to listen when children disclose abuse, take concerns seriously, and create environments where children feel safe telling us the truth.

One arrest does not mean we should be suspicious of everyone. It means we should be aware, informed, and willing to protect children—regardless of who the alleged offender is.

💙 Child abuse can happen anywhere, and perpetrators can be anyone. Prevention starts with awareness.

Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Mike Caruso was arrested Tuesday on child s*x abuse-related charges, according to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.