Meet Simone Gibson, SOS Program Director, whose passion for children and commitment to families have made a lasting difference here at SOS Children’s Villages Florida.
For Simone, working at SOS Children’s Villages Florida is more than a career. It is a calling that began more than a decade ago, long before she officially joined the SOS team. Today, with nearly four years as an SOS employee and more than ten years of experience serving children and families in the child welfare system, she brings compassion, determination, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every child she encounters.
Her connection to SOS began while working as a case manager and supervisor with ChildNet. During that time, she had siblings placed in SOS homes and frequently visited the Village. She remembers being drawn to the homes and the sense of community within what she describes as a “hidden village.” Little did she know that one day she would become part of the very community that had left such an impression on her.
FINDING HER PURPOSE
Simone’s journey into child welfare was not necessarily the path she had originally envisioned. She once imagined herself pursuing a career in law, even taking the LSAT with plans to attend law school. But an experience as a foster parent, albeit a brief one, changed her perspective and helped her discover where her heart truly belonged.
“I adore kids, and at the time, I didn’t have any children of my own. I had been searching for my purpose in life, and when I saw the need for passionate workers in this field, I knew it was my calling.”
What began as a desire to help children soon became a lifelong commitment to advocating for their safety, stability, and well-being.
A DAY THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
No two days are alike in Simone’s role. Her responsibilities include coordinating with ChildNet and SOS teams on cases requiring special attention, conducting home visits, reviewing potential placements, and working alongside therapists and case managers to address concerns that could jeopardize a child’s placement.
She also trains foster parents and backup caregivers, helping ensure that the adults caring for children have the knowledge and support they need.
And then there is the part of the job that cannot be scheduled: Simone is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The work can be demanding, particularly when children arrive carrying the effects of trauma and difficult experiences. Simone recalls one particularly challenging situation involving a child whose behavioral struggles had escalated to the point that the foster parent was experiencing verbal and physical aggression.
Recognizing that the child needed more intensive support than the current placement could provide, Simone advocated for a team staffing to evaluate the situation. Together, they determined that a higher level of care and specialized treatment were necessary.
Although it was difficult to see the child leave the SOS home, the decision ultimately made a difference. With the appropriate treatment and support, the child was able to stabilize and eventually reunify with their mother and siblings, who had remained at SOS.
For Simone, this experience reinforced an important lesson: sometimes helping a child means recognizing that their needs require a different path to healing.
THE JOY OF BRINGING SIBLINGS TOGETHER
Among Simone’s happiest memories at SOS is one that still brings a smile to her face.
Six siblings entered foster care but were initially separated because no available home could accommodate all of them. Three were placed elsewhere, while the other three came to SOS.
When a new home opened at the Village, an opportunity emerged to bring the siblings together. Simone had the privilege of surprising the three children already at SOS with the news that their other siblings would be joining them.
She still has the video of that moment and watches it from time to time.
The children’s joy made it an especially meaningful experience. Although the siblings eventually reunified with their family, they returned to foster care several months later and came back to SOS for a second time.
Their story is a reminder that the road to permanency is not always straightforward. It can involve unexpected challenges and new beginnings. Through it all, having a place where siblings can remain connected and receive consistent care matters enormously.
LOOKING BEYOND THE MISCONCEPTIONS
One of the things Simone wishes more people understood about children in foster care is that there is no single profile of a family experiencing the child welfare system.
“People often think foster care only involves the underprivileged, but it could be anyone we know.”
She believes families from every race, age group, and socioeconomic background can experience circumstances that lead to children entering care. Mental health challenges, difficult life circumstances, and other unexpected hardships can affect anyone.
Simone approaches parents with compassion rather than judgment, understanding that the goal is always to give families the opportunity to heal and move forward whenever reunification is possible.
Ultimately, she believes every child entering foster care needs the same fundamental things: love, support, stability, and the opportunity to thrive, whether that means returning home or achieving another permanent family connection.
THE PEOPLE AND MOMENTS THAT MAKE IT WORTHWHILE
Ask Simone what she loves most about her work, and her answer reflects the importance she places on the people around her.
She speaks warmly about SOS leadership, her colleagues, and the staff members she considers an extended family. But it is the children who bring her the greatest joy.
“I absolutely love being able to see the fruits of our labor every day! Kids that come in so broken leave so confident and whole!”
It is these transformations, the small victories and the milestones along the way, that remind her why the work matters.
For anyone considering a career in child welfare, Simone offers heartfelt advice:
“Prepare for the best career ever. There are days you will smile and days you will cry, but every day is a day well spent fighting for our most vulnerable.”
She encourages others to look beyond the difficult days and remember that the impact of consistent care and compassion may not always be immediately visible. Sometimes, the greatest reward comes months later, when a child who once struggled begins to flourish.
A LIFE GROUNDED IN LOVE
Away from SOS, Simone treasures time with her beautiful daughter and their dog, Lily. Her family is her motivation and a constant reminder that the world is a beautiful place.
When reflecting on the qualities that matter most in her work, Simone points to compassion, perseverance, and positivity. Some days end with frustration, she acknowledges, but each morning offers another opportunity to begin again.
“Every day is a new day, a new opportunity to make a kid smile.”
For Simone, that is what makes the work worthwhile. And for the children and families whose lives she touches, having someone who believes in them, advocates for them, and never stops showing up can make all the difference.
