2013_year_end_report

2013Annual Report
Florida Department of Children and Families

INSIDE
3 SECRETARY’S MESSAGE
5 HOW WE SERVE YOU
6 NORTHWEST REGION
ŰŰ Camps Help Foster Youth Dream, Believe, and Achieve
ŰŰ Partnership Reduces Removal of Children from
Domestic Violence Survivors
ŰŰ Family Prosperity—A Partnership with Farm Share
8 NORTHEAST REGION
ŰŰ Community Partnerships Help Children and Families Succeed
ŰŰ Investing in Child Protective Investigators
ŰŰ Prevention Programs Promote Child Safety and Strong Families
10 CENTRAL REGION
ŰŰ Promtastic Initiative Promotes Normalcy
ŰŰ Space Camp Offers a World of Possibility for Youth in Foster Care
ŰŰ Helping Homeless Families, One Family at a Time
12 SUNCOAST REGION
ŰŰ Community Partnerships Create New Homes for Children in
Foster Care
ŰŰ Leading the Way in Service Delivery
ŰŰ Growing Futures Through Gardens
14 SOUTHEAST REGION
ŰŰ Developing Leaders from Within
ŰŰ Helping Victims of Human Trafficking
ŰŰ Making Measurable Progress in Foster Home Recruitment
16 SOUTHERN REGION
ŰŰ Helping Victims Heal
ŰŰ Improving Youth Mental Health
ŰŰ Share Your Heart: A Partnership of Faith
18 ACROSS FLORIDA
ŰŰ Camps for Champions Inspire Foster Youth
ŰŰ Improving Child Safety
ŰŰ Partnership Reduces Child Abuse and Neglect
ŰŰ DCF ACCESS Program Sees Major Accomplishments
ŰŰ Preventing Theft of Public Benefits
ŰŰ Substance Abuse and Mental Health—Improving Outcomes
ŰŰ Implementing the Nancy C. Detert Common Sense and
Compassion Independent Living Act
ŰŰ Improvements to Child Care Oversight
ŰŰ A Look at Domestic Violence
ŰŰ Protecting Vulnerable Adults
ŰŰ Refugee Services—A New Beginning
2 ANNUAL REPORT 2013

SECRETARY’S
MESSAGEEsther Jacobo
Interim Secretary
Florida Department of Children and Families
This annual report highlights
the accomplishments of the
Department and our many
dedicated partners who have helped
us change lives and strengthen
communities. Hundreds of new
families became foster parents and welcomed children in foster
care into their hearts and homes. Hundreds more adopted
and provided children in our care with a forever family.
Together with our partners, we have made extraordinary progress in
changing the way we protect children at risk of abuse or neglect.We
worked with state and local partners to ensure timely implementation of
the Nancy C. Detert Common Sense and Compassion Independent Living
Act, giving older foster teens the option to stay in foster care until age 21.
Perhaps less visible, but equally vital, we worked daily behind the
scenes to ensure struggling Floridians got the food, medical and
cash assistance they needed to get back on their feet.We also led
the nation in deploying cutting-edge technology designed to protect
against identity theft and fraud in the world of public assistance.
It’s these and so many other stories that make me proud and humbled
to lead Florida’s Department of Children and Families.We couldn’t do
the work we do without our incredibly dedicated employees and our
committed partners. I invite you to read through these pages and learn
more about the many accomplishments we’ve achieved over the past year.
As we look back at our accomplishments, we should remember
that a car has a small rearview mirror because that is not where we
should be looking.We will keep our eyes on the road ahead, as we
work together with commitment, determination and teamwork.
Sincerely,
Esther Jacobo
Interim Secretary
“The secret of change is to focus
all of your energy, not on fighting
the old, but on building the new.”
—Socrates
WWW.MYFLFAMILIES.COM 3

FLORIDA
Total Population 19,552,860*
Age 0-17 20.7%
Age 18-64 61.1%
Age 65+ 18.2%
Below Poverty Level 17%
Unemployment Rate Dec. 2013 6.2%
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Economic
Opportunity, 2012-2013
* U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Estimate
Indicates a DCF location in your community
75
75
95
10
10
Chattahoochee
Quincy
Marianna
Tallahassee
Gainesville
Macclenny
Jacksonville
Tampa
Arcadia
Belle Glade
Miami
St Augustine
Chiefland
Live Oak
Lake City
Orange Park
Yulee
Deland
Bunnell
Madison
Starke
Palatka
Daytona Beach
Navarre
Niceville
Crawfordville
Pensacola
Panama City
Fort Walton Beach
DeFuniak Springs
Crestview
Milton
Bonifay
Chipley
Inverness
Palm Bay
Bartow
Orlando
RockledgeKissimmee
Cocoa
Vero Beach
Brooksville
Wauchula
Wildwood
Lake Wales
Sebring
Sanford
Ocala
Altamonte
Springs
Stuart
Tavares
Okeechobee
Lakeland
Fort Pierce
Naples
Port Charlotte
Sarasota
Bradenton
New Port Richey
St. Petersburg
Venice
Labelle
Immokalee
Largo
Fort Myers West Palm
Beach
Riviera Beach
Sunrise
Fort. Lauderdale
Hialeah
Key West
Miami Beach
Florida City
Opa-locka
Marathon

HOW WE SERVE YOU
Adoptions 3,356
Adult Protective Services Investigations 43,517
Background Screenings 178,867
Benefit Integrity Investigations 38,930
Child Abuse Hotline Investigations 187,997
Child Care Facility Inspections 30,518
Child Welfare (Children Served) 87,354
Children andYouth in Foster Care 17,758
DomesticViolenceVictims 48,630
Food Assistance Clients 4,879,324
Homeless Clients in Shelters 47,862
HumanTraffickingVictims 170
Independent Living for Former 4,638
FosterYouth
Medicaid Clients 3,744,588
Mental Health Clients 316,725
Refugee Services Clients 71,214
Substance Abuse Clients 190,769
Temporary Cash Assistance Clients 209,142
Source:
Department of Children and Families, FY2012-2013

CAMPS HELP FOSTERYOUTH
DREAM, BELIEVE,AND
ACHIEVE
For many children in foster care, the
idea of going away to camp is more of
a dream than a reality. DCF sought to
change that by creating
a program called
Camps for Champions.
In communities
across Florida, DCF
partnered with its
Community Based Care lead agencies
individuals, local businesses, non-
profits and faith organizations to
create fun, educational and inspiring
camp experiences for more than
1,000 children in foster care.
In the Northwest Region,
former FSU All American
and NFL football standout
Corey Simon partnered with
DCF and Charles McDonald,
Executive Director at the
Children’s Home Society,
to create Corey’s Kids
Camp. During the camp,
children had opportunities
for team building,
leadership development,
and exposure to college
campus life at Florida State
University; and along the way, lots
of fun! The camp sparked interest
throughout the region resulting
in four more camps in 2013.
Another great camp happened
through a partnership with
FamiliesFirst Network, the Pensacola
Museum of Art and the University of
West Florida.The camp introduced
youth in foster care to various
art mediums, encouraged team
building, promoted an individual
sense of pride, and helped campers
find an outlet to express feelings
and emotions in a positive manner.
The Pensacola Museum of Art
displayed the campers’ artwork
during Pensacola Gallery Night.
2013 marked the inaugural, two-
day Champs Camp at Chipola
College hosted in partnership
with DCF and Anchorage
Children’s Home—a Big Bend
Community Based Care provider.
Children experienced a college
environment while participating
Stories from
NORTHWEST
REGION
ŰŰ Bay
ŰŰ Calhoun
ŰŰ Escambia
ŰŰ Franklin
ŰŰ Gadsden
ŰŰ Gulf
ŰŰ Holmes
ŰŰ Jackson
ŰŰ Jefferson
ŰŰ Leon
ŰŰ Liberty
ŰŰ Okaloosa
ŰŰ Santa Rosa
ŰŰ Wakulla
ŰŰ Walton
ŰŰ Washington
CampsForChampions.com
iCamps for Champions provides unique
learning opportunities for foster children.

in fun and educational arts, athletics and academic
activities. Campers gained exposure to post secondary
education opportunities and developed connections
to mentors in their local community.The Chipola
Champs Camp is offered as one of more than two
dozen Camps for Champions across the state.
PARTNERSHIP REDUCES REMOVAL OF
CHILDREN FROM DOMESTICVIOLENCE
SURVIVORS
Recognizing that domestic violence is a leading cause
of child abuse in Florida, the Northwest Region placed
an emphasis on comprehensive training for its child
protective investigators (CPIs), as well as collaboration
with local providers of domestic violence services.
The region partnered with national domestic violence
expert David Mandel & Associates to provide CPIs
and advocates with training, technical assistance, and
coaching in the Safe and Together™ model. CPIs
trained under the Safe and Together™ model can serve
as subject matter experts and provide consultations
and assistance on domestic violence cases.
As part of their CPI training initiative, Mandel &
Associates collaborated with the Florida Coalition Against
DomesticViolence (FCADV) and DCF to support sites
where domestic violence advocates and child protective
staff were co-located.The project sites, located within
Bay and Gulf counties, saw strong results. In the first six
months of 2012, domestic-violence-related removals
represented 20.6 percent of removals in these counties.
After Safe and Together™ trainings and co-located team
efforts during the first six months of 2013, removals
decreased to 9.1percent.The Region continues to
partner with the FCADV and David Mandel & Associates
to provide annual training and technical assistance.
FAMILY PROSPERITY—A PARTNERSHIP WITH
FARM SHARE
To address the need for assistance in several Northwest
Florida counties, the region worked closely with local
organizations to coordinate and provide emergency
services such as food, clothing, housing and utility
assistance. One such partnership was with Farm Share, a
corporation that specializes in distributing donated fresh
fruits and vegetables from Florida’s farmers to low-income
families. During 2013, eight Farm Share events distributed
300,000 pounds of food to more than 7,000 families.
www.safe-and-together.endingviolence.com/blog/?cat=26
i Governor Scott attends a Farm Share event
distributing food to hundreds of families.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS HELP
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SUCCEED
Over the past year, the
Northeast Region worked
to establish several
major partnerships to
help improve the lives of
struggling children and
families.Working with
Casey Family Programs, one
of America’s most highly
respected foundations for
children, DCF developed
and organized a series
of Community of Hope
initiatives in neighborhoods across Jacksonville and
Gainesville.The events brought together local leaders
to develop solutions to real-life problems afflicting local
neighborhoods, including family poverty, infant deaths,
unemployment, teen pregnancy and homicide.The region
has established a good foundation and will continue to
build on the success of this initiative and our partnerships.
Elsewhere in the region,Volusia County was one of only
six communities in the United States to receive a federal
grant to help families. DCF reached out to the Chadwick
Center for Children &
Families to launch a three-
year project to educate
and train agencies on
how to best prevent child
abuse and neglect.The
project also aims to reduce
trauma and psychological
effects of abuse in
families and children.
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY OF HOPE?
Casey Family Programs, through its Community of
Hope initiative, seeks to partner with communities
and invest in their desire to build hope for children.
Communities of Hope are coalitions of government
agencies, schools, local businesses, nonprofits,
philanthropies and faith-based organizations.
Stories from
NORTHEAST
REGION
ŰŰ Alachua
ŰŰ Baker
ŰŰ Bradford
ŰŰ Clay
ŰŰ Columbia
ŰŰ Dixie
ŰŰ Duval
ŰŰ Flagler
ŰŰ Gilchrist
ŰŰ Hamilton
ŰŰ Lafayette
ŰŰ Levy
ŰŰ Madison
ŰŰ Nassau
ŰŰ Putnam
ŰŰ St. Johns
ŰŰ Suwannee
ŰŰ Taylor
ŰŰ Union
ŰŰ Volusia
“Communities are better poised to
support and strengthen families in
their neighborhoods.”
—Shawn Salamida, CEO of
Partnership for Strong Families
Casey.org/Hope
i

INVESTING IN
CHILD PROTECTIVE
INVESTIGATORS
Recognizing that stability
among its frontline
investigative staff was
critical to ensuring child
safety, the Northeast
Region began placing more
emphasis on
recruiting and
training quality
Child Protective
Investigators.As a result,
the region saw a significant
decline in turnover, and
improved communication
among leadership,
supervisors and employees.
The process for selecting
and training new supervisors
was improved.Training was
upgraded for new CPIs to
better prepare them for
their jobs and
responsibilities.
The region also
focused on creating
more manageable
workloads for investigators.
Not one to sit on the sidelines,
Regional Managing Director
David Abramowitz personally
went out on more than 80 child
protective investigations to learn
first-hand about the challenges
investigators face. He routinely
calls a handful of employees each
weekday to find out if there are
any concerns on the front lines.
As a result, turnover among CPIs in
the region has declined to 6 percent.
PREVENTION PROGRAMS
PROMOTE CHILD SAFETY
AND STRONG FAMILIES
DCF’s community based care
partners in the Northeast Region
provided prevention services to
16,077 families and 15,211 children
during fiscal year 2012-13. Services
ranged from therapy, counseling,
parenting and anger management
classes to substance abuse treatment
for parents. Services like these are
essential to help stabilize at-
risk families and
prevent future
abuse and neglect,
keeping children
safely in their own
homes and out
of foster care.
HIGHLIGHTS OF PREVENTION PROGRAMS:
• In the Daytona Beach area, Community Partnership for Children supervised a Family Transition
Program. Led by Children’s Home Society, this program provided comprehensive in-home services
to families at risk of losing their children due to abuse or neglect.After families went through
the program, 97 percent of the children served had no later findings of abuse or neglect.
• In a 13-county area including Gainesville and Lake City, Partnership for Strong Families has increased
the amount of services that it provides to families by 43 percent over the past four years.
• In the Jacksonville area, Family Support Services of North Florida employs Community
Resource Specialists who work on-site in schools and community centers.
• In St. Johns County, the Family Integrity Program sponsored several events to help
families and children, including a Toys for Tots Holiday Gift Distribution in conjunction
with the Marine Corps Reserve.The initiative helped 750 children.
• In Clay County, Kids First of Florida helps operate a Neighborhood Resource Center,
which provided 700 families with information on community resources.
The Community of Hope initiative brings community
leaders together to resolve real-life problems.

PROMTASTIC INITIATIVE PROMOTES
NORMALCY
Often referred to as “normalcy,” the Department and its
Community Based Care partners strive to give every
child in foster care the opportunity to participate in
the same kinds of age-appropriate activities that all
children do. For teens, that activity could be attending
their high school prom. In the Central Region, DCF
Children’s Legal Services Senior Attorneys Kathleen
Loftus and Stacy McDuffie launched a formal wear
clothing drive to collect gently used prom wear
and accessories for teens in foster care.The two
attorneys were determined to make prom especially
“Promtastic” for these teens.They worked with the
local community, businesses, high schools and individual
donors to collect formal wear and accessories.
The highly successful “Promtastic” formal wear drive
collected more than 500 donated items and ensured
75 teenage girls and boys in foster care went to their
proms in style. Donated items were also provided to
disadvantaged community youth not in foster care and
foster care group homes. Non-formal wear donations
were given to Lake County Adult Protective Services,
Workforce Central Florida, and the Haven, a Lake County
domestic violence shelter.Attorneys Loftus and McDuffie
plan to continue the formal wear drive as an annual
event to promote normalcy for teens in foster care.
Stories from
CENTRAL
REGION
ŰŰ Brevard
ŰŰ Citrus
ŰŰ Hardee
ŰŰ Hernando
ŰŰ Highlands
ŰŰ Lake
ŰŰ Marion
ŰŰ Orange
ŰŰ Osceola
ŰŰ Polk
ŰŰ Seminole
ŰŰ Sumter
Hundreds of dresses and other formal wear were
donated for Promtastic.

SPACE CAMP OFFERS A
WORLD OF POSSIBILITY FOR
YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE
Imagine sitting at the controls of the
space shuttle, feeling the g-force of
spaceflight or preparing for launch
at Kennedy Space Center.Thanks
to the generosity and support of
AT&T, 20 youth in foster care got
to experience what
it’s like to train for
spaceflight as part of
the Kennedy Space
Center’s Astronaut
Training Experience
(ATX). Other partners
who helped make the
day possible included the Kennedy
Space CenterVisitor Complex,
KSC Educational Foundation and
Community Based Care agencies.
With a focus on STEM (science,
technology, engineering and math),
the ATX program gave participants
first-hand experience in a motion-
based simulator, as well as activities
that teach the science of rocket
launches and human survival in space.
As a special treat, participants heard
from veteran NASA astronaut Jon
McBride and toured the Astronaut
Hall of Fame Museum, including
highlights from the Mercury, Gemini,
Apollo, and Shuttle programs.
HELPING HOMELESS
FAMILIES, ONE FAMILY AT A
TIME
In the tri-county area of Central
Florida (Orange, Osceola, and
Seminole counties), many families
are homeless, while others are on
the verge of becoming homeless.
Thousands more families are
living day-to-day in motel rooms
because they can’t afford rental
housing or apartments.These
families are isolated, in crisis and
face challenges when it comes
to seeking public assistance.
To get help to these families, the
Central Region partnered with
Second Harvest Food Bank and
Workforce Central Florida to create
a mobile “Outreach Team” that can
go to motels and public events
offering employment,ACCESS
services, and other public assistance.
Workforce Central Florida deployed
their mobile “One Stop” bus
equipped with satellite internet
services and a bay of 10 computers.
They also assisted parents with
skills assessment, job searches, and
resume writing. Second Harvest
sent their Food Stamp Outreach
Team who helped families apply
online for public assistance, check on
the status of a current application
or review, complete an intake
interview for Food Stamps, and
ask questions about their current
benefits or pending application.
A third partner, United Way, supplied
children with back-to-school items,
and informed parents about jobs,
financial education and more.
Together with DCF, the Outreach
Team has worked with more than
1,500 families since the program’s
inception in February 2012, and has
touched the lives of nearly 3,000
family members.We also reached
460 families that were homeless or
living in transitional housing. Lake and
Brevard counties were added to the
list of counties being served as well.
AT&T helped send 20 foster youth to camp at
Kennedy Space Center.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS CREATE NEW
HOMES FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE
During the past year, the SunCoast Region led the
state in recruiting new foster homes, exceeding the
recruitment goal by 89, and ending the year with
448 new homes.This brought an additional 721 beds
across 11 counties and, through the year, placed 941
children in newly recruited homes. Eckerd Community
Alternatives led the state in recruitment, accounting
for 23 percent of the total new homes statewide.
The 448 new homes in the region not only provided
much needed additional capacity, but also allowed
improved matching of children in need with foster
families best suited to nurture and support them.
This was accomplished through a collaboration
of DCF leadership, Community Based Care lead
agencies and case management organizations
aggressively pursuing every opportunity to get
the word out about the new foster homes.
Recruitment opportunities were created at community
meetings, public forums, sports events, fairs, and
any place that community leaders or local families
gathered.The region’s success in recruiting new
homes is a testament to the power of community
collaboration in support of a worthy cause—meeting
the physical and emotional needs of children who
have suffered abuse or neglect in their home.
Stories from
SUNCOAST
REGION
New Homes for Children in Foster Care
Community Based Care Lead Agency New Foster Homes
Bed Capacity of New
Foster Homes
Children Placed in
New Foster Homes
Eckerd Community Alternatives—Hillsborough 149 226 311
Eckerd Community Alternatives—Pasco/Pinellas 147 245 323
Sarasota FamilyYMCA, Inc. 50 68 90
Children’s Network of SW Florida, Inc. 102 182 217
ŰŰ Charlotte
ŰŰ Collier
ŰŰ DeSoto
ŰŰ Glades
ŰŰ Hendry
ŰŰ Hillsborough
ŰŰ Lee
ŰŰ Manatee
ŰŰ Pasco
ŰŰ Pinellas
ŰŰ Sarasota

LEADINGTHE WAY IN
SERVICE DELIVERY
DCF launched a statewide initiative
to standardize ACCESS processes,
and improve customer service and
outcomes.The SunCoast Region took
up the challenge to lead the effort.
Under the leadership of Regional
Managing Director Mike Carroll,
teams were formed, staff rolled up
their sleeves and started working.
Through a series of statewide
meetings, process improvements
began to take shape and the
benefits to both our customers and
employees were realized. In addition
to accomplishing improvements in
key processes important to our
customers, the teams were able
to reduce performance variance
among regions while ensuring
that the most effective systems
were used across the state.
Among the improvements were the
creation ofVirtual Intake Units, which
direct interview calls to a single
phone number, immediately improving
customer service. Standardized
performance measurement tools
and practices ensured that high
performers were rewarded and
those needing help received the
assistance they required. Managers
were given tools to more effectively
monitor workload and shift resources
when necessary.The result of these
and other process improvements
included a 17 percent reduction
in days to process a case between
October 2012 and June 2013, and
a decrease in backlog from a high
of nearly 7 percent in late 2012 to
now, less than 1 percent.Volume
to the call centers has decreased,
and more callers are able to either
self-serve through the Automated
Response Unit or reach a call agent
to assist with resolving their issues.
GROWING FUTURES
THROUGH GARDENS
In East Tampa, a new kind of garden is
blossoming.Tampa Bay Gardens is a
true community collaboration aimed
at helping refugees in the Tampa area.
The project was launched by two
local churches with the support of
Janet Blair, DCF Refugee Services
Liaison in the SunCoast Region, the
University of South Florida, and
numerous community volunteers,
and refugees.This unique garden is
the first of its kind in Florida and not
only grows fresh organic produce,
but also provides acculturation
skills and serves as a community
hub for newly arrived refugees.
The seed for the garden was
planted at a local Tampa Bay Refugee
Task Force meeting three years
ago and began to take root when
Father Berhanu Bekele, a former
refugee from Ethiopia, donated an
acre of land owned by St. Mary’s
Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Initial funding was provided by
Alleghany Franciscan Ministries and
the DCF Santa Cause initiative.
In October 2013,Tampa Bay Gardens
was awarded $254,500 for a three-
year grant by the Federal Office of
Refugee Resettlement.The Garden
has enrolled 35 refugees in a farming
project that includes vocational
English classes and training in
agricultural business.A fish pond and
chicken coop will also be expanded.
Regional Managing Director Mike Carroll led the charge to
standardize ACCESS services.
Tampa Bay Gardens serves as a community
hub for newly arrived refugees.

DEVELOPING LEADERS FROM WITHIN
In 2013, the Southeast Region began development of a
leadership program designed to identify and cultivate
future leaders as part of its succession planning strategy.
Dubbed the Leadership Academy, the program provides
opportunities for the enhancement of leadership
skills among staff in the Region’s six counties, with a
focus on the art and science of being a good leader.
Response to the Academy, which was developed
by Regional Managing Director Dennis Miles, the
regional planning manager and the human resources
business partner, has been widespread and positive.
Participants attend three monthly sessions, three
days each, enabling them to work together as a
team. Included in the curriculum are 12 roundtable
discussions and team project work days.
Academy curriculum involves conversations and short
presentations, along with mentoring opportunities
with the regional managing director and other senior
leadership staff. Focus areas include topics such as an
overview of the Region’s budget, quality improvement,
women in leadership, creating a good team, and
creating a positive and empowering culture. Each class
receives instruction on quality improvement tools and
techniques, with a goal to complete a quality improvement
project that will better the Region’s outcomes.
By 2015, the Southeast Region expects to graduate
80 participants representing circuits 15, 17 and
19. One of the goals of the Academy is to directly
reach 40 employees each year, with those members
having an indirect positive impact on an additional
400 employees a year through their newly acquired
skills, which are brought back to their units.
HELPINGVICTIMS OF HUMANTRAFFICKING
Because Florida is ranked third in the nation for
human trafficking cases, the Southeast Region has
taken a collaborative approach to combat this
modern-day form of slavery and assist survivors.
Empowered by Florida’s Safe Harbor Act, which was
signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, the region created
action groups in each circuit called STARS (Stop
Trafficking and Rescue Survivors) committees.
STARS committees meet monthly to identify issues and
develop strategies to address those issues.A variety
of perspectives are brought to the table through the
committee’s diverse representation, which includes DCF
Regional staff Children’s Legal Services Case Management,
Department of Juvenile Justice, law enforcement, mental
health professionals and child welfare advocates.
Stories from
SOUTHEAST
REGION
ŰŰ Broward
ŰŰ Indian River
ŰŰ Martin
ŰŰ Palm Beach
ŰŰ Okeechobee
ŰŰ St. Lucie

The committees also focus on training
for child protective investigators,
law enforcement representatives
and foster parents, as well as raising
community awareness. Historically,
human trafficking victims were not
seen as victims of sexual exploitation.
STARS is working to change that
perception, with the goal of identifying
human trafficking victims, ensuring
their safety and affording them the
best level of care.This year, the STARS
committees reported there were
nearly 40 known victims related to
cases involving human trafficking.
MAKING MEASURABLE
PROGRESS IN FOSTER HOME
RECRUITMENT
The Southeast Region saw continued
success in foster home recruitment,
training, and licensing, thanks in part
to the “Managed Process Model,”
designed and implemented by
ChildNet, the region’s Community
Based Care lead agency for Broward
and Palm Beach counties.
ChildNet uses this model to gauge
each provider’s performance and
calculate each agency’s annual
attrition rate, licensing, and potential
foster parents lost during training.
It also estimates the number of
files that need to be submitted to
achieve each agency’s growth goals,
the number of MAPP classes needed
and how many people on average
each MAPP class should have. Model
Approach to Partnerships in Parenting
(MAPP), is a nationally accepted
training curriculum for individuals
who want to become foster parents.
With the support of another lead
agency, ChildNet is implementing
a more efficient foster parent pre-
service training with Department
approval.The new curriculum
reduces the number of foster parent
pre-service training hours by 30
percent without compromising
the quality of instruction.
ChildNet monitors agency progress
monthly and consults the DCF
regional staff if they fall below their
targeted numbers.The model’s
success revealed that five months into
the fiscal year, ChildNet could predict
which provider agencies would
meet their June recruitment goal.
In the first four months of this fiscal
year, 68 new licensing files were
submitted in Broward County and
31 in Palm Beach County. Palm
Beach saw a 6 percent increase in
new foster homes and 6 percent
increase in number of children served.
Broward saw a 3 percent increase
in new foster homes and 11 percent
increase in number of children served.
FosteringFlorida.com
i

HELPINGVICTIMS HEAL
When treating child victims of sexual exploitation,
Southern Region staff learned quickly that a single
model of residential care would not address the needs
of all children who experience this kind of trauma.To
find a solution, the region worked with its Community
Based Care lead agency, Our Kids of Miami-Dade and
Monroe, and Citrus Health Network, a Substance
Abuse and Mental Health provider.Together, they
identified best practices and models that could be
used to ensure better outcomes for the victims.
An innovative program known as CHANCE—
Citrus Helping Adolescents Negatively Impacted by
Commercial Exploitation—uses Intensive In-Home
Wrap-Around Services to give victims comprehensive
mental health treatment from a multi-disciplinary
team.The program also uses a Therapeutic Foster
Care Program specifically for victims of Commercial
Sexual Exploitation of Children. Foster parents become
trained in the behavioral and emotional needs of
these children and their unique social challenges.
The University of South Florida has been contracted
to follow and evaluate the program’s effectiveness.
Baseline data is collected upon entry into the
CHANCE program, and subsequent data is collected
at discharge, three months post discharge, and
six months post discharge, if applicable.
IMPROVINGYOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
Sadly, there are youth in Florida who struggle with
medically diagnosed mental health issues.To address
this problem in south Florida, the Southern Region
team sought to increase access to care for youth
identified as Severely Emotionally Disturbed.Through
a project called FACES—Families and Communities
Empowered for Success—the region and its many
partners have worked to expand and integrate the
system of care (SOC) by offering a comprehensive
range of integrated treatment services using evidence-
based practices, including Wraparound, Motivational
Interviewing, and Wellness Recovery Action Plans.
Funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Service Administration (SAMHSA) the FACES project
focuses on a wellness maintenance model adapted
for youth. It transforms children’s mental health into
a recovery-oriented system of care for children and
youth, as well as their families. FACES empowers youth
and their families to become drivers of their services, as
well as active participants in the transformation effort.
Stories from
SOUTHERN
REGION
ŰŰ Miami-Dade
ŰŰ Monroe

Given the diversity of the community
and the desire to create an
inclusive process, the project team
collaborated with a multitude of
providers and agencies involved
in child services. In August 2013,
SAMHSA reveiwed the project and
identified multiple areas where the
SOC values were evident.They noted
strong collaboration across system
partners and the effectiveness in
engaging and empowering families
and youth in services.Also noted
was the provider’s ability to stabilize
youth with more complex and
severe behavioral health needs
in their homes and to reduce
the use of residential services.
SHAREYOUR HEART:A
PARTNERSHIP OF FAITH
The Southern Region has
successfully cultivated
partnerships with several local
faith organizations through an
innovative initiative known as
ShareYour Heart.The initiative
provides support for children,
families and vulnerable adults in
need. ShareYour Heart works
like a referral service between
DCF and the faith community.When a
child, family or vulnerable adult comes
in contact with DCF and needs
assistance, DCF connects them with
the ShareYour Heart faith network.
Children, families and vulnerable
adults receive support from the
faith community at a time when
they need it most. Members
of ShareYour Heart provide
things as simple as food, water,
clothing, diapers, toys and books.
Spiritual guidance is also available
if the person requests it. Beyond
addressing immediate needs, Share
Your Heart also offers long-term
networks of support for anyone
interested. Participation in Share
Your Heart is purely voluntary.
A key element that has given
credence to the initiative involves
training for members of ShareYour
Heart. Under a working agreement
between DCF and ShareYour Heart,
ShareYour Heart volunteers receive
training created by Baptist Hospital
Congregational Health. From there,
ShareYour Heart trainers have
recruited and trained other faith-
based partners. So far, more than
150 churches/faith-based partners
and nearly 400 chaplains have
received the 16 hours of training.
More than 400 families have been
assisted through ShareYour Heart.
victoryforyouth.org/shareyourheart/you.html
i
FACES HAS POSITIVE
IMPACT
Preliminary data shows:
• Approximately 56% of youth
reported improvement in
depression symptoms.
• 57% of youth reported
improvement in
anxiety symptoms.
• Youth reported a 15%
decrease in weekly drug use.
• Youth delinquency rates
decreased by 15%.

CAMPS FOR CHAMPIONS INSPIRE
FOSTERYOUTH
The department’s Camps for Champions initiative
continued to expand and diversify in offering camp
experiences for foster youth. In 2012-13, the department,
together with Community Based Care partners and
sponsors, offered 22 camps across Florida for a record-
breaking 1,200 foster youth. Campers participated in
a variety of exciting activities that featured character-
building experiences, living healthy lifestyles, developing
career and life skills, STEM
(Science,Technology,
Engineering, and Math)
exploration, art, and music.
They also enjoyed meeting
and interacting with famous
athletes, coaches and even
a former astronaut.
The success of the camps
is credited largely to the
communities that host
them and the partners who
lend their time, talent and
resources to create a great
experience for the children.The department forged
partnerships with businesses, individuals and community
organizations to create one-of-a-kind camp experiences.
Key supporters included AT&T,Wells Fargo, Century
Link, Florida Sun Sports and the Florida Retail Federation,
just to name a few. DCF appreciates its Community
Based Care partners and business leaders who helped
to give children in foster care the same opportunities
and experiences that all children should have.
Stories from
ACROSS
FLORIDA
Camp Take the Lead was a
one-of-a-kind experience, and I
would definitely do it again.
—Dav’Lyn, Camper
ŰŰ ACCESS
ŰŰ Adult Protection
ŰŰ Child Care
ŰŰ Child Protection
ŰŰ DomesticViolence
ŰŰ Foster Care
ŰŰ HumanTrafficking
ŰŰ Independent Living
ŰŰ Public Benefit Integrity
ŰŰ Refugee Services
ŰŰ Substance Abuse and
Mental Health
The Florida Retail Federation held the first-ever Camp Take the Lead in Tampa
Camp Take the Lead - Dress for Success
http://youtu.be/pdXKdmuHwq8i

IMPROVING CHILD SAFETY
After nearly three years in
development and planning, DCF
and its partners across Florida
began implementing the Safety
Methodology, a new child welfare
practice model that standardizes
the approach to safety decision
making and risk assessment in
determining a child’s safety.The
methodology also emphasizes parent
engagement and empowerment. It
has been applied systemically, from
the Florida Abuse Hotline to case
management services, to establish:
1. A common language for assessing
safety for both child protective
investigators and case managers.
2. A standardized process
for identifying children
who are unsafe.
3. A common set of constructs
that guide safety interventions
for unsafe children.
4. A common framework for
case planning to address child
needs and diminished caregiver
protective capacities.
Florida’s Safety Methodology was
developed, and continues to be
refined, in conjunction with national
experts from the National Resource
Center for Child Protection and
the Children’s Research Center.
The key to the Safety Methodology
is ensuring that child welfare
professionals have the skills and
supervisory support they need to
adequately assess child safety.
Why Make the Change?
In March 2011, an independent
review panel critically examined
the death of Nubia Barahona and
identified a number of systemic
errors and omissions that occurred
at various levels of the child
protection system, including:
• Insufficient investigative
practices and inadequate
case management;
• Lack of integrated
information sharing;
• Rapid caseworker
turnover, inexperience,
excessive caseloads;
• Unclear case integration;
• Unclear role of supervisors
for case investigation
and management; and
• Substandard quality of
documentation by both case
managers and investigators.
Short-term improvements have
included training, enhancing
accountability and expectations over
case ownership, requiring corrective
action plans, and updating local law
enforcement agreements. However,
long-term changes require significant
and sustainable improvement in
child safety and well-being.
Where Are We Now?
• Child protection professionals
are receiving the new eight-day
Safety Methodology training.
In addition, the department
is facilitating training of
partners and stakeholders to
ensure a smooth transition
to the new practice model.
• Pre-service curriculum is being
revised to include 10 training
tracks that focus on child safety.
• Major modifications and
enhancements have been
made to the department’s
child welfare database, the
Florida Safe Families Network
(FSFN), to support the Safety
Methodology practice and make
data entry more efficient.
• Sixteen sites statewide
have been approved to
fully implement the Safety
Methodology.Approval
requires that all stakeholders
(CPI, case manager, Children’s
Legal Services attorney, and
dependency judge) be trained
and ready to implement
the Safety Methodology.
• The department has established
a steering committee that
includes judges, Community
Based Care lead agencies,
a Guardian ad Litem, and
advocates to oversee ongoing
implementation activities.
• The department’s leadership,
regional champions and
supervisors meet regularly
to discuss the practice
change and use of the
automated tools in FSFN.
• Florida Administrative Rules are
undergoing major revisions to
address mandatory rulemaking.
SUMMER PREVENTION SERIES
Florida loses more children under the age of five to drowning than any other state
in the nation. Many children are also locked in hot cars every year. Other children
are exposed to more tragedy on TV when they are out of school.To address these
issues, DCF launched a summer series of weekly public service announcement
(PSA) videos online to promote prevention and awareness. Fifteen TV stations
aired the PSAs for free during the summer months.A website with summer
safety tips and the PSAs was launched at www.myflfamilies.com/summer-safety.

PARTNERSHIP REDUCES
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
The Department of Children and
Families partners with the Ounce
of Prevention Fund of Florida, a
private nonprofit corporation, to
administer innovative prevention
programs that provide measurable
benefits to our state’s children,
families and communities.
Since 1998, DCF has contracted with
the Ounce of Prevention Fund to
administer Healthy Families Florida, a
nationally accredited, evidence-based
home visiting program that improves
childhood outcomes by preventing
child abuse and neglect in 98 percent
of children in the high-risk families
who voluntarily participate in services.
A recent analysis conducted by the
Department of Children and Families
shows that 95 percent of children
were still free from abuse and neglect
three years after program completion.
Research and experience show
that Healthy Families provides a
valuable return on investment:
• Conservative estimates show
it costs Florida taxpayers
$72,709 a year to provide
child welfare, hospitalization,
special education and juvenile
justice services to care for an
abused or neglected child.
• Healthy Families services are
proven to prevent child abuse
and neglect in high-risk families
for $1,800 a year per child.
PROMOTING PREVENTIONTHROUGH AWARENESS
DCF also partners with the Ounce of Prevention Fund to implement primary and secondary
prevention activities, and advocate for policies and initiatives to strengthen Florida’s families
as the Florida chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America.These efforts include:
1. Sustaining a network of 43 mutual self-help parent support groups known as the Florida Circle of Parents.
2. Implementing Pinwheels for Prevention™, an annual statewide campaign affiliated with Prevent Child
Abuse America to create a community-wide commitment to healthy child development.This campaign:
• Generated 1.2 million impressions through newspaper articles, website and social media sites.
• Distributed over 65,000 copies of Family Development—A Caregiver’s Guide.
• Broadcasted over 3,000 public service announcements.
• Raised private dollars to distribute over 40,000 pinwheels for use in public awareness displays.
3. Addressing two of the leading causes of preventable child deaths in Florida, unsafe sleep environments
and accidental drowning, by distributing over 130,000 brochures to child and family service providers.
4. Providing educational and training opportunities by promoting and expanding
parent leadership activities between parents/caregivers and providers.

DCF ACCESS PROGRAM SEES
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The department’s ACCESS Program—
which administers vital services
for Floridians in need of food, cash
and medical assistance—achieved
impressive results this year on
a number of critical projects.
A significant achievement was the
design and implementation of a new
Medicaid Eligibility System that is
compliant with Federal Affordable
Care Act (ACA) requirements.The
project was completed on time, on
budget and had the fastest execution
nationwide (less than a year).This
project involved complex planning
and interfaces required by the
Federal Marketplace and verification
hub, the Agency for Health Care
Administration, Florida Healthy
Kids, and the Department of Health.
The system also required creation
of a new customer application
web portal to accommodate
ACA eligibility rules for family-
related Medicaid. Early results
show that the system is working
well, the customer experience is
good and application volume is
consistent with prior experience.
Other achievements include:
• Transition to a new Electronic
Benefits Transfer (EBT)
vendor resulting in major
cost savings and additional
fraud-fighting tools that no
other state has in their EBT
contracts.The transition was
completed in nine months.
• Consistently producing one of
the best Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP)
Quality Control rates in the
nation, which has resulted in
millions of dollars in federal
bonuses. Florida has received
a bonus six years in a row.
• Successful design and
implementation of one of
the first AssetVerification
Systems in the nation for
select medical programs, which
has uncovered numerous
attempts to hide assets.
PREVENTINGTHEFT OF
PUBLIC BENEFITS
The Office of Public Benefits Integrity
(OPBI) comprises two divisions:
ACCESS Integrity and Benefit
Recovery.These programs work
to prevent, detect, and recover
improper or fraudulent receipt
of public assistance benefits.
Guarding Against IdentityTheft
Florida ranks first in the nation for
identity theft, which costs the nation
nearly $48 billion each year. DCF
leads the nation in processing
public assistance
applications online at
97 percent, which
increases the threat
of identity theft.
DCF was approved
to become the
first state to
integrate customer
authentication and
identity verification
solutions into the
ACCESS application
system—making us the model for
other states to follow. In partnership
with LexisNexis, the department
has implemented security protocols
widely used in the financial industry
to verify that the applicant’s identity
is correct. DCF’s efforts in this
area have resulted in a cost savings
to taxpayers of $11.2 million.
Investigating Fraud
The ACCESS Integrity program has
investigative staff throughout the
state actively monitoring online
and social media sites to identify
individuals attempting to sell
their Electronic Benefits Transfer
(EBT) cards. Investigators also
actively track instances in which
multiple EBT card replacements
are requested and monitor known
addresses or persons related to
past fraudulent activities. New
technological tools allow investigators
to monitor activity in real time
and take appropriate action before
fraudulent EBT cards are issued—
stopping fraud at the front door.
RecoveringTaxpayer Money
The Benefit Recovery program
underwent substantial process
streamlining and redesign this
year, producing significant
results.The program’s
primary role is to
identify and recover
any public assistance
benefits that were paid
to any current or former
recipients to which they
were not entitled (due to
attempted fraud, inadvertent
error or agency error.)
It’s not IF we catch you, it’s WHEN
http://youtu.be/4dVftcBNavki

SUBSTANCE ABUSE
AND MENTAL HEALTH—
IMPROVING OUTCOMES
The Substance Abuse and Mental
Health (SAMH) Program culminated
more than a decade of work in
establishing seven community
based organizations to serve as
managing entities to administer and
manage behavioral health services.
Additionally, SAMH implemented
two key projects:
• Established community action
teams in a pilot project to
divert adolescents from being
placed outside the home.
• Expanded substance abuse
services for pregnant women
and women with children
as part of an $8.9 million
allocation from the Legislature.
Statewide, DCF operates or
contracts for the operation of
four civil facilities and four forensic
facilities with a total bed capacity
of 2,632, excluding medical beds.
Accomplishments during
the past year include:
• The average length of stay
in a civil treatment facility
continued to decline, down
over 38 percent over
the last three years.
• Facilities reduced the
average time to restore
competency to 103 days,
well below the legislatively
mandated target of 125 days.
The program also increased
the number of residents
discharged as competent.
• All seven of the state mental
health treatment facilities
are accredited and have
maintained the requisite
high level of quality services
necessary for re-certification.
• Florida State Hospital
completed restoration of the
Apalachicola Arsenal Powder
Magazine, dating back to 1832,
which will serve as a conference
center and future museum.
State mental health treatment facilities
partner with the community to help
individuals experiencing a severe
and persistent mental illness better
manage their symptoms through
community services and support.
FLORIDA HOSTS SECOND
STATEWIDE HUMAN
TRAFFICKING SUMMIT
DCF worked with fellow agencies
and community partners to help
coordinate the state’s second
Statewide Human Trafficking Summit,
which drew in more than 700 law
enforcement, legal and service
professionals.The Summit addressed
issues ranging from combatting the
commercial sexual exploitation
of children to labor trafficking
investigations and prosecutions.
BORN DRUG-FREE
FLORIDA
In May 2013, DCF, the
Attorney General’s Office,
DOH and other members
of the Statewide Task Force
on Prescription Drug Abuse
and Newborns launched a
statewide educational campaign
designed to prevent babies
from being born already
exposed to prescription
drugs. Newborns exposed
to prescription drugs while
in the womb may suffer
from Neonatal Abstinence
Syndrome, a painful withdrawal
from the drugs after birth.The
campaign educates expectant
mothers about the importance
of discussing prescription
drug use with their doctors
and provides information to
assist women.The campaign
includes a helpline at 1-877-
233-5656, a website at
BornDrugFreeFL.com, video
and radio spots, billboards,
web ads, printed materials and
partnerships with medical,
mental health and substance
abuse treatment facilities and
community organizations.
See the Anti-HumanTrafficking video
produced by DCF.
http://youtu.be/j7hO7ME0HqY
MyFlFamilies.com/service-
programs/Human-Trafficking
i
State Mental HealthTreatment Facilities
ŰŰ Florida State Hospital
ŰŰ Northeast Florida State Hospital
ŰŰ South Florida State Hospital,
ŰŰ West Florida Community Care
ŰŰ North Florida Evaluation andTreatment Center
ŰŰ South Florida Evaluation andTreatment Center
ŰŰ Treasure Coast ForensicTreatment Center

During the Summit, Governor
Scott told the audience,“Human
trafficking is a form of modern-day
slavery that affects more than 27
million people worldwide, including
an estimated two million children.”
DCF Interim Secretary Esther
Jacobo emphasized DCF’s and its
partners’ commitment to developing
services and treatment that help
victims recover and thrive. During
the event, several outstanding
individuals were recognized, including:
• Sergeant Patrick Guckian, Law
Enforcement Officer of the
Year—a member of the Orlando
Police Department, he trained
the law enforcement community
on investigating human sex
trafficking and is responsible
for the rescue of several youth
from forced prostitution.
• Dotti Groover-Skipper,Advocate
of theYear—an advocate for
anti-human sex trafficking in the
Clearwater/Tampa Bay area. She
spearheaded the Hillsborough
County Commission on the
Status of Women’s 2012 Fall
Forum on Sex Trafficking of
Minors and chaired various
community campaigns and
initiatives to develop a unified
message on the need to resolve
the tragedy of human trafficking.
• Stacie B. Harris, Prosecutor of
theYear—as an assistant U.S.
Attorney for the Middle District
of Florida, She prosecuted the
first person sentenced to life
for sex trafficking in Florida,
one of only 10 in the country.
She has prosecuted numerous
defendants in federal court
and was a presenter at the
International Association of
Human Trafficking Investigators.
She also helped train lawyers,
judges and professors from
Brazil in preparation for
the 2013 World Cup and
2016 Summer Olympics.
IMPLEMENTINGTHE NANCY
C. DETERT COMMON
SENSE AND COMPASSION
INDEPENDENT LIVING ACT
In 2013, the Florida Legislature
passed the Nancy C. Detert
Common Sense and Compassion
Independent Living Act, which gives
youth in foster care new options
once they turn 18. Practitioners,
advocates, youth formerly in foster
care and community partners
statewide have been hard at
work to restructure services and
programs to align with the new
law and to provide a smoother
transition into adulthood for young
people aging out of foster care.
Foster care alumni have dubbed
the new programs “My Future, My
Choice” (see page 24 for more
information) because of the multiple
options provided to help young
adults achieve their future goals.
Young adults can engage in a variety
of activities to be eligible for one of
the new programs. Each program
is designed to provide services and
supports to young adults as they
pursue academic and career goals,
and to provide a strong foundation
for success on their own.
In 2014, approximately 659 Florida
youth are expected to turn 18 while
in licensed foster care.All will be
eligible to remain in extended care
if they choose.As of December 31,
2013, there were approximately
1,800 youth participating in the
Road-to-Independence (RTI)
program, which the Legislature
created in 2002 for young adults
aging out of foster care.
MyFlFamilies.com/MyFuture
i

IMPROVEMENTSTO CHILD
CARE OVERSIGHT
From streamlining
background checks for
child care professionals
to fighting childhood
obesity, the department’s
Child Care Regulation
and Background Screening
office had a productive
and successful year.
At the start of the year, the
department merged the Child Care
Regulation office and Background
Screening office to create one
office—Child Care Regulation
and Background Screening
(CCR&BGS).With
background screening
for child care making
up approximately 70
percent of the screening
workload, the merger
allowed for expansion of
the Child Care Training
Information Center
to include a background
screening helpdesk component
to assist personnel requiring
background screening to
receive timely information
for employment purposes.
The CCR&BGS also
initiated a redesign of the
child care information
system to create a more
efficient user-friendly
online format. Regional
licensing staff conducted 30,518
inspections in more than 7,500
child care settings to include newly
adopted food hygiene standards.
In addition, the child care program
launched the P.R.E.V.E.N.T.
Obesity Initiative with a goal
to Provide Resources,
Evidence,Valuable
Education and Training
for child care providers
to improve the health
and nutrition of children
in care.The department’s
social media presence
has helped increase awareness on
this topic and spread the word with
partner agencies on the significance
and impact of childhood obesity.
A LOOK AT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
A snapshot of Florida’s 42 certified
domestic violence centers reveals
that more than 3,000 women, men,
and children receive assistance
and services statewide during
an average 24-hour period.
In 2012-13, domestic violence centers
provided emergency shelter to
15,677 survivors and their children.
Children who fled the violence with
their parent accounted for 46 percent
of shelter residents. Centers also
provided non-residential services
to 32,953 individuals and case
NEW “MY FUTURE, MY CHOICE”
PROGRAMS
Effective Jan. 1, 2014, youth who turn 18
while in licensed foster care can choose
to remain under state care until their 21st
birthday, or 22nd birthday if they have a
disability.Young adults in extended foster
care (EFC) must attend school, work 80
hours a month, or participate in activities to
enhance their employability.While in EFC,
young adults are provided a stable living
environment, food, transportation to and
from work or school, case management
services, and judicial oversight of their
progress toward independence.
Once a young adult has obtained a high
school diploma or its equivalent, he or
she may apply for the Postsecondary
Education Services and Support (PESS)
program. PESS provides a $1,256 monthly
stipend to help defray the cost of a
postsecondary education. Students enrolled
in PESS must attend a college, university or vocational education program for at least nine
credit hours per semester to remain eligible for the stipend. Students enrolled in PESS may
leave and reenter the program as many times as needed until their 23rd birthday.
Young adults not enrolled in PESS or EFC can receive temporary supports and services through the Aftercare
program.This program is designed to provide assistance with services such as mental health and substance
abuse counseling, life skills classes, parenting classes, job and career skills training, mentoring and tutoring,
counselor consultations, financial literacy skills training, and temporary financial assistance for necessities.
MyFlFamilies.com/Service-
Programs/Child-Carei

management to 27,956 individuals.
Additionally, advocates answered
90,927 crisis calls on local hotlines
and assisted with 86,317 safety plans.
Centers range in size from 14
to 132 beds, totaling 1,942 beds
available statewide for those in
imminent danger. In 2013, legislators
approved $10 million to create an
additional 278 beds statewide to
reduce the number of survivors
and their children who could not
be housed due to lack of capacity.
PROTECTINGVULNERABLE
ADULTS
The Adult Protective Services
(APS) Program serves the
elderly and adults with
disabilities who are
victims of abuse, neglect,
or exploitation, or
who need assistance to
remain in their homes
or in the community.
Adults in need of our services
primarily come to the attention of
the department through a report
to the Florida Abuse Hotline. If a
report meets the statutory criteria
to prompt an adult protective
investigation, initial contact will be
made with the alleged victim within
24 hours from the time a report
is received.An Adult Protective
Investigator conducts an assessment
of the immediate safety of the
alleged victim and identifies the
need for services or interventions.
This summer, the APS Program
convened a task force of
representatives from the Office of
the Attorney General, Office of the
State Attorney, law enforcement,
elder law attorneys and legislative
staff to explore ways to improve
our collaborative work and Florida’s
capacity to prosecute those who
commit crimes against vulnerable
adults.The task force identified
the need to strengthen state laws
to address this issue, with
emphasis on elder financial
exploitation, which is a
growing crime nationwide.
As a result, the task
force drafted proposed
legislative language
to strengthen financial
exploitation laws.This
action resulted in HB 409 being
introduced in the 2014 session
that incorporates the task force
recommendations.The task force will
continue to assist in ensuring strong
adult protection laws in Florida, that
will serve as a model for the nation.
LAUREN’S KIDS
Lauren’s Kids is a Florida-
based nonprofit engaged in
child sexual abuse awareness.
The Department partnered
with Lauren’s Kids founder
Lauren Book to launch a
statewide public awareness
and educational initiative for
prevention of child sexual
abuse. Lauren’s Kids has the
support of Governor Scott and
receives nationwide attention.
Lauren’s Kids developed a “Safer,
Smarter Kids” curriculum for
elementary school students,
which teaches children about
safe and unsafe secrets and
how to tell a trusted adult.
Our partnership included
the development, statewide
distribution and evaluation
of the curricula, kits and
supplemental materials for
kindergarten and voluntary
pre-kindergarten students, along
with distribution to 1st
through
5th
grade students statewide.
Lauren’s Kids coordinated and
conducted training in schools
statewide to illustrate sexual
abuse awareness prevention
and information on the child
abuse reporting and investigative
processes and the information
needed by the department’s
Florida Abuse Hotline to qualify
abuse calls.Training included
changes in child abuse reporting
pursuant to recent legislation.
A public awareness campaign
titled,“Don’t Miss the Signs,”
was developed and implemented
to highlight the signs of child
abuse and direct people to
call the Florida Abuse Hotline
if they suspect a child is
being abused or neglected.
(800) 962-2873
Florida Abuse Hotline
(800) 962-2873i

REFUGEE SERVICES—A NEW
BEGINNING
Florida has the largest population
in the nation of refugees eligible for
resettlement services. Of the more
than 29,000 refugees who came
to Florida between Oct. 2012
and Sept. 2013 (Federal Fiscal
Year), 90 percent were from
Cuba. Florida’s Refugee Services
Program is 100 percent funded
by the federal government, and
provides assistance to newly
arrived refugees who have fled
persecution from their home
countries.The program helps
clients gain employment, learn
English, acquire job skills, and
become self-sufficient, contributing
members of Florida’s communities.
During state fiscal year 2012-13,
DCF’s Refugee Services Program
helped 8,943 clients become
employed, with 64 percent
retaining employment for at least
90 days. Some clients may have
advanced degrees, but need to
be recertified to obtain licensure
and be recognized as eligible
to work in their professions.
Other refugees arrive from
refugee camps or may be of
rural backgrounds with little or
no work experience and need
assistance getting a job through
short-term or vocational training.
In addition to employment assistance,
Refugee Services provides help in
adult education, primarily English
language training. Last fiscal year,
the program served 14,044 clients
in English language training and
2,030 in vocational training. Other
services included child care assistance,
academic assistance to newly arrived
refugee youth, health care services
and case management for particularly
vulnerable families and individuals.
THE SAFE SLEEP CAMPAIGN
Between January and November 2013, 143 reports alleging sleep-related
infant deaths were called in to the Florida Abuse Hotline—deaths that
likely could ave been prevented.To address this tragedy, DCF joined
with other state agencies, state officials, nonprofit organizations and first
responders to launch The Safe Sleep Campaign.The campaign includes a
public awareness component, as well as free online training and materials
for Florida’s first responders.The campaign also encourages the public
to donate new Pack N Plays (portable cribs) to designated locations that
can be distributed to needy families by local Healthy Start coalitions.
As of December 2013:
• 77 drop-off Pack ‘N Play donation sites throughout Florida.
• 79 Safe Sleep Campaign partners.
• 300 first responders have taken online courses.
MyFlFamilies.com/SafeSleep
i
DCF helps refugees gain employment, acquire job skills, and become self-sufficient.

2012-13 BUDGET OVERVIEW
Family and Community Services $945,496,433 32.87%
Committed to the safety and well-being of vulnerable adults and permanency of children while preserving families
Mental Health $585,814,090 20.37%
Supports mental health services including crisis intervention services, community treatment, and residential
programs
Public Assistance $439,022,816 15.26%
Supports the planning, management, evaluation and delivery of public assistance
Investigations $312,493,471 10.86%
Child and Adult Protective Investigations consider allegations to determine the safety of children and vulnerable
adults
Substance Abuse $199,769,515 9.95%
Supports a continuum of community based substance abuse prevention, treatment, and detoxification services
InformationTechnology $177,436,815 6.17%
Develops and maintains information technology empowering frontline staff to provide timely services to Floridians
Forensic $130,153,956 4.52%
Supports forensic mental health services
Administration $86,161,403 3.00%
Executive Leadership assures the Department services meet the highest standards for quality and integrity
TOTAL $ 2,876,348,499 100.00%

Mission
Protect theVulnerable, Promote Strong and Economically Self-Sufficient Families, and
Advance Personal and Family Recovery and Resiliency

2013_year_end_report

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