The Florida Department of Children and Families is launching an investigation to figure out how a number of Florida foster children wound up in unlicensed homes. Florida DCF officials have identified a handful of kids who’ve been unlawfully placed in facilities that aren’t licensed by the Florida department. Spokeswoman Erin Gillespie said the department is working to make sure it won’t happen again. She said the placements were not made by DCF employees.
“DCF contracts child welfare services to local community based providers. So, it’s not our employees that are making these decisions,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie said the children were placed in the homes accidentally or because officials had run out of other places that would take some kids. The department has asked the Florida inspector general to look into the situation.
