child welfare

The newest food benefits program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture will officially launch in the summer of 2024. The deadline for states to sign up was Jan. 1.

The facility will house administrative offices and serve as a connection between the community and a multitude of service providers.

Healthy Start is a free home visiting program that provides education and care coordination to pregnant women and families with children under the age of 3.

The virtual gathering will involve the area's many organizations that provide services and advocacy for children and families.

At times, the state’s foster care system can appear to be a revolving door—with children in and out of different homes. Senate President Wilton Simpson has made it his priority to stop kids being bounced from place-to-place. He, along with Republican Senator Jason Brodeur, are spearheading an effort to provide more stability to children who may find themselves in unstable situations.

The Executive Director of Florida’s Guardian ad Litem programs defended his agency today before a Senate panel. A recent state audit of the program found it was able to hire more staff with increased state funding, but wasn’t serving more kids. Alan Abromowitz is questioning the audit's findings.

For nearly two decades the Florida Department of Children and Families has been plagued by high-profile failures that resulted in children being severely harmed or killed. It’s also struggled with high employee turnover and ongoing criticism. This year, the results of a USA Today project are prompting new legislation aimed at how the agency deals with foster parents. WFSU recently spoke with DCF Secretary Chad Poppell about how the agency is trying to move forward.

A comment by Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Chad Poppell is still riling members of the Senate’s Children and Families Committee. None more so than Committee Chairwoman Lauren Book.

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) held a summit Tuesday to discuss its high turn-over rates, heavy workloads, and low recruitment. DCF…

Partners across the state are recognizing May as National Foster Care Month in Florida. The state has about 5,400 licensed foster homes, and there’s a…