|
May
is Foster Care Awareness Month!
And we have a winner!
A
big thanks to everyone who completed the newsletter survey in the April issue
of DCF Vision. The majority of respondents said they found the
newsletter to be very informative and that it keeps them up to date on what is going
on in the Department happenings. A number you said you would like to see more success
stories, news on employee accomplishments, and more information on all aspects
of DCF. We appreciate the helpful feedback, and will be using your suggestions.
We also promised a DCF coffee mug to one lucky survey respondent. Suzanne
Stevens is our winner! To claim your prize, Suzanne, please contact us at dcfvision@dcf.state.fl.us.
Strategic Vision Update
DCF Celebrates Successful 2013 Legislative Session
The
2013 legislative session came to a close Friday, May 3. This session saw some
significant legislation for improving the lives of Floridians. Over the next
few weeks, the budget and a number of bills will be sent to the Governor for
review. Included in the budget are salary increases for State employees. With the
Governor’s approval, State employees making less than $40,000 annually will
receive a pay increase of $1,400 and employees making more than $40,000 will
receive an increase of $1,000. In addition, 35 percent of employees will get
bonuses of up to $600 based on their job performance. For highlights of the
Department’s priority legislation, take a look at the Secretary’s message.
At the end of the day, performance is really all that matters, especially in an agency like ours, where our actions mean the difference between life and death, safety and harm, hope and hopelessness. That is why DCF is implementing its new Performance Management System designed to support the high-performance workforce we must have to remain a leader in child welfare and individual safety and self-sufficiency in the United States. The primary goal of the Performance Management System is to create a department wide evaluation process that better reflects our commitment to performance.
July 1 is our "Go Live" date for our new Performance Management System, a department-wide evaluation process that will better reflect our commitment to performance. We have designed a website to provide DCF employees with the information they need to understand and use the new system. Your feedback is critical as we go through this change together. Please review this site, and ask questions of your supervisors, and managers too. This website will continue to grow as we get closer to our "Go Live" date of July 1, so check back often. Click on the link below to learn more.
http://eww/PerformanceMatters/index.shtml
DCF Success Stories
Governor
Rick Scott and the Department of Management Services recently awarded DCF the
“Governor’s Savings Award” for standout contributions to efficiencies and cost
savings in state enterprise. DCF renegotiated a contract for electronic
benefits transfer / electronic funds transfer (EBT/EFT) services through the
Economic Self-Sufficiency Program. The contract will save nearly $21 million
over its lifespan and provide $2.4 million in added services.
 |
|
Secretary and Mrs. Wilkins walk with two CPIs during the "Walk in My Shoes" event in Tallahassee. |
DCF employees from
Key West to Tallahassee joined Lauren Book, child sexual abuse prevention
advocate, to walk with her as part of her 1,500-mile Walk in My Shoes trek
across Florida. Lauren Book, founder of Lauren’s Kids, was a victim of sexual
abuse as a child. Her organization educates adults and children with the goal
to prevent sexual abuse and help survivors heal with guidance and support. See a
video and information about the Lauren's Kids organization on YouTube. DCF and Lauren’s Kids
have partnered on a child abuse prevention campaign called Don’t Miss the
Signs. Learn more at DontMissTheSigns.org.
 |
|
Governor Scott (seated) signs the "Letting Kids be Kids" bill with legislators, DCF Secretary David Wilkins, Florida’s Fostering and Adoption
Advocate Tanya Wilkins, GAL Director Alan Abramowitz, and CBC leadership looking on.
|
Children's
Week 2013 was a big hit, with hundreds of visitors at DCF’s Capitol courtyard
booth enjoying coloring, face painting, Pinwheels for Prevention, and more!
This year's festivities were made even more special with a Foster Parent
Awareness Day held on Thursday, April 11. During this special day, history was
made as Gov. Rick Scott, accompanied by First Lady Ann Scott, signed the
"Normalcy" bill into law. The bill gives foster parents the freedom
to parent, and foster kids the chance to just be kids! The press event for the
bill signing was attended by foster parents, foster children, legislators, DCF
Secretary David Wilkins, Florida’s Fostering and Adoption Advocate Tanya
Wilkins, GAL Director Alan Abramowitz, CBC leadership, and other supporters,
who shared in the celebration. See photos on our Facebook photo albums page!
 |
|
Central Region’s 2012 Gold
Hunger Champion Award
|
The Food and Nutrition
Council recently announced that Florida had seven 2012 Hunger Champion Award
winners, a program that honors local social services offices for providing
exemplary SNAP outreach and service to clients. The winners are:
- Alachua County DCF (Gold)
- DCF Central Region (Gold)
- DCF Southeast Region
(Silver)
- Schell-Sweet Community
Resource Center in Jacksonville (Silver)
- Beaches Emergency Assistance
Ministry in Jacksonville Beach (Bronze)
- Second Harvest Food Bank
of Central Florida in Orlando (Bronze)
-
Whole Child Connection in Stuart (Bronze)
Congratulations to all our
Economic Self-Sufficiency staff and partners on a job well done!
The
Florida Public Service Commission recognized DCF as a “PSC Helping Hand” for
helping them reach Florida’s underserved customers. Our Economic
Self-Sufficiency program partners with the PSC to help them connect with
thousands of low-income families with Lifeline Assistance, a telephone discount
program.
It all started with
two Children’s Legal Services attorneys reminiscing about their special prom
memories. This trip down memory lane evolved into a brilliant idea to collect
formal wear and in-kind donations for teens in care who want to attend their prom.
The initiative has seen outstanding support, with over 50 dresses lined up for
the young ladies. Many teens in care did not know attending their prom or
homecoming was an option due to the costs associated with formal wear,
accessories, and travel. Please continue to support this wonderful initiative
by contacting Stacy McDuffie at 352-742-6086, or message DCF on Facebook!
Congratulations
to Freedom Ride in Orlando for winning the $50,000 2013 World Charity Award from
ABB, the global leader in power and automation technologies. The award will
fund new programs for veterans and their families, as well as foster children.
Freedom Ride will be hosting a Camps for Champions this summer to focus on
foster youth who are medically challenged. Learn more about Freedom Rider at FreedomRide.com
DCF Champions
 |
|
Secretary Wilkins and the recipients of the Public Service Award. |
In honor of Public Service
Recognition week, Secretary Wilkins recognized 12 Central Office staff with
Public Service Awards for their unique contributions to furthering the vision
and goals of the Department. Those awarded were: Amanda Huston, Benefit
Integrity; Jennifer King, Administrative Services; Brenda Gordon, Executive
Communications; Terry Brown, Budget Services; Kim Barrett, Abuse Hotline;
Kellie Sweat, Child Protection Transformation; Herschel Minnis, Deputy General
Counsel; Kathy Goltry, Mental Health Program; Clyde Moody, General Services;
Nancy Taylor, Economic Self-Sufficiency Program; Jon Croft, Economic
Self-Sufficiency Program; and Roy Car, Adult Protective Services.
Congratulations to all!
 |
|
Secretary Wilkins (left) presents Manuel Jiminez, owner of
Harvest Printing, with Visionary Award. Pictured with Mrs. Jiminez and
Hiram Ruiz. |
We
have added a new page on our Internet site to honor the DCF Visionary Award
winners. Take a look at these visionaries and see what they have accomplished
and what they have to say.
DCF gives a warm welcome
to Ms. Alexis Lambert, Mr. Whitney Ray, Mr. Mike Davis, and Ms. Grainne O' Sullivan. Alexis is our new Communications
Director. She formerly served as communications director for Chief Financial
Officer Jeff Atwater and has previously served as press secretary for the Department
of Business and Professional Regulation and the Agency for Workforce
Innovation. Whitney Ray joins DCF as our new Press Secretary, and comes to
us from the Capital News Service. Mike Davis former Centennial Bank Business Development Officer has joined DCF to work with Cyndee Odom on changes to Independent Living as a result of new legislation. We also welcome Ms. Grainne O’Sullivan to
Children’s Legal Services. She begins May 13 as the Southeast Region Children’s
Legal Services Director, coming from the Attorney General’s Office, where she
has practiced law since 2001.
 |
|
L-R: Dresa Craven, FSH Director of Social
Services; Teresa English, Recovery Planning Director; Harry Harrington, FSH
Peer Specialist.
|
Kudos to Florida State
Hospital (FSH) staff for going above and beyond to assist a former resident to
succeed in the community. This resident recently came back to the
facility for assistance when his educational plans did not work out as
hoped. He came to see Harry Harrington,
FSH's Peer Specialist at the Freedom House.
Mr. Harrington called the Recovery Planning Director, Teresa English for
assistance. After talking to the former
resident, Mr. Harrington and Ms. English contacted Dresa Craven, MSW, LCSW,
Director of Social Services. She
responded immediately and, within a few hours, identified a place for
the former FSH resident to live and services through case management. Their
quick action and accessibility saved this former resident from having to be
readmitted to FSH. Special thanks to Dresa
Craven, Teresa English, and Harry Harrington for making this happen.
|
