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The
Affordable Care Act went into effect July 1, and our customers may come to you
with questions. To assist you in answering their questions, the ACCESS Florida
Transformation Team developed the following materials for your reference on the Intranet site.
Strategic Vision Update
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Governor Rick Scott speaking at the Independent Living Bill signing. |
On June 24, Governor Rick
Scott signed into law SB 1036, a bill that gives foster youth the option to
remain in foster care until age 21. Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, foster youth will
have the option to participate in the “MY Future, MY Choice” program as long as
they meet requirements. The program will give kids living options, leadership
development and guidance to assist them with the transition to adulthood.
Secretary Wilkins said, “The eyes of the nation are on Florida as we make
historic changes to the foster care system, paving the way for brighter futures
for the children and young adults entrusted to our care. I am grateful to
Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature for making Florida a national model
for common sense and compassion, and for giving young adults in foster care the
resources and support they need to be successful.” See the Governor's press release here.
For
the sixth year in a row, the USDA recognized Florida as the best state in the
nation for accuracy in processing food assistance (SNAP) applications. DCF’s
accuracy in processing food assistance applications has received accolades and
bonus money from the federal government, totaling more than $47 million since
2008. “Year after year, Florida continues to be recognized as a leader for
quality and accuracy because of the dedicated work of DCF employees who set a
high standard and remain committed to improving,” Secretary Wilkins said. “This
bonus illustrates our determination in getting assistance to the right people,
at the right time, in the right amount – no more, no less.”
The
new performance management system officially started July 1. Take a look at our
Intranet website and see what employees are saying about why
performance matters. Also check out tactics,
training, tools and tips related to the new performance management process. Your
performance matters!
DCF Success Stories
The 17th Annual Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent (FSFAPA) Conference marked a major milestone for the Fostering Florida's Future initiative. Just one year ago at the FSFAPA Conference, Secretary Wilkins announced the ambitious goal to recruit 1,200 new foster parents. This year, the Secretary was joined by foster and adoptive parents, as well as community based care and child welfare leaders, to celebrate the achievement of that goal. Thanks to many collaborative efforts and wonderful families throughout Florida, there are now hundreds of new homes open to children in foster care.
Running parallel to the foster parent conference, was the NEX GEN conference, where youth of all ages were able to participate in some exciting workshops too! One of the creative workshops available to the foster youth was written and presented by DCF's own Samantha Rogers. Samantha works in the Office of Executive Communications and has experienced foster care firsthand. She offered the teens who participated a way to reduce their stress, focus on their futures, and seize every opportunity they find to succeed. Thanks to everyone who helped make this year's conference and the Fostering Florida's Future initiative such a success.
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A group of campers at the University of South Florida Robotics Lab learning how robots respond to commands. |
After
just a few hours, most of the kids had assembled functioning robots on the
first day of the “Summer of Innovation” Lego robotics camp at the Science
Center of Pinellas. Thirty foster children spent the week gaining valuable science,
technology, engineering and math skills, building robots and learning how to work
as part of a team. The camp was organized by community based care provider
Eckerd Community Alternatives and DCF. Special thanks goes to Wells Fargo for
their support in making the camp possible. Check out the St. Petersburg Tribune article about the camp here.
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Family Support Services CEO Lee Kaywork (second from left), Mark Brunell (Center) and Regional Director David Abramowitz (right) with a group of campers. |
Nearly
100 foster children recently enjoyed hands-on experiences at Camps for Champions
events, including meeting legendary Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell. During
the week-long camp, kids in foster care participated in one of two summer camps
offered by the University of North Florida (UNF). At the UNF Youth Sports &
Fitness Camp, youth enjoyed swimming, various sports activities, team-building,
and games. At the UNF Eco Camp, they enjoyed the great outdoors with nature exploration,
canoeing, swimming, and a visit to a wildlife sanctuary. A huge thank you to the
Mark Brunell Foundation, Wells Fargo, the University of North Florida, and
Family Support Services of North Florida for teaming up to make this camp
possible. Watch TV Coverage of the camp here.
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Foster youth climbing up a rock wall during the Jon Bostick Camp for Champions |
More than 30 foster
children, ages 12-16, enjoyed an overnight camping experience at the four-day
Gold Coast Christian Camp in Lake Worth. The youth enjoyed hands-on, team
building activities and inspiration from celebrity athletes, including Chicago
Bears linebacker and former University of Florida football great Jon Bostick.
This summertime fun was made possible by community sponsors, including ChildNet, Wells Fargo, Children’s Home Society, Vita Nova, the Foster Adoptive Parent
Association, and other supporters. See more photos from the Sun-Sentinel.
The
University of South Florida, together with Derrick Brooks Charities, recently
hosted a three-day camp for foster children. The children explored hands-on
applications in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and applied their
knowledge through real-world applications in sports and robotics. They also
heard guest speakers from the Tampa Bay Rays and others in the sports industry
and discussed the business of sports and its application in math and science. The
event was sponsored by Derrick Brooks Charities, Eckerd Community Alternatives,
Wells Fargo, Forward Thinking Initiatives and the Urban Scholar Outreach
Program at USF. View the press release on Derrick Brooks Charities website.
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Some
of the volunteers packaging food |
Approximately 35 Circuit
18 staff and family members joined more than 1,000 volunteers to assist the
Brevard Children's Hunger Project, United Way of Brevard, Brevard Hunger
Alliance, and Face of Change to package over 110,000 meals for distribution
during the summer. The meals will be distributed through the Summer Feed and
Read Program. Participants 18 years of age and younger are given lunch while
participating in a reading instructional program. Younger children are given a
family meal to take home, and each week receive a reading-level appropriate
book. DCF volunteers included staff from Child Protective Services, Children's
Legal Services, Adult Protective Services, Child Care Licensing, ESS, and
Community Development Administration, along with members of their families. Learn
more about Summer Break Spots around the state at: summerfoodflorida.org/
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Mike
Carroll (right) and Hayden Matheison (left) at the Sterling Conference |
Director of Substance
Abuse, Mental Health and Child Welfare Integration Hayden Matheison and SunCoast
Regional Managing Director Mike Carroll presented on the Department's Managing
Entity strategy, with a focus on integration of primary and behavioral
healthcare with child welfare services, at the Health Care Symposium at the
annual Florida Sterling Conference. The audience was primarily health care
professionals from around the country, with some local regional Substance Abuse and Mental Health providers in attendance. Mike and Hayden highlighted the progress
made in terms of reducing administrative costs, implementation of utilization
management, and a focus on evidence-based best practice.
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Judge Katherine Essrig (left) with La’Trell and his adoptive mother, Susan
Ambrose. |
La’trell
started his life against nearly insurmountable odds. He was born three and a
half months early, weighing little more than a pound, addicted to alcohol and
cocaine, with multiple medical problems, including cerebral palsy. He has been
in foster care almost his whole life until his medical foster mother adopted
him on May 31. La’Trell has made amazing progress during his years in foster
care, learning to walk unassisted, to communicate with his adoptive mother and
sometimes others, and socialize with the other children in his home. The progress
he has made can be attributed to the love and support he has received from his
adoptive mother, Susan Ambrose. Click here for information about adoptions in
Florida.
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Left
to right: Maria Gandul (DCF), Representatives. Michael Bileca, Carlos Trujillo,
Jose Felix Diaz, Erik Fresen, and Frank Artiles, and Tony Wagner (DCF) |
On
June 20, Farm Share, in collaboration with the offices of Florida Representatives
Frank Artiles, Erik Fresen, Michel Bileca, Jose Felix Diaz, and Carlos
Trujillo, as well as Maria Gandul and Tony Wagner from DCF, held a Free Food
Distribution Event. The event ran from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., with volunteers showing
up as early as 5 a.m. to prepare and ensure everything was ready to go. The
event assisted a large number of families in need in Miami. Without the
participation of Farm Share and these hard-working elected officials, this event would not have been possible.
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Mural
on the wall of the CPI office in Orlando. |
Community partners
Aon Hewitt and the Foundation for Foster Children teamed up to make DCF’s Downtown
Orlando office comfortable and child friendly. The new renovations include
family-friendly visitation rooms and a stunning new lobby, complete with a
spectacular hand-painted mural. In addition to the renovations, the Foundation
for Foster Children stocked all supply cabinets with pajamas, toiletries, and
other essentials for children who are suddenly removed from their homes. The
Foundation continued to touch our hearts when they committed to keeping those
supply cabinets stocked for an entire year.
Many thanks to Aon
Hewitt and the Foundation for making this dream a reality for our PIs and our
children.
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Tryton Swiggard-Johnson presented with Best
& Brightest Award |
This year’s Leon
County Best and Brightest awards provided recognition and scholarships to many
deserving teens in the Tallahassee area. One of the teens receiving an award
was Tryton Swiggard-Johnson, a student at Godby High School, and resident of
Boys Town. As a youth in foster care, Tryton found it important to speak
publicly in support of foster parent rights. His excellent advocacy contributed
to the passing of SB164 (the “Normalcy Bill”) and earned him the Honorable
Mention for Public Speaking. Congratulations Tryton! Keep up the great work! Find out more on the Best and Brightest Awards Blog.
DCF Champions
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Governor Rick Scott (Center) with Shalunda Turo (4th from left), Suzanne Vitale (bottom row 2nd from right) and other DCF Davis Productivity award winners |
Shalunda Turo, in DCF’s Executive Communications Office, received this
year’s Davis Productivity Award Coordinator of the Year honor. Shalunda has
done an outstanding job of coordinating the Department’s award nominations for
the past four years. Congratulations Shalunda! An award well deserved!
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Hiram
Ruiz, Refugee Services Director, inducted into Hall of Fame. |
Hiram Ruiz, DCF’s Refugee Services Director, was recently inducted into the Miami-Dade College Alumni Hall of Fame at the June induction event
attended by over 1,000 people. Congratulations Hiram!
Nicole Stookey will be the new Legislative Affairs Deputy Director
starting mid July. Nicole joins legislative affairs after serving as the
Communications Director for the Northwest Region. She began working at DCF in
2003. We welcome Nicole to her new role with the Department.
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SunCoast Region
Adult Protective Services staff with quilt. |
June 15 was World
Elder Abuse Awareness Day, an annual event to promote a better
understanding of abuse and neglect of elderly and disabled persons by raising
awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting
them. To acknowledge World Elder Abuse Awareness Day this year, Amy Pecquet,
Registered Nurse Specialist in the Adult Protective Services program in the SunCoast
Region, and her mom created a quilt made from fabric donated by other Adult
Protective Services staff in the Region. Click here to read her compassionate
story.
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