Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Les NeuhausMarch 13, 2017

In a twist to a horrible tragedy in Miami in January, a foster child who committed suicide live on social media may have been watched by her mother, according to a Florida Department of Children (DCF) and Families report released to the media Monday. Naika Venant, 14, hung herself Jan. 22 with a scarf in […]

Les NeuhausMarch 1, 2017

Caseworkers at the Florida Department of Children and Families are being forced to shoulder nearly unbelievable workloads, leading some to falsify records, according to a new report by an Orlando TV news station. A single child protection investigator in the (DCF) had at one point 32 cases with 77 accompanying children, show DCF documents provided […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 23, 2017

Standing before the members of the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee Thursday, Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll admitted Naika Venant had been in out of foster care since 2009. Since April alone, she had been in 10 foster homes alone that included a hotel and a child welfare office building, according […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 16, 2017

Disturbing details laid bare in a 245-page report released by the State Attorney’s Office this week sheds more light on the misery baby Tayla Aleman endured before eventually succumbing to her body’s frail state in April 2016, in Loxahatchee. Barely more than a year old, the limp body of the girl was cut short, victim […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 7, 2017

The head of the state’s child welfare agency told a legislative panel his department has now handed over “5,000 pages of documents” to a judge looking into why a foster child hung herself while broadcasting it on social media. Mike Carroll, secretary of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), spoke to the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee this week. […]

Peter SchorschNovember 14, 2016

The Florida Department of Children and Families announced Monday it will receive $8 million in federal money to fund services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in underserved communities. The 2016 Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors (STOP) grant will fund victim services providers such as law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and courts by […]

Jim RosicaJune 2, 2016

A former in-house lobbyist for Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll is leaving state government for the private sector. Timothy “Tim” Parson will be director of government relations for Tallahassee’s Liberty Partners, headed by powerhouse lobbyist Jennifer J. Green. Parson, who’s been legislative affairs director at the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), […]

Jim RosicaMay 9, 2016

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), the state’s child welfare agency, announced Monday two new additions to its top ranks. JoShonda Guerrier was named assistant secretary for the Office of Child Welfare and Jeri Flora Culley will become assistant secretary for economic self-sufficiency, Secretary Mike Carroll said in an email. “JoShonda and Jeri have been proven leaders and I am […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2016

An internal review by the Department of Children and Families depicts a still dysfunctional agency, with workers feeling “unsupported,” “overwhelmed,” and “defeated.” The 133-page report, commissioned by DCF Secretary Mike Carroll, was released Thursday afternoon to FloridaPolitics.com in response to a public records request. It has been referred to informally in DCF circles as the “Sanford Report” after […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 23, 2016

Former Department of Children and Families Secretary Lucy Hadi died Monday in Tallahassee, the department said Tuesday. She was head of DCF from 2004 to 2006. Hadi, 70, had a long career at DCF and its precursor institution, the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. She started at HRS in 1971 after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from […]

Tag: Mike Carroll

Mother of Facebook Live suicide teen may have taunted her while watching

Review of 250 reports by DCF investigators accused of lying shows 40 percent falsified

Dismayed, DCF head Mike Carroll explains fragments of Facebook Live suicide case

Report: Florida toddler dead of starvation also infected from home reeking of dog feces, urine

Mike Carroll: “We aren’t always able” to save “broken” children

DCF receives $8 million grant to fund community-based projects targeting domestic violence and sexual assault

Personnel note: Tim Parson to Liberty Partners

DCF promotes two to leadership team

DCF workers feeling “overwhelmed” and “defeated,” new report says

Former DCF head Lucy Hadi dies in Tallahassee

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.