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Staff ReportsJuly 2, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott says he has told the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to “file a budget amendment to redirect funding for homelessness prevention services.” Scott announced the move in a news release Monday. “The Florida Legislature provided DCF spending authority in the FY 2018-19 budget, but did not provide dollars needed to fund these […]

Peter SchorschJune 29, 2018

And here we go again. Another ill-fated plan to save a failed development with taxpayer dollars. This story from the Tallahassee Democrat has two agencies (Department of Children and Families and the Department of State) moving into another failed shopping center. Let’s not forget what happened just a few years ago when state agencies were forced […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 19, 2018

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A spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott Sunday rejected comparisons between a 2016 state investigation into the Parkland school shooter and the FBI’s lack of follow-up on tips on his potential danger. “It is absurd and irresponsible to compare the DCF’s investigation, completed nearly 18 months ago in response to allegations of caregiver abuse and neglect, […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 18, 2018

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott demanded that FBI Director Christopher Wray resign after the federal agency acknowledged it failed to follow standard procedures after receiving a tip in January about Nikolas Cruz, the man charged this week with killing 17 people at a Broward high school. “Seventeen innocent people are dead, and acknowledging a mistake isn’t going […]

Ana CeballosNovember 30, 2017

While the state has paid $11 million to settle sexual harassment workplace disputes over 30 years, records released Thursday show it also settled nearly a dozen cases that resulted in a zero-dollar payout. Florida Politics requested documents from the state Department of Financial Services, which list 11 state workers — both men and women — […]

Jim RosicaNovember 14, 2017

A Tallahassee judge has agreed to the release of Department of Children and Families (DCF) records on home health care abuses to the Tampa Bay Times. Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers last week OK’d an agreement between the newspaper and the department that would allow Times investigative reporter Kathleen McGrory access to certain redacted investigative records. State […]

Jim RosicaNovember 3, 2017

Rebecca Kapusta, general counsel for the Department of Children and Families (DCF), will next serve as the agency’s new Assistant Secretary for Operations, a DCF spokesman said Friday. Kapusta, who’s been with the agency for more than a decade, replaces Vicki Abrams. She’s retiring after 30-plus years with the department and “a nearly 35-year career dedicated […]

Staff ReportsNovember 2, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott didn’t roll out his entire proposed budget Thursday at AP Day, yet he floated a proposal that likely will meet no objection. The governor proposed $200 million for families who adopt children from foster care. This money will continue post-adoption services for more than 37,000 children. Adoptions have gone up since Scott […]

Danny McAuliffeOctober 25, 2017

The Department of Children and Families is requesting more than $250 million from the Legislature for fiscal year 2018-19. Kimberly McMurray, chief financial officer of the department, laid out a list of specific initiatives Wednesday to the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. DCF’s funding requests were organized into four goals: — Expand and better coordinate […]

Jim RosicaOctober 19, 2017

The company that publishes the Tampa Bay Times is asking a Tallahassee court to order the release of records on “abuse, neglect or exploitation of vulnerable adults by providers of home health care services” from the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF). The petition, agreed to by the department, was filed this week by Times Publishing Co. and […]

Tag: Department of Children and Families

Rick Scott orders money for homelessness prevention

Malled to death

Governor’s Office rejects FBI, DCF comparisons post-Parkland

By Rick Scott’s standards, Rick Scott should resign in wake of Parkland shooting

State settled 11 sexual harassment cases without payout agreement

Judge OKs release of abuse reports to Tampa Bay Times

Personnel note: Rebecca Kapusta made ass’t secretary at DCF

Rick Scott proposes $200M for adoption of foster kids

DCF requests funding, lists priorities

Tampa Bay Times seeks court order for DCF investigations