Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 2, 2016

A woman unpaid with unusually long work hours, or a young man recruited for a job under false premises. It is difficult to comprehend the evil of human trafficking, but its existence is real and occurs not only in poor and impoverished villages halfway around the world, but right here in our own communities. Human […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 14, 2016

The Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, chaired by Hollywood Democratic Sen. Eleanor Sobel, on Thursday unanimously passed Senate Bill 12, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, sponsored by Hialeah Republican Sen. Rene Garcia to improve the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services. “Our current system of behavioral health services is fragmented […]

Drew WilsonNovember 25, 2015

Nearly 1,400 Florida children in foster care will spend Thanksgiving with their families and loved ones as part of a Department of Children and Families initiative. The “Home for the Holidays” initiative, announced by DCF Secretary Mike Carroll Wednesday, will reunite 1,025 children with siblings, parents and extended family for Thanksgiving. “We often take for […]

Drew WilsonOctober 27, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday that his 2016 budget recommendation will including a $22.9 million funding bump for the Department of Children and Families. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking when a child is a victim of abuse or neglect. Anytime something horrific happens to an innocent child, we have to stop and think about what we can […]

Jim RosicaOctober 8, 2015

Jessica Sims will become the Department of Children and Families’ new communications director, starting Monday, Secretary Mike Carroll said in a news release Thursday. “We are excited to bring Jessica on board to lead the statewide efforts of collaboration, partnership and prevention with our community and media partners,” Carroll said in a prepared statement. “Our mission […]

Jim RosicaOctober 2, 2015

The Florida Department of Children and Families and private companies it contracts with to oversee the state’s child-welfare system agreed to pay $750,000 to head off any lawsuits resulting from a Gilchrist County man who killed his daughter and his six grandchildren. Documents dealing with the settlement, one of which appeared hastily hand-written during a […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 8, 2015

In a flurry of political activity, several no-party-affiliated candidates filed in South Florida House and Senate seats during the long holiday weekend. Each candidate is associated with a group pushing to reform the Department of Children and Families and the state’s family court system. Mercedes Cristian, the founder of Fundación Lideres de Paz, an organization that […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 3, 2015

A top state child-protection official who reportedly had an “frat house”-management style, disparaging and berating underlings and referring to some as “ho’s,” has quit his job. David Abramowitz was director of the Northeast Florida region for the Department of Children and Families. He turned in his resignation Wednesday, as first reported by First Coast News. DCF Press Secretary Michelle Glady […]

Phil AmmannAugust 18, 2015

Telecommunications giant AT&T named expert political consultant Ian Cotner as new Regional Director of External Affairs. Cotner, with over a decade of experience in the Florida Capitol, will oversee legislative and community affairs projects in the Treasure Coast, Palm Beach, Okeechobee and Glades Counties. He will work with community leaders, legislators and business leaders on […]

Tag: Department of Children and Families
Pastel colored tropical townhomes

Former DCF head Lucy Hadi dies in Tallahassee

Christina Daly and Mike Carroll: State is combatting human trafficking

Senate committee passes legislation to improve delivery of mental health, substance abuse services

DCF program sends Florida foster children “Home for the Holidays”

Rick Scott asks for $23 million budget bump for DCF in 2016

Jessica Sims to head DCF’s communications

State agrees to settlement in Bell mass shooting incident

Several NPA candidates file in South Florida races over Labor Day weekend

DCF losing top child-protection official for Jacksonville region

Personnel note: AT&T names Ian Cotner as Regional Director of External Affairs