Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Florence SnyderJanuary 27, 2017

How many adults does it take to get a 4-year-old girl from day care to her “destination?” Quite a few for a 4-year-old in the “care” of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and its “community partners” at Eckerd Kids and Camelot Community Care. We don’t know the child’s name because #PrivacyLaws. But […]

Scott PowersJanuary 26, 2017

Concerned that there are under-the-radar problems with teen children abusing parents, state Rep. Amy Mercado is seeking to create a parent abuse reporting system that could give the parents some of the same protections the state extends to children being abused by parents. Mercado, an Orlando Democrat, filed House Bill 431 this week, aiming to […]

Associated PressJanuary 16, 2017

Officials say the number of human trafficking cases have increased more than 50 percent in the state from the previous year.The Florida Department of Children and Families says Florida received 1,892 reports of human trafficking. That’s a 54 percent increase from the previous year. The increase in reported allegations of human trafficking was due in […]

Staff ReportsMay 23, 2016

The Florida Ports Council named Niki McKinnell as vice president of public affairs. McKinnell replaces Jennifer Krell Davis who has accepted a position as deputy director of the Office of Public Information at The Florida Bar. McKinnell brings more than a decade of communications and public affairs experience to the Florida Ports Council. She comes […]

Jim RosicaApril 8, 2016

Longtime Florida journalist and attorney Neil Skene said he has accepted an offer to work for Illinois Children and Family Services Director George Sheldon. Sheldon, a Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged Attorney General Pam Bondi last election, was secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families from 2008-2011. He did not return a call seeking comment. The move […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 28, 2016

Raise your hand if you ever had an EBT card, or that is, been on food stamps. Whew! I am not alone. In 2012, I was let go from a job I held for six years. The economy was still recovering from the Great Recession, and being a working class fellow with no higher education […]

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 […]

Guest AuthorNovember 12, 2015

It’s working! No, not Gov. Rick Scott’s economic incentives program, which Scott is pushing relentlessly (to the detriment to his credibility: little does Scott care) and receiving much resistance from state lawmakers. It loses money, doesn’t bring jobs, and has a total of $140 million in escrow accounts. Yet the governor asks for an additional […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 27, 2015

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The Florida Department of Children and Families announced two key appointments Tuesday. Michael Wickersheim will be the agency’s legislative affairs director. Tim Parson, the employee who formerly held that post, will now be the executive staff director for Florida’s Drug Policy Advisory Council. “We are excited to bring Michael on board as we head into […]

Guest AuthorAugust 12, 2014

George Sheldon is campaigning for the Democratic nomination for Florida Attorney General. If he wins, he will face Pam Bondi, the current attorney general, in November. Here are his answers to questions I posed to him: What does the Florida Attorney General do? The attorney general is the chief legal officer for the state, responsible […]

Tag: Florida Department of Children and Families

Florida’s children live and die at the crowded corner of Dickens & Orwell, part 3

Amy Mercado, Victor Torres seek ‘parent abuse’ reporting system

Human trafficking cases increase 50 percent in Florida

Personnel note: Florida Ports Council names Niki McKinnell as Public Affairs VP

Former Times bureau chief to work for George Sheldon at Illinois’ DCF

Chris Timmons: Florida wants welfare for the rich, not the poor

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

Chris Timmons: Governor ignores his one big success story

Former Jeff Brandes staff member appointed to DCF role

Stephen Goldstein: A Q&A with George Sheldon, Democratic candidate for AG