CSC of St. Lucie County Celebrates
18th Anniversary
In 1990,
voters in St. Lucie County approved the Children's
Services Council (CSC) so they could invest in children
and families in their community. Eighteen years later,
the CSC continues to successfully fund and advocate for
early intervention and prevention programs in the
community. As part of its 18th Anniversary
celebration, St. Lucie CSC is kicking off the "Show a
Child You Care" campaign. The campaign reminds everyone
that children are a priority. The Florida Children's
Services Council congratulates St. Lucie CSC on 18 years
of service and dedication to improve the lives of
children in their community.
Gov. Crist Makes Sheldon's Post Permanent
as Head of DCF
After several weeks as
DCF's interim chief, George Sheldon was officially
appointed agency secretary by Gov. Charlie Crist on
Sept. 30. Sheldon replaces long-time friend Bob
Butterworth whose resignation was effective Aug. 15.
Sheldon was brought to the agency almost two years ago
by Butterworth, and said his top concern was to train
case workers to make sure that families receive more
information about food stamps, and mental-health and
substance-abuse counseling.
Prior to
arriving at DCF, Sheldon served as associate dean for
student and alumni affairs at St. Thomas University in
Miami. Most of his career, however, has been spent in
public service, beginning in 1967 with a position at the
Florida Department of State. He then held a number of
positions in state government including leader of
Governor-Elect Reubin Askew's transition team, and as a
two-term Representative in the Florida House. As a state
legislator, Sheldon served on the Committee on Health
and Rehabilitative Services and was integral in the
reorganization of the agency now known as the Department
of Children and Families.
The Florida
Children's Services Council congratulates Secretary
Sheldon on his appointment, and looks forward to working
with him on behalf of Florida's children and their
families.
Dr. Judy Schaechter Appointed to Healthy
Kids Board, Another Reappointed
Gov. Charlie
Crist appointed Dr. Judy Schaechter to the Florida
Healthy Kids Board of Directors. A physician and
associate professor at the University of Miami, Dr.
Schaechter is also a member of the Florida Children and
Youth Cabinet, as well as The Children's Trust of
Miami-Dade County board. Additionally, Gov. Crist
reappointed Dr. Joseph Chiaro of Tallahassee, a
physician and deputy secretary of Children's Medical
Services with the Florida Department of Health. Both
will serve a term beginning Sept. 29, 2008, and ending
June 30, 2011.
FAN Set to Premier Afterschool
Video
Working in
partnership with the Afterschool Alliance, the Florida
Afterschool Network (FAN), Bright House Networks and the
Florida Cable Association have produced a 30-minute
cable television program to educate viewers about the
benefits of afterschool programs and what is happening
in programs around the country and in Florida. The show,
"After the School Bell Rings - Are the Lights on After
School for Florida's Kids," will premier Oct. 16, 2008,
from 4:30 - 6:30 in Tampa at the Rampello Downtown
Partnership School. The premier will coincide with the
9th Annual Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide
celebration of afterschool programs held each October in
7,500+ communities. For more information, visit the FAN
web site at www.myfan.org.
Lt. Governor Announces "Champions for
Children" Interagency Agreement
Lt. Governor
Jeff Kottkamp has announced the designation of
"champions" for Florida children who are served by the
state's health and human service agencies. Five state
agencies signed the agreement pledging their commitment
to reducing unnecessary delays in assistance and
services. Agencies include the departments of Children
and Families, Juvenile Justice, Health, as well as the
Agency for Health Care Administration and the Agency for
Persons with Disabilities, signed the agreement. The
agreement is one of several recommendations to come from
the Children and Youth Cabinet. View the
agreement. View the press
release.
JWB Participates in First Gang Reduction
Task Force Meeting
As part of a
statewide initiative to reduce gang activity in Florida,
Attorney General Bill McCollum is holding a series of
regional meetings across the state. Planning Department
staff with the JWB Children's Services Council (CSC) of
Pinellas participated in the first meeting in Tampa. To
ensure input from a wide range of community partners,
JWB CSC planning staff worked with St. Petersburg
College's Gang-Related Investigations Program Director
Dr. Carol Rasor to maximize the participation of funded
agencies, law enforcement and integral community
members. Opening remarks and direction were provided by
Attorney General McCollum, Department of Juvenile
Justice Secretary Frank Peterman, and St. Petersburg
President Dr. Carl Kuttler. JWB Children's Services
Council Planning staff and Community Council members
participated in the Lab and presented results of their
individual team strategies to the rest of the
participants, which included state and local leaders,
prevention/intervention organizations, business leaders
and local, state and federal law enforcement.
~ Submitted
by JWB-CSC of Pinellas County
Advocacy Community Loses Two Champions for
Florida's Most Vulnerable
Louis de la
Parte and Judge Howard Zeidwig, both active advocates
for some of Florida's most vulnerable citizens have both
passed away. De la Parte, whose name is on the Florida
Mental Health Institute at the University of South
Florida, dedicated his leadership to reforming Florida's
mental hospitals, prisons and juvenile reform schools.
He often is referred to as the "father of HRS" for
sponsoring, in 1969, the creation of the Department of
Health and Rehabilitative Services, known today as the
Department of Children and Families.
Judge
Zeidwig earned widespread appreciation for his work on
behalf of at-risk youth. He mentored younger attorneys
and sat on many civic boards, including the Broward's
Children's Services Council. He did away with ankle
shackles on youngsters being brought to court. He also
supported an order to stop moving young defendants
through the Main Jail, which had subjected them to
harassment by adult inmates. "His philosophy was that we
need to rescue the children, so that they can grow up
and contribute to their community," said Commissioner
Sue Gunzburger, who chairs the Children's Services
Council
board.
