Latest News

April 12, 2022

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by foster families and legislative leaders to sign Senate Bill 7034, furthering Florida’s support for foster families. Among its provisions, Senate Bill 7034 raises monthly payments for relative and nonrelative care givers, increases the monthly subsidy for child care and expands postsecondary education waivers for foster children. Through historic support, since 2019 Florida has added more than 4,000 foster families across the state.

April 11, 2022

Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 7065, which includes educational programs, mentorship programs and one-on-one support to encourage responsible and involved fatherhood in Florida.

April 11, 2022

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 7065, which includes educational programs, mentorship programs and one-on-one support to encourage responsible and involved fatherhood in Florida. The bill is tied to nearly $70 million in funding to provide a wide spectrum of family and youth support through the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

April 4, 2022

DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris and others join in kickoff event marking April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

March 30, 2022

Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis announced Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity has now provided family-centered assistance to more than 25,000 Floridians to help them achieve economic sufficiency. The program, spearheaded by First Lady DeSantis and operated by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), utilizes Care Navigators to assist Floridians in need by identifying goals and removing barriers to economic self-sufficiency through local, community-based partners, including the private sector, faith-based institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

February 25, 2022

Today, Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Shevaun Harris announced the award winners of the $12 million procurement of behavioral health services for Florida's first responders and their families. These services will connect first responders to a provider or peer who is trained to provide referrals, information, and counseling.

February 23, 2022

Today, the Department of Children and Families (Department) announced that more than $1 billion in rental and utility assistance has been distributed through the OUR Florida program, helping nearly 185,000 households. In the past two weeks alone, the program has distributed more than $100 million to more than 25,000 families. This program is supported by more than 1,200 team members who answer calls, process applications, manage cases and provide assistance.

February 10, 2022

Today, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) filed a proposed permanent rule that prohibits the issuance or renewal of licenses for facilities or organizations that house Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) whom the Federal Government is resettling across the United States, including Florida, unless there is a cooperative agreement between the State of Florida and the Federal Government.

February 3, 2022

Florida Department of Children and Families Continues OUR Florida Program

January 13, 2022

In under two months, Department and Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Shevaun Harris and Department leadership have successfully begun transforming the community-based care system in Pinellas and Pasco Counties. These accomplishments range from working with local Sheriff’s offices to reduce child removal rates by 50 percent to selecting and transitioning a new lead agency for Circuit 6.