DCF Involvement

The mission of the Department of Children and Families is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency. To that end, the Department is involved in various task forces, councils, committees, etc. that seek to improve the lives of Floridians across the state.

First Responders Deterrence Task Force (s. 14.2019(5), F.S.)

• Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention.—
  • The purpose of the task force is to make recommendations on how to reduce the incidence of suicide and attempted suicide among employed or retired first responders in the state.
  • The task force is composed of a representative of the statewide office and a representative of each of the following first responder organizations, nominated by the organization and appointed by the Secretary of Children and Families:
    • The Florida Professional Firefighters Association.
    • The Florida Police Benevolent Association.
    • The Florida State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police.
    • The Florida Sheriffs Association.
    • The Florida Police Chiefs Association.
    • The Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association.

    Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council (s. 14.20195, F.S.)

    • There is created within the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention - a Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council. The council shall develop strategies for preventing suicide.
    • CouncilMembership —The Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council shall consist of 31 voting members and 1 nonvoting member.
      • Seventeen members shall be appointed by the director of the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention and shall represent the following organizations:
      • The Florida Association of School Psychologists.
      • The Florida Sheriffs Association.
      • The Florida Initiative of Suicide Prevention.
      • The Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition.
      • The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
      • The Florida School Board Association.
      • The National Council for Suicide Prevention.
      • The state chapter of AARP.
      • The Florida Behavioral Health Association.
      • The Florida Counseling Association.
      • NAMI Florida.
      • The Florida Medical Association.
      • The Florida Osteopathic Medical Association.
      • The Florida Psychiatric Society.
      • The Florida Psychological Association.
      • Veterans Florida.
      • The Florida Association of Managing Entities.
      • The following state officials or their designees shall serve on the coordinating council:
        • The Secretary of Elderly Affairs.
        • The State Surgeon General.
        • The Commissioner of Education.
        • The Secretary of Health Care Administration.
        • The Secretary of Juvenile Justice.
        • The Secretary of Corrections.
        • The executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement.
        • The executive director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
        • The Secretary of Children and Families.
        • The Secretary of Economic Opportunity.

        Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys (s. 16.615, F.S.)

        • The Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys is established within the Department of Legal Affairs and shall consist of 19 members appointed as follows:
          • Two members of the Senate who are not members of the same political party, appointed by the President of the Senate with the advice of the Minority Leader of the Senate.
          • Two members of the House of Representatives who are not members of the same political party, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives with the advice of the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
          • The Secretary of Children and Families or his or her designee.
          • The director of the Mental Health Program Office within the Department of Children and Families or his or her designee.
          • The State Surgeon General or his or her designee.
          • The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.
          • The Secretary of Corrections or his or her designee.
          • The Attorney General or his or her designee.
          • The Secretary of Management Services or his or her designee.
          • The Secretary of Economic Opportunity or his or her designee.
          • A businessperson who is an African American, as defined in s. 760.80(2)(a), F.S., appointed by the Governor.
          • Two persons appointed by the President of the Senate who are not members of the Legislature or employed by state government. One of the appointees must be a clinical psychologist.
          • Two persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives who are not members of the Legislature or employed by state government. One of the appointees must be an Africana studies professional.
          • The deputy secretary for Medicaid in the Agency for Health Care Administration or his or her designee.
          • The Secretary of Juvenile Justice or his or her designee.

          Statewide Council on Human Trafficking (s. 16.617, F.S.)

          • There is created the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking within the Department of Legal Affairs. The council is created for the purpose of enhancing the development and coordination of state and local law enforcement and social services responses to fight commercial sexual exploitation as a form of human trafficking and to support victims.
          • The council shall consist of the following members:
            • The Attorney General, or a designee, who shall serve as chair.
            • The Secretary of Children and Families, or a designee, who shall serve as vice chair.
            • The State Surgeon General, or a designee.
            • The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or a designee.
            • The executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement, or a designee.
            • The Secretary of Juvenile Justice, or a designee.
            • The Commissioner of Education, or a designee.
            • One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate.
            • One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
            • An elected sheriff appointed by the Attorney General.
            • An elected state attorney appointed by the Attorney General.
            • Two members appointed by the Governor, and two members appointed by the Attorney General, who have professional experience to assist the council in the development of care and treatment options for victims of human trafficking.

            Critical Incident Rapid Response Team Advisory Committee (s. 39.2015, F.S.)

            • As part of the department’s quality assurance program, the department shall provide an immediate multiagency investigation of certain child deaths or other serious incidents. The purpose of such investigation is to identify root causes and rapidly determine the need to change policies and practices related to child protection and child welfare.
              • The secretary shall appoint an advisory committee made up of experts in child protection and child welfare, including, but not limited to:
                • The Statewide Medical Director for Child Protection under the Department of Health;
                • A representative from the institute established under s. 1004.615, F.S.;
                • An expert in organizational management; and
                • An attorney with experience in child welfare, to conduct an independent review of investigative reports from the critical incident rapid response teams and sexual abuse report investigations and to make recommendations to improve policies and practices related to child protection and child welfare services.

                Taskforce on the Monitoring of Children in Out-of-Home Care (s. 39.4093, F.S.)

                • Establishes the Task Force on the Monitoring of Children in Out-of-Home Care under the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), to identify and address the root causes of why children go missing while in out-of-home care.
                • The Task Force comprises the following 13 members:
                  • A member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate.
                  • A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
                  • The Secretary of the DCF, or designee.
                  • The Secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice, or designee.
                  • The executive director of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, or designee.
                  • The executive director of the FDLE, or designee.
                  • A representative from Safe Kids Florida, appointed by the State Surgeon General.
                  • A representative from the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, appointed by the Attorney General.
                  • A representative from a CBC that delivers child welfare services in a rural county, appointed by the DCF’s Secretary.
                  • A representative from a CBC that delivers child welfare services in an urban county, appointed by DCF’s Secretary.
                  • A licensed foster parent, appointed by the DCF’s Secretary.
                  • A representative from a residential group care provider, appointed by the DCF’s Secretary.
                  • A young adult who aged out of the foster care system, appointed by the DCF’s Secretary.

                  Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement (s. 381.887, F.S.)

                  • Creates the Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement within the Department to enhance the development and coordination of state and local efforts to abate the opioid epidemic and support its victims and review of settlement fund expenditures associated with the opioid litigation.
                  • The bill requires that the Council be composed of 10 members as follows:
                    • The Attorney General, or a designee, who serves as chair;
                    • The Secretary of DCF, or a designee, who serves as vice-chair;
                    • A member appointed by the Governor;
                    • A member appointed by the President of the Senate;
                    • A member appointed by the Speaker of the House;
                    • Two members appointed by the Florida League of Cities who are commissioners or mayors of municipalities. At least one of such members must be from a municipality with a population of less than 50,000;
                    • Two members appointed by, or through, the Florida Association of Counties who are county commissioners or mayors. One of such members must represent a county with a population of more than 200,000; the other must represent a county with a population of fewer than 200,000; and
                    • One member who is appointed on a rotational basis by either the Florida Association of Counties or the Florida League of Cities.

                    State Child Abuse Death Review Committee (s. 383.402, F.S.)

                    • The committees shall review the facts and circumstances of all deaths of children from birth to age 18 which occur in this state and are reported to the central abuse hotline of the Department of Children and Families. The state and local review committees shall work cooperatively. The primary function of the state review committee is to provide direction and leadership for the review system and to analyze data and recommendations from local review committees to identify issues and trends and to recommend statewide action. The primary function of the local review committees is to conduct individual case reviews of deaths, generate information, make recommendations, and implement improvements at the local level.
                    • The State Child Abuse Death Review Committee is established within the Department of Health and shall consist of a representative of the Department of Health, appointed by the State Surgeon General, who shall serve as the state committee coordinator. The head of each of the following agencies or organizations shall also appoint a representative to the state committee:
                      • The Department of Legal Affairs.
                      • The Department of Children and Families.
                      • The Department of Law Enforcement.
                      • The Department of Education.
                      • The Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Inc.
                      • The Florida Medical Examiners Commission, whose representative must be a forensic pathologist.

                      Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Statewide Grant Review Committee (s. 394.656, F.S.)

                      • The purpose of the program is to provide funding to counties which they may use to plan, implement, or expand initiatives that increase public safety, avert increased spending on criminal justice, and improve the accessibility and effectiveness of treatment services for adults and juveniles who have a mental illness, substance abuse disorder, or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders and who are in, or at risk of entering, the criminal or juvenile justice systems.
                      • The department shall establish a Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Statewide Grant Review Committee. The committee shall include:
                        • One representative of the Department of Children and Families;
                        • One representative of the Department of Corrections;
                        • One representative of the Department of Juvenile Justice;
                        • One representative of the Department of Elderly Affairs;
                        • One representative of the Office of the State Courts Administrator;
                        • One representative of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs;
                        • One representative of the Florida Sheriffs Association;
                        • One representative of the Florida Police Chiefs Association;
                        • One representative of the Florida Association of Counties;
                        • One representative of the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association;
                        • One representative of the Florida Association of Managing Entities;
                        • One representative of the Florida Council for Community Mental Health;
                        • One representative of the National Alliance of Mental Illness;
                        • One representative of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association;
                        • One representative of the Florida Public Defender Association; and
                        • One administrator of an assisted living facility that holds a limited mental health license.

                        Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder (s. 394.9086, F.S.)

                        • The purposes of the commission are to examine the current methods of providing mental health and substance abuse services in the state and to improve the effectiveness of current practices, procedures, programs, and initiatives in providing such services; identify any barriers or deficiencies in the delivery of such services; and recommend changes to existing laws, rules, and policies necessary to implement the commission’s recommendations.
                        • The commission shall be composed of 20 members as follows:
                          • A member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate.
                          • A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
                          • The Secretary of Children and Families or his or her designee.
                          • The Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration or his or her designee.
                          • A person living with a mental health disorder, appointed by the President of the Senate.
                          • A family member of a consumer of publicly funded mental health services, appointed by the President of the Senate.
                          • A representative of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute within the University of South Florida, appointed by the President of the Senate.
                          • A representative of a county school district, appointed by the President of the Senate.
                          • A representative of mental health courts, appointed by the Governor.
                          • A representative of a treatment facility, as defined in s. 394.455, F.S., appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
                          • A representative of a managing entity, as defined in s. 394.9082(2), F.S., appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
                          • A representative of a community substance abuse provider, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
                          • A psychiatrist licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 practicing within the mental health delivery system, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
                          • A psychologist licensed under chapter 490 practicing within the mental health delivery system, appointed by the Governor.
                          • A mental health professional licensed under chapter 491, appointed by the Governor.
                          • An emergency room physician, appointed by the Governor.
                          • A representative from the field of law enforcement, appointed by the Governor.
                          • A representative from the criminal justice system, appointed by the Governor.
                          • A representative of a child welfare agency involved in the delivery of behavioral health services, appointed by the Governor.
                          • A representative of the statewide Florida 211 Network as described in s. 408.918, F.S., appointed by the Governor.

                          Statewide Drug Policy Advisory Council (s. 397.333, F.S.)

                          • The Statewide Drug Policy Advisory Council shall be located in the Department of Health. The Surgeon General or his or her designee shall be a nonvoting, ex officio member of the advisory council and shall act as chairperson. The director of the Office of Planning and Budgeting or his or her designee shall be a nonvoting, ex officio member of the advisory council. The Department of Health or its successor agency shall provide staff support for the advisory council.
                          • The following state officials shall be appointed to serve on the advisory council:
                            • The Attorney General, or his or her designee.
                            • The executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement, or his or her designee.
                            • The Secretary of Children and Families, or his or her designee.
                            • The director of the Office of Planning and Budgeting in the Executive Office of the Governor, or his or her designee.
                            • The Secretary of Corrections, or his or her designee.
                            • The Secretary of Juvenile Justice, or his or her designee.
                            • The Commissioner of Education, or his or her designee.
                            • The executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, or his or her designee.
                            • The Adjutant General of the state as the Chief of the Department of Military Affairs, or his or her designee.
                            • In addition, the Governor shall appoint 7 members of the public to serve on the advisory council. Of the 7 appointed members.

                            Children and Youth Cabinet (s. 402.56, F.S.)

                            Link to: Children and Youth Cabinet - (s. 402.56, F.S.)

                            • MEMBERS.—The cabinet shall consist of 16 members including the Governor and the following persons:
                              • The Secretary of Children and Families;
                              • The Secretary of Juvenile Justice;
                              • The director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities;
                              • A representative from the Division of Early Learning;
                              • The State Surgeon General;
                              • The Secretary of Health Care Administration;
                              • The Commissioner of Education;
                              • The director of the Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office;
                              • A representative of the Office of Adoption and Child Protection;
                              • A superintendent of schools, appointed by the Governor; and
                              • Five members who represent children and youth advocacy organizations and who are not service providers, appointed by the Governor.

                              Direct Support Organization (Department of Children and Families) (s. 402.57, F.S.)

                              • Authorizes DCF to create a Direct Support Organization (DSO) for the purpose of supporting the DCF in carrying out its purposes and responsibilities.
                              • Requires the Secretary of the DCF to appoint the board of directors according to the DSO’s bylaws.

                              Independent Living Advisory Council (s. 409.1451(7), F.S.)

                              • The secretary shall establish the Independent Living Services Advisory Council for the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations concerning the implementation and operation of s. 39.6251, F.S., and the Road-to-Independence Program.
                              • Members of the advisory council shall be appointed by the secretary of the department. The membership of the advisory council must include:
                                • Young adults who receive services and funding through the Road-to-Independence Program;
                                • Representatives from the headquarters and regional offices of the department;
                                • Community-based care lead agencies;
                                • The Department of Juvenile Justice
                                • The Department of Economic Opportunity;
                                • The Department of Education
                                • The Agency for Health Care Administration;
                                • The State Youth Advisory Board;
                                • CareerSource Florida, Inc.;
                                • The Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office;
                                • Foster parents; and
                                • Advocates for children in care.

                                One Church, One Child of Florida Corporation Act (s. 409.1755, F.S.)

                                Link to: One Church, One Child of Florida Corporation Act - (s. 409.1755, F.S.)

                                • The One Church, One Child of Florida Corporation shall operate subject to the supervision and approval of a board of directors consisting of 23 members, with two directors representing each service district of the Department of Children and Families and one director who shall be an at-large member.
                                • Governor Appointments:
                                  • Rev. Beverly H Lane
                                    • President
                                    • SunCoast Region (Tampa)
                                    • Treasurer
                                    • SunCoast Region (Plant City)
                                    • Southeast Region (Riviera Beach)
                                    • Southeast Region (Loxahatchee)
                                    • Southeast Region (Vero Beach)
                                    • Southeast Region (Pembroke Pines)
                                    • Southern Region (Miami)
                                    • Northwest Region (Panama City)
                                    • Northwest Region (Pensacola)
                                    • Central Region (Winter Haven/Haines City)
                                    • Northeast Region (Gainesville)
                                    • Northeast Region (Jacksonville)
                                    • Member at Large (Tallahassee)

                                    Council on Homelessness (s. 420.622, F.S.)

                                    • The Council on Homelessness is created to consist of 19 representatives of public and private agencies who shall develop policy and advise the State Office on Homelessness.
                                    • The council members shall be:
                                      • The Secretary of Children and Families, or his or her designee;
                                      • The Secretary of Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee, who shall advise the council on issues related to rural development;
                                      • The State Surgeon General, or his or her designee;
                                      • The Executive Director of Veterans’ Affairs, or his or her designee;
                                      • The Secretary of Corrections, or his or her designee;
                                      • The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or his or her designee;
                                      • The Commissioner of Education, or his or her designee;
                                      • The Executive Director of CareerSource Florida, Inc., or his or her designee;
                                      • One representative of the Florida Association of Counties;
                                      • One representative of the Florida League of Cities;
                                      • One representative of the Florida Supportive Housing Coalition;
                                      • One representative of the Florida Housing Coalition;
                                      • The Executive Director of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, or his or her designee;
                                      • One representative of the Florida Coalition for the Homeless;
                                      • The secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs, or his or her designee; and
                                      • Four members appointed by the Governor.

                                      Florida Healthy Kids Board of Directors (s. 624.91, F.S.)

                                      • The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation shall operate subject to the supervision and approval of a board of directors chaired by the Chief Financial Officer or her or his designee, and composed of 12 other members selected for 3-year terms of office as follows:
                                        • The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or his or her designee.
                                        • One member appointed by the Commissioner of Education from the Office of School Health Programs of the Florida Department of Education.
                                        • One member appointed by the Chief Financial Officer from among three members nominated by the Florida Pediatric Society.
                                        • One member, appointed by the Governor, who represents the Children’s Medical Services Program.
                                        • One member appointed by the Chief Financial Officer from among three members nominated by the Florida Hospital Association.
                                        • One member, appointed by the Governor, who is an expert on child health policy.
                                        • One member, appointed by the Chief Financial Officer, from among three members nominated by the Florida Academy of Family Physicians.
                                        • One member, appointed by the Governor, who represents the state Medicaid program.
                                        • One member, appointed by the Chief Financial Officer, from among three members nominated by the Florida Association of Counties.
                                        • The State Health Officer or her or his designee.
                                        • The Secretary of Children and Families, or his or her designee.
                                        • One member, appointed by the Governor, from among three members nominated by the Florida Dental Association.