CEO Message July 31, 2020
Innovating & Collaborating to Lift Our System of Success
COVID-19 Response
Over the last four months, our child welfare leaders and agencies have continued to provide critical services and programs in communities throughout Florida despite the impacts of COVID-19. Our #communityofcare has come together in unprecedented ways to collaborate and develop innovative ways to serve children and families amidst the additional health and safety precautions needed as a result of the corona virus. Since the onset of the pandemic our community has had to rethink former practices and standard operations to continue providing the same level of services to children and families while also focusing on workforce stability while balancing risk, and the health, well-being and safety of children, families and employees.
The result has been a variety innovations, cross-community collaborations and remarkable adaptability that has allowed agencies across the state to continue providing services, visiting children and families to ensure their well-being and safety and develop programs and supports that support the academic interruption, health concerns and other stressors. FCC, our member agencies, DCF and the statewide COVID-19 Response Taskforce are all working together to support the best possible outcomes as well as prepare for any impacts on funding.
Community Collaboration
Nothing has highlighted this #systemofsuccess more than the compassion, collaboration and commitment to children and families our Coalition members have exhibited over the last few months, and while some of us may be feeling weary, I want to encourage everyone to stay strong and continue turn to your FCC team for support as well as continuing to support each other.
We also have been able to effectively navigate these times as a result of the collaboration with DCF/Office of Child Welfare and in particular the leadership of DCF’s Assistant Secretary for Child Welfare Patty Medlock who has exhitbited unwavering leadership and support of our system of care.
Unfortunately, the social determinants resulting from COVID-19 will inevitably result in an increased number of children entering care over time, and FCC and child welfare leaders are consistently engaging in conversations to ensure appropriate preparations need to be made for those additional demands on our system of care. FCC leadership has been working diligently to communicate with lawmakers and a variety of stakeholders as well as the media to educate them about the impacts and increased demands on the system of care as a result of COVID-19.
While the FCC/DCF Leadership Taskforce continues meeting regularly, next week we will the opportunity to convene leaders from across the community of care to come together for our first Large Group meeting with DCF on August 2. If you are an FCC member and need more information on the meeting please contact [email protected].
You can find out more about the response FCC’s COVD-19 Response resources and if you’re not a member of the Coalition and have some resources or contributions to make to support our community of care and the response to COVID-19 please contact us!
