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Who's minding the kids? Soon, a regional group
By COLLEEN JENKINS The Department of Children and Families has tapped Kid's Central Inc., a regional consortium of care providers, to become the lead agency in charge of foster care, adoptions and related services in this region. It's the department's latest shift toward the state-mandated privatization of many of its duties. Kid's Central will serve District 13, whose member counties are Citrus, Hernando, Marion, Lake and Sumter. The announcement Wednesday came on the heels of a plan outlined this month by DCF Secretary Jerry Regier to speed up the move toward the so-called community-based care in each of the state's 67 counties. As the lead agent, Kid's Central Inc. -- which includes the Children's Home Society, Camelot Community Care, Marion-Citrus Mental Health Centers, Harbor, Lifestream Behavioral Center and Eckerd -- will administer the area's child welfare services, said Shelley Katz, executive director of the Mid-Florida Division of the Children's Home Society. Contracts will be awarded to service providers, including members of the consortium, for programs such as emergency shelter, foster care, family preservation, adoptions, residential group care and protective supervision, Katz said. Kid's Central officials learned of the department's decision last week during a meeting held to review how applicants for the lead agency position had scored on their proposals. Central Florida Family Network, another consortium that includes Family Services of Central Florida, Youth & Family Alternatives and Neighbor to Family, also competed for the management opportunity. Both private agencies scored well, said Janice Johnson, District 13's acting district administrator, but a team of evaluators thought Kid's Central submitted a "better package." Each nonprofit agency presented proposals explaining its philosophy, vision for the system, finances and experience. "(Kid's Central) scored higher in every category than their competitor," Johnson said Wednesday. Next Tuesday, DCF and Kid's Central will begin six to nine months of negotiations to develop a startup contract. A small new administrative staff must be assembled, and Johnson said the lead agent would consider experienced DCF members to fill those roles. By early 2004, Kid's Central should be equipped to take on services, Johnson said. Her department will manage the contract and monitor quality of service. The department already has a similar arrangement with Central Baptist Family Services in Illinois, which oversees adoptions and works with at-risk families in Citrus and surrounding counties. "We're hopeful that it will bring a level of ownership and commitment at the local level," Johnson said of the initiative. Katz said Kid's Central's member agencies applauded news of its selection, but they are gaining a lucid understanding of the long road ahead. "We have a commitment to making the best system we can for abused and neglected children in our community," she said Wednesday from Ocala. "It's a very challenging task, and we're going to need the help of our community." The organization soon will develop advisory councils to encourage input from service providers and foster parents in all five counties, she said. "We feel like we have a strong investment in our kids," Katz said. The Children's Home Society alone has operated the area since 1964; its Inverness office opened eight years ago. "We know it's going to be a lot of work . . . but we're up to it."
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