Contacting Pinellas and Pasco counties' child welfare agency has been a problem, but they should be resolved this week.
By CURTIS KRUEGER
Published June 30, 2004
LARGO - Kathy Baker wants to bring foster children into her home, but every time she calls the local child welfare agency, "no one is answering their phones or else the phones ring constantly busy."
When a reporter tried to call the agency's main number Tuesday afternoon, no one picked up the phone after 20 rings, on three separate tries. On a fourth try, the line was busy.
Spokeswoman April Putzulu said it's all because the agency is moving offices.
"We are very, very much aware that there might be some folks having trouble getting through right now," she said.
The move to new offices is just one part of a larger transition. Family Continuity Programs earlier this year decided to give up the job of handling foster care, adoptions and other child welfare services in Pinellas and Pasco counties, under a contract with the state Department of Children and Families. A new organization, the Sarasota Family YMCA, has stepped in to take over.
The new agency recently has renamed itself the Safe Children Coalition of Pinellas County and the Safe Children Coalition of Pasco County. Consolidating offices and moving has left a smaller number of staff available to handle incoming phone calls temporarily, Putzulu said. However, she said, most of the moving will be completed today, and new phones will be operating on Thursday. She expects the problems to clear up then.
Here are the new offices and their phone numbers:
Safe Children Coalition of Pinellas County, 6451 126th Ave. N, Suite 300, Largo, (727) 456-0600.
Safe Children Coalition of Pasco County (West Pasco), 7601 Little Road, New Port Richey, (727) 569-1740.
Safe Children Coalition of Pasco County (East Pasco), 36739 State Road 52, Dade City, (352) 521-1266.
In addition, Putzulu said the agency has a plan for helping people in the future who need answers about foster care, adoptions or their own cases within the child welfare system. She said the group plans to establish a toll-free number staffed with people trained to answer these questions.
