Success for Children Served by DCF

Regional and state office leaders from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) met with representatives of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and their local Community-Based Care organizations on August 29 in Orlando at the Children’s Summit. The focus of the meeting was sharing information to help children with disabilities find success in getting the assistance they need through state agencies. Family Care Council Florida Chair Mary Smith also attended.

Deputy Director of Programs Denise Arnold and DCF Administrator Vicki Abrams kicked off the meeting. They reviewed the types of services provided to children who qualify for Medicaid and primarily delivered by the Medicaid State Plan, which is administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).

The APD regional operations managers were joined by their DCF regional counterparts to talk about the new recruitment effort to find additional people to become foster parents for children with special needs. Local Family Care Council members are also involved and will provide advice to new foster parents on how to help the child be successful.

Additionally, a panel discussion was held to talk about how to access services for children around the state. Celeste Putnam with DCF moderated the discussion, which included panelists Lorena Fulcher with APD Programs, LaKera Reddick with AHCA, and Jenn Edgson with Community-Based Care Integrated Health.

Deputy Director of Programs Denise Arnold and DCF Administrator Vicki Abrams kick off the meeting.

Deputy Director of Programs Denise Arnold (Right) and DCF Administrator Vicki Abrams (Left) kick off the meeting.

Celeste Putnam with DCF moderated the discussion with panelist Lorena Fulcher with APD Programs, LaKera Reddick with AHCA, and Jenn Edgson with Community Based Care Integrated Health.

Celeste Putnam (Far Right) with DCF moderated the discussion with panelist (Left to right) Lorena Fulcher with APD Programs, LaKera Reddick with AHCA, and Jenn Edgson with Community-Based Care Integrated Health.

A large group of Regional and State Office leaders from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities met with representatives of the Department of Children and Families and their local Community-Based Care organizations on August 29 in Orlando.