Family Integrity Program

The Family Preservation Program is a non-judicial case management program aimed at families with moderate to high risk of abuse and/or neglect of their children. The goal is to safely maintain children with their families without the need for court involvement. Families are referred by the Department of Children and Families and have the right to refuse services, in which case the family is returned to the Department of Children and Families. Services include but aren’t limited to: intense case management, in-home counseling, use of Flex Funds to assist with financial crises and on-site drug screening. Families are seen one to five times per week, as needed.

Dependency Case Managers assist the families with case plan tasks that address reasons for removal. The Dependency Case Manager provides all necessary referrals for the parents, child and caregivers by linking them to the appropriate services. The Dependency Case Manager completes ongoing home visits at the child’s placement to ensure safety, well-being and permanency. The Dependency Case Manager attends all court hearings and provides written reports to the Court.

Young adults who spend time in the care of the Department of Children and Families may qualify for additional benefits after turning 18 years of age. Extended Foster Care (EFC) and Post Secondary Education Services and Support (PESS) are two programs that provide young adults the support needed as they transition to adulthood. Specialized case managers assist young adults with application and maintaining eligibility to these programs.

When children are unable to safely return to the custody of their parents, they may become legally available for adoption. Adoption Specialists work with families to complete requirements for adoption and answer questions regarding the process. For information on becoming an adoptive parent, contact Aimee Befort at (904) 209-6113 or visit AdoptFlorida.org.

Post-Adoption services are available to help families meet the special needs of children adopted from the child welfare system. This service can be utilized by adoptive parents for short-term services to enhance safety or to promote continued permanency and well-being for adopted children. Please contact, Claudia Sheremeta, at (904) 209-6109 for more information.

The Foster Home Licensing Unit work together to recruit, initially license and then relicense individuals who wish to be traditional foster parents. Traditional foster parents are individuals who are interested in providing care to children in their community with whom they have no pre-existing relationship. The unit ensures that all candidates meet the licensing criteria established by the Florida Statute, Florida Department of Children and Families and the Family Integrity Program. Once the foster home is identified and licensed, the licensing unit will facilitate the placement of a child in the home to ensure that the child and the foster parents are compatible. Through the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI), the licensing unit strives to give both the child and the foster parents the best experience possible. For information on becoming a Licensed Foster Home, please contact Sierra Guy, at (904) 209-6124.

The Guardianship Assistance Program allows for expanded benefits to families willing to provide Permanent Guardianship to children who are unable to return to the care of their parents or be adopted. Families must become licensed as Level 1 foster parents and meet eligibility criteria. GAP Specialists under our Kinship Department will work with families in meeting requirements and answer questions along the way.