by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
Family Support Services (FSS) of North Florida received a visit from Robert Butterworth, secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families, on Tuesday to award them the gold star award for “Superior Performance in Raising the Bar for Jacksonville’s Children.”
“They are doing an excellent job here,” said Butterworth. “This community care-based agency is really setting the tone for all agencies like this one in Florida.”
Family Support Services is the first to receive this award. The award states: “For superior community-based care (CBC) performance from July 1-Dec. 31, 2006. During this time, FSS was ranked number four for all community-based care agencies in the state for child welfare performance measures and had the highest ranking of any large CBC. The accomplishment is clearly a reflection of FSS’s commitment, dedication and aspiration to world-class service. It demonstrates FSS’s compassion and concern for the well being of children and families in need in our community. FSS has set standards for others to emulate and has raised the bar on CBC performance in the state.”
Butterworth wasn’t the only one to visit Family Support Services facilities, Sen. Stephen Wise and Duval County Circuit Court Judge David Gooding were also on hand.
“Senator Stephen Wise is a real leader in this area,” said Butterworth. “He is the voice for people who don’t have a voice.”
Butterworth also said Judge Gooding is outstanding and a national leader in adoptions.
“These unfortunate young children are literally taken out of their homes and we have to find an appropriate home for them and the younger ones, ages zero to five don’t understand what is happening,” said Butterworth. “Putting permanency in children’s lives is important.”
In Duval County there are about 3,000 children living in out of home care. The children range from ages 0-17, but most are ages 5 and under.
CEO of Family Support Services of North Florida Jim Adams said 400 of those 3,000 are waiting to be adopted.
“Thirty-two new children enter into foster care each week,” he said.
In the past three years 845 children have been placed in a family.