The organization continues to find new ways to succeed despite a national need for social workers.
(Largo, FL – March 30, 2022) Family Support Services – Suncoast (FSS) invites media members to meet with senior officers in their new family Visitation Office located in Largo on Thursday, March 31. At this event, leaders will discuss their innovative work to hire qualified social workers amidst a global labor shortage.
WHERE: 8550 Ulmerton Rd., Suite 130
Largo, FL 33771
WHEN: Thursday, March 31
1:00-3:00 p.m.
WHO: Family Support Services of Pasco, Pinellas leaders
Jenn Petion, Chief Executive Officer
Lauren Sullivan, Director of Placement and Behavioral Health
“We are excited and energized by the reception we have received from community partners active in the child welfare system and momentum is building as we work to stabilize the child welfare system for Pasco and Pinellas Counties. “We’ve been successful in North Florida in part because of our ability to mobilize available resources and build lasting relationships. We look forward to continuing to reshape the system of care here based on the foundations of family preservation, kinship support, and a focus on permanency to greatly benefit the children and families in Pasco and Pinellas County.,” said Petion.
During this media availability, FSS leaders will be on hand to talk about the organization’s need to attract and identify social workers interested in joining a diverse team of qualified social workers and share insight into their stabilization plan for Pasco and Pinellas child welfare system. The Florida Department of Children and Families selected FSS through a competitive process to provide foster care services to Pasco and Pinellas Counties beginning January 1, 2022.
With more than 2,600 children in out-of-home care in Pasco and Pinellas counties, FSS has set a goal of safely reducing the number of children in out-of-home care by 30 percent by July 1, 2024, and they recognize that family preservation is an essential component in the plan to achieve that goal.
“Foster children in Pinellas and Pasco counties are now in safe hands with Family Support Services. We have a track record of high-quality care for children and families in other counties we serve, and we are committed to bringing the same compassion and dedication to their well-being to the Suncoast,” Petion said.
For more information, please VisitFamilySupport.org.
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Family Support Services is the lead agency for family preservation, foster care, and adoption services in Duval, Nassau, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. Through community-based care, FSS provides services and programs to help prevent child abuse and neglect, to promote a healthy family environment and to care for our community’s children in foster care. For more information, visitfamilysupport.org.