November, 2023 | Issue 4

WELCOME

Our CARE Awards ceremony took place on Friday, October 13, 2023. The annual event is Kids Central’s way of Celebrating Achievement and Recognizing Excellence in the Fifth Judicial Circuit system of care. It truly was a packed house, with over 400 attendees. 

This year’s awards highlighted how we collaborate with partners, stakeholders, and each other to achieve our agency’s mission to protect children, support families, and engage our community.

Executive Vice President of Lutheran Services (and former DCF Secretary) Mike Carroll reminded us our performance impacts the lives of our children and families. Therefore, our focus must remain on achieving permanency in a timely fashion through solid case management work.

The courage of our second speaker, Abigail Herrin, brought tears to my eyes. She allowed us to share her journey in the experiences of living with her father before transitioning into our foster care. She shared the challenges she faced as a teenager in foster care before changing her course to become a successful college student and a thriving young adult. She expressed how a supportive team of child welfare professionals brought significant positive changes to her life. Abigail’s resiliency reminded me of my “Why!” I hope she also reminded you that, regardless of how hard this work can be, every child is worth our best efforts every day! 

On behalf of our KCI Leadership team, I hope your spirit was renewed during the CARE Awards. We know this work is challenging, but we are “better together.” As the time changes, the temperatures cool down a little, and the holiday season quickly approaches, keep letting your light shine brightly. Every day brings the opportunity for each of us to make a positive difference in the lives of children, families, and caregivers, as well as in our work environments.

I want to personally thank every one of you for your dedication and hard work. Thank you for being a light during the dark season of a child’s or a family’s life. We see you! We appreciate you! You matter to us! Finally, for our Kids Central Inc. Case Management Agency…keep dancing!

Veraunda Jackson

Chief of Legal Counsel, Kids Central, Inc.

A Determined Advocate for Children

Mike Jordan, M.D. has been an extremely valuable member of Kids Central’s Board of Directors since he joined our board in 2005. After working twenty years as a radiologist in Ocala, Dr. Jordan chose to use his retirement as an opportunity to invest his time and talents in efforts to ensure all children are safe, nurtured, and valued by their families and their communities. 

Dr. Jordan was recruited to become a board member during tumultuous times at Kids Central. The transition to community-based care had not gone smoothly in our five-county service area and DCF presented Kids Central a cure letter detailing several improvements that were required to retain the lead agency contract.

Mike Jordan, M.D.

Transitioning from a board made up of provider members to a community board was one of the corrections sited in the cure letter. Despite the daunting challenges Kids Central was facing, Dr. Jordan’s belief that community-based care was a great opportunity to improve the child welfare system compelled him to accept membership to the new board.

The new community board selected Dr. Jordan as its first chairman and improvements at Kids Central quickly followed. Dr. Jordan used his professional experience to help the board make organizational improvements such as recruiting other key community members to join the board, hiring effective executive leadership, and establishing processes for effective corporate governance and oversight. These improvements helped Kids Central quickly met all the conditions listed in the cure letter and continue to help Kids Central achieve success now.

In addition to serving on Kids Central’s board, Dr. Jordan advocated for children in other important roles. He helped establish the Marion County Children’s Alliance and served as its first Executive Director for more than seventeen years. He also served on the board of directors for the Early Learning Coalition of Marion County.

After eighteen years of service, Dr. Jordan recently resigned from Kids Central’s board. Dr. Jordan is an accomplished professional, a natural leader, and an excellent example of the positive impact dedicated community members can create for children and families. We thank Dr. Jordan tremendously for his many years of support and service and we wish him well in his future endeavors.

CARE Awards

The CARE Awards encourage excellence and innovation among the child welfare professionals of Circuit 5 – Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties. While our case management team, support staff, and community partners work tirelessly to support the children and families in our care, the CARE Awards give special recognition to those who go the extra mile. These exceptional individuals positively impact our work in child welfare and serve as role models to others.

Everyone had a wonderful time at the event. Thank you to our events sponsors YFA, Marsh McLennan Agency, and Mindshare Technology, as well as to our goody bag sponsors GOLD Marketing, Making it Matthews, Angie Lewis - State Farm Agent, Alani Nu, and Evelyn & Arthur.

Visit our website to see photos from the event!

NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH

CITRUS COUNTY FOSTER ASSOCIATION CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

John Cooper

Scott Cook

Kids Central's CEO, John Cooper, and Family Preservation Supervisor, Scott Cook, represented KCI at the Citrus County Foster Association's 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament.

15 teams (60 players) showed up to help raise funds for Citrus County foster, adoptive and kinship children, and families.

Enjoy these photos of them 'taking one for the team!'

Sip & Shop

Join us at Evelyn & Arthur, located in the Brownwood Square in the Villages, for a Sip & Shop! Enjoy shopping, light refreshments, and fun with friends. A portion of all proceeds from sales will be donated to Kids Central to help families and children in need.

DATE

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

TIME

5:30pm – 7:30pm

LOCATION

Evelyn & Arthur, Brownwood Square, The Villages

Casino Night 2024

This year's theme is "Boot Scootin' Boogie!" Grab your posse and ride out to the Ocala Downtown Market for a night of fun that raises money for children and families in need.

DATE

Friday, February 9, 2024

TIME

7pm - 10pm

LOCATION

Ocala Downtown Market, Ocala

This section is a place for leadership to give kudos to team members for some of the great work that they’ve done!

CBCIH Care Coordinator of the Month September 2023

Claudette Miller

Congratulations to Kids Central's Claudette Miller for receiving the CBCIH Care Coordinator of the Month award for September!

The CBCIH team stated:

"I cannot say enough wonderful things about Claudette Miller. She has an incredible work ethic. She has taken the caseload quality training material provided by CBCIH, and she runs with it. She takes personal responsibility for ensuring the KCI Clinical Team, program nurses, and case managers who enter their notes into Integrate provide high-quality documentation. She works very closely with the Clinical Supervisor, Marilyn Allen, and the KCI Clinical Team of Nurse Care Coordinators and Behavioral Health Coordinators. I think of Claudette as Super Woman and Super Glue to the KCI processes. She sends out all monthly reports to KCI and their case management teams. She takes real pride in providing incredible customer service to our youth and their caregivers. Claudette is an ultimate team player."

 (Acknowledgement provided by Senior Director of Case Management Services, Penny Beehler)

Iolany Centeno

Ashlee Conception

This honorary award will be given twice per month to any staff member in the Ocala office. It recognizes professionals who demonstrate excellent teamwork, perform impeccable work, have drama-free attitudes, demonstrate trauma-informed care, and bring overall good vibes! This month's recipients are Iolany Centeno and Ashlee Conception.

Eligibility Department Shout Out

(Acknowledgment submitted by Shelly LaFrance, Senior Finance Director)

Desi House

Millie Quiones

Nina Moxley

Kids Central’s Eligibility Department reviews the case of every child entering our system of care to determine if the child’s care and services will be paid with federal (IV-E or TANF) funds or with state funds. This eligibility determination is essential because drawing down federal funds helps maximize the total budget available for children and preserves limited state funds.

Each year, Kids Central must monitor our federal funding eligibility processes and report our findings to DCF. The monitoring entails an extensive review of a sample of cases and takes months to complete. I would like to thank our Eligibility Supervisor, Millie Quinones, and our Senior Eligibility Specialists, Nina Moxley and Desi House, for their excellent work completing the monitoring. Nina and Desi reviewed 178 total IV-E and TANF determinations, and Millie tracked and summarized the findings for the report. The monitoring and report were completed promptly and efficiently and helped verify the effectiveness of our eligibility processes. Outstanding job!

Thank You, Carolyn Cantrell!

Carolyn Cantrell

After 16 years as a Contract Manager for Kids Central, our Carolyn Cantrell is retiring. She is off to fun in the sun and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Carolyn will be greatly missed. Her guidance both professionally and personally was a blessing. With much respect and a great appreciation your family at Kids Central loves you and we wish you all the best on your next adventure!!!

Thank You, Juanita White!

Juanita White

(Acknowledgement provided by Director of Adoptions, Jennifer Bradshaw)

Juanita White has dedicated 40 years of her life to being a servant leader to Florida’s most vulnerable children, having served in a variety of positions (including management) within child welfare. She has spent the last 12 years at Kids Central as an Adoptions Coordinator, educating and assisting in the finalizations of hundreds of adoptions. Juanita has been threatening to retire for the past 5 years and has finally made it a partial reality. While she plans to spend most of her time traveling and simply relaxing, she has agreed to stay on with Kids Central for a little longer to assist with special projects and is currently providing hands on training to the Lutheran Services Adoption Unit. One thing we will miss when she does leave us is her infectious and easily recognizable laughter.

Healthy Start & MIECHV News

(Acknowledgment Quality Assurance Specialist, Christina Barker)

Laura Pan Scholarship Award

Ruth Vryhof, Care Coordinator in Hernando County Healthy Start, was selected as this year's recipient of the Laura Pan Scholarship Award. This award is made in honor of Laura Pan, who helped create and worked extensively with Healthy Start for more than 25 years. Each year, the Laura Pan Scholarship Award is given to one outstanding Healthy Start worker who goes above and beyond to create a positive impact on improving the health of mothers and babies. Upon receiving this award, Ruth was given a $3,000 scholarship for continuing education and was inducted into the Healthy Start "Angels of Fame." Congratulations to Ruth on receiving such a prestigious award.

Ruth Vryhof

Substance Exposed Newborn Conference

Some of our home visitors from the Healthy Start and MIECHV programs attended the 3rd Annual Substance Exposed Newborn Conference in Hernando County. The conference provided great learning opportunities on topics about addictions, Substance Abuse Disorder, education on developmental outcomes in substance-exposed infants, and ways to help care for a substance-exposed newborn. This conference has provided our home visitors with ways to promote healthier outcomes for mothers and newborns impacted by substance exposure.

Employee Accomplishment

Courtney Cosper, Care Coordinator at Alachua Healthy Start, recently became a certified Doula. As a Doula, Courtney can provide emotional, physical, and educational support to a mother before, during, and after birth. Courtney recently became a part of the Healthy Start G.R.O.W Doula program in Alachua County and will be helping mothers achieve the healthiest and most rewarding birth experiences. Congratulations to Courtney on her accomplishment!

Courtney Cosper

Thank You from the Leadership Team

For this quarter, we would like to recognize Healthy Start Care Coordinator Trang Williams. Trang has been with our program for a little over two years. Trang is very committed to her ongoing education. In the short period of time she’s been with us, she has completed her CLC certification and is currently working on becoming a Doula. Trang is very self-motivated and always on top of things without even being asked. Trang works very hard to ensure her clients get the best care and resources, while always meeting her timeframes. On top of her regular duties, Trang is the Lake County Healthy Start representative on the Breastfeeding Taskforce and is a part of the Baby Shower Committee for Lake County. She also assists in new employee training in her office, while always reaching out and being there for her co-workers. Thank you, Trang, for everything that you do and for always going above and beyond for your coworkers and for your clients.

Trang Williams

Katiana Barthold

Nurturing Coach II

Jaanel Berrick

Family Care Manager I

Andrea Boswell-Sczepanski

Permanency Specialist

Elizabeth Dailey

Records Specialist

Darius Gilmore

ICPC-OTI Specialist

Katherine Joyce James

Administrative Assistant II

Rebecca Lynn Rimar

Administrative Assistant II

Bianca Kadrmas

Family Care Manager II

October Anniversaries

10+ YEARS

• Monica Bryant
• Adam Witton
• Carolyn Cantrell
• Eric Brown
• Brian Bolduc
• Julie VanNoy
• Retta Barber
• Jennifer Bradshaw

5+ YEARS

• Dina Martinez-Tapia
• Nina Moxley
• Marcell Tucker
• Darcy Smith

1+ YEARS

• Julie Creath
• April Johnson
• Lynn Nault
• JudithBee Martinez
• Chalandra Davis
• Tronda Littles
• Nicole Graybeal
• Teri Crouch
• Bessie Morley
• Kendra Weldon
• Erica Marchan
• Elizabeth Meyers

November Anniversaries

10+ YEARS

• Ivelisse Troche

5+ YEARS

• Ruth Vryhof
• Zilkya Camacho
• Theresa Yelvington
• Shawanna Felton

1+ YEARS

• Kimberly McGlothern
• Maureen Quinlan
• Helen Dasher
• Asia Macon
• July Cintron Ramos
• Keara McKnight
• Karen Hollister
• Orange Nixon
• Kelly Sams
• Scott Cook
• Gina Gordon
• Rosaly Truman
• Deborah Driscoll
• Diana Abell
• Alyssa Morreale
• Yvette Anderson
• Maria Ghigliotty-Sarria
• Beverly Cox

• Jennifer Nolan
• Patricia Taylor
• Aileen Carnecchia
• Charles Pete
• Karmen Pearson Talisetty
• Shannon Cantwell
• Iolany Centeno
• Annie Jacobs – Shuler
• LaDonna Cunningham
• Savannah Miller
• Ashley Johnson
• Desiree Kemper
• Malinda Curry
• Marilyn Miley
• Alison Hobbs
• Sharon Miller
• Zara Sinclair
• A. Kim Melvin

• Darcennia Graham
• Lori Beasley
• Gail McGruder
• Jill Staninas
• Erica Dahl-Bazan
• TanKera Charteka Anthony Chatter
• Carl Brown
• Deanna Warfle
• Kelly Milner
• Stephanie Orrala
• Deepti Baral
• Anna Schrum
• Lauren Thomas
• Maria Hess
• Rebecca Pierre-Pierre
• Melissa Atkinson

System of Care Statistics: July 2023 - September 2023

93

Children

Reunified

9

Foster Homes Licensed

20

Finalized Adoptions

Please send any submissions that you would like featured in our next employee newsletter to communications@kidscentralinc.org.

Kids Central, Inc. is a community-based care lead agency contracted with the Department of Children and Families.