DCF Pressroom

October 31, 2023

Governor Ron DeSantis recognized October as Safe Sleep Month in Florida. The Florida Department of Children and Families (Department), Florida Department of Health, and the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida focus special attention on this issue during October to raise awareness about how to prevent infant sleep-related deaths in our state.

September 29, 2023

The Department of Children and Families (Department) Secretary Shevaun Harris highlighted the tremendous impact that crisis counseling services and additional mental health resources have had in supporting individuals impacted by Hurricane Ian. Crisis counselors have provided more than 100,000 services to families and individuals over the past year. The Department and our partners quickly deployed crisis counselors into the impacted areas through the Family Resource Support Centers, Disaster Recovery Centers, D-SNAP locations, and even directly into communities where providers went door to door offering services and resources to families in need. 

September 19, 2023

Department of Children and Families (Department) Secretary Shevaun Harris announced that the Department will implement the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). D-SNAP provides food assistance for individuals and families impacted by Hurricane Idalia who are not receiving food assistance benefits through the regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

September 3, 2023

DCF Releasing Mass Replacement of Benefits due to Hurricane Idalia

August 29, 2023

DCF Releasing SNAP Early due to Hurricane Idalia

August 21, 2023

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris, Department of Health Assistant Deputy Secretary for Health Melissa Jordan, Agency for Persons with Disabilities Director Taylor Hatch, and Ounce of Prevention Fund President and CEO Jennifer Ohlsen called for a greater awareness of children left in hot cars. In 2023, six children have died in Florida because of being left in a hot car.

August 4, 2023

Governor DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis celebrate one year of helping Floridians break the cycle of addiction through the Coordinated Opioid Recovery Network (CORE). As the first comprehensive solution to addiction care in the nation, this program disrupts the revolving door of addiction and overdose by providing patients with the tools to choose sustainable recovery.

June 29, 2023

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Shevaun Harris hosted a roundtable in Tampa regarding the Responsible Fatherhood Initiative as part of Responsible Fatherhood Month. Secretary Harris was joined by Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Secretary Eric Hall, Director of All Pro Dads Jason Hood, Pastor Lyn Masslieno with Northwest Florida Health Network, Lesley Bateman of Family First, Nikki Daniels from Layla’s House, and Allan Alford with All Pro Dads.

June 22, 2023

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis, in collaboration with Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Florida’s Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA), celebrated the one-year anniversary of her Continue the Mission initiative. Continue the Mission actively recruits veterans, military spouses, and former law enforcement officers to be child and adult protective investigators and case managers, as well as mentors to children in need, new case managers, and child and adult protective investigators. Since the launch, DCF has participated in over 100 career fair events and nearly 100 qualified candidates have been hired. 

June 20, 2023

TALLAHASSEE, Fla – Today, the Florida Department of Children and Families (Department) Secretary Shevaun Harris commended Governor DeSantis’ Framework for Freedom Budget, and the continued dedication and commitment to supporting strong and resilient families in Florida. The Framework for Freedom Budget includes $4.7 billion in funding to the Department as part of the state’s ongoing investment in children and families, along with enhancing prevention services, increasing availability of and access to behavioral health services, and supporting updates to the Department’s systems, thereby ensuring additional program effectiveness and efficiencies.