Child welfare groups express concerns over Florida’s foster care claims and their implications for vulnerable children.

Hope Florida, a program initiated under the administration of Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, has reportedly assisted more than 21,000 families referred by child protective investigators, as stated by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). During a legislative hearing, the program’s executive director claimed that Hope Florida was instrumental in reducing the number of children in foster care by 7,000.

Despite such assertions, skepticism surrounds the program’s effectiveness. Critics, including current and former leaders in the foster care sector, suggest that these claims may be inflated or misleading. For instance, Julie Broward of St. Petersburg sought assistance from Hope Florida after her home was damaged by Hurricane Milton. A caregiver to her three grandchildren, Broward has been battling Stage 4 ovarian cancer. She reported an unsatisfactory experience, stating that she never received the assistance she needed.

Industry experts are questioning whether Hope Florida adds genuine value, as they argue it duplicates existing services that foster care agencies provide. Gerry Glynn, the former CEO of Embrace Families, a nonprofit organization operating in several central Florida counties, expressed doubts regarding the financial resources allocated to Hope Florida. According to Glynn, the agency merely offers support without adequately addressing the systemic issues that lead to child removals, such as substance abuse or domestic violence. He noted that existing systems already perform the crucial functions Hope Florida claims to undertake.

As the scrutiny continues, concerns have also emerged regarding the program’s operational costs and effectiveness. A recent legislative session revealed that Hope Florida’s charity arm had acquired million from a previously undisclosed Medicaid settlement, leading to further inquiries into the program’s financial practices. Critics have pointed out that while Hope Florida does connect families with resources, it does not offer direct services, raising questions about its overall utility.

Historically, Florida has had crisis helplines, notably through the Florida 211 Network, which has provided comprehensive support to those in need for over two decades. This existing framework has fielded more than a million requests for aid in the past year alone, primarily addressing housing and mental health needs.

Critics argue that the rationale behind reallocating state employees to Hope Florida while the DCF is dealing with an influx of calls for Medicaid assistance is perplexing. As Florida continues to navigate changes in its child welfare system, including the recent termination of a longstanding program involving sheriff’s offices, the resources and funding landscape for child welfare remains a contentious topic. The emergence of Hope Florida has introduced new competition for funding and resources that foster care agencies previously relied upon, leading to concerns about its ultimate impact on the families it aims to help.

As the program faces scrutiny from lawmakers and community leaders alike, the future of Hope Florida and its role within the state’s child welfare system remains uncertain.