Member Guide 2026 - 2027
www.flchildren.org
317 East Park Avenue Tallahassee, FL 32301
Table of Contents Welcome to FCC Message from the President & CEO
About FCC Mission, Vision & Values Our Role in Florida’s Child Welfare System Coalition & Foundation Board of Directors
Membership Categories Lead Agencies Provider Organizations Associate Members
Why Membership Matters Advocacy & Public Policy Collaboration & Networking Professional Development Information & Resources
Member Benefits at a Glance Committees & Workgroups Committee Structure & Descriptions Participation Opportunities
Advocacy & Legislative Engagement How Members Can Engage Advocacy Events & Opportunities Policy Updates & Action Alerts
Conferences, Events & Trainings Annual Conference Leadership & Professional Development Webinars & Educational Events
FCC Communications & Resources Member Updates & Newsletters Website Resources & Publications
Getting Involved New Member Checklist Leadership Opportunities Maximizing Your Membership
Contact Information Membership Contacts Website Information
"Our FCC membership connects us to a network of professionals who are passionate about improving outcomes for children and families. The relationships we have built through FCC are invaluable." Lisa Kroger, Executive Director of Devereux Florida
Message from the President & CEO Welcome to the Florida Coalition for Children. At FCC, our mission is rooted in strengthening Florida’s child welfare system through advocacy, collaboration, innovation, and leadership. Every day, our members work tirelessly to improve the lives of children and families across our state, and it is an honor to stand alongside such dedicated professionals and organizations. My vision for FCC is to support Florida’s child welfare leaders in building a stronger, more responsive system that creates better outcomes for children and families. FCC serves as a unified voice for the child welfare community through legislative and policy advocacy, professional development opportunities, and statewide collaboration. We believe meaningful progress happens when we work together — convening expertise from across the child welfare continuum, sharing best practices, and fostering partnerships that drive solutions to complex challenges. We are committed to eliminating system barriers, promoting innovation, and ensuring our members have the tools, resources, and support needed to lead effectively in an evolving environment. Through our committees, conferences, trainings, and advocacy efforts, FCC creates opportunities for members to connect, learn from one another, and advance strategies that strengthen families and communities throughout Florida. The expertise, leadership, and passion of our members are what make this coalition such a powerful force for change. As we look ahead, I am excited about the opportunities before us and the progress we can achieve together as we continue building a stronger future for Florida’s children and families. Sincerely, Denise Marzullo, President & CEO
About FCC Mission
Vision
The mission of the Florida Coalition for Children (FCC) is to advocate on behalf of Florida’s abused, abandoned, neglected, and at-risk children, and to support the agencies and individuals who work on their behalf.
The vision of the Coalition is to see a system of child welfare in Florida that is fully resourced, well managed, and fulfills the needs of Florida’s vulnerable children and families.
History With over 60 years of history in the state, FCC, which was originally called the Florida Association of Child and Family Agencies (FACFA), has grown and transformed alongside the child welfare system. In 2002, after the statewide implementation of a new community-based child welfare system, the Coalition changed its name and restructured to form an unprecedented partnership between child welfare service providers and the emerging community-based care lead agencies.
Board of Directors FCC Coalition
FCC Foundation
Damon Cates, Chair Jenn Petion, Vice Chair Ginger Griffeth, Treasurer Charles Chervanik, Secretary Karin Flositz, At Large Terri Balliet Kim Daugherty Susan Eby Esther Jacobo Tom Lukasik Nadereh Salim Laurie Stern Desmond Taylor Eva Horner
Esther Jacobo, Chair Tom Lukasik, Vice Chair JR Minter, Treasurer Larry Rein, Secretary Mike DiBrizzi, Chair Emeritus Brena Slater, At Large Jennifer Dean Elizabeth Franco Lisa Kroger Phil Scarpelli Cheri Sheffer Schuyler Siefker Julie Smythe
"The value of FCC membership extends far beyond advocacy. FCC provides a forum where innovative ideas are shared, challenges are discussed openly, and solutions are developed collaboratively." Jenn Petion, President & CEO of Family Support Services
60+ Years of Advocacy for Florida's Children
FCC Membership Directory As of July 2026 Lead Agency Members
Provider Agency Members
Associate Members
ChildNet Children's Network of Hillsborough Children's Network of Southwest Florida Citrus Family Care Network Communities Connected for Kids Community Partnership for Children Family Partnerships of Central Florida Family Support Services Heartland for Children Kids First of Florida Partnership for Strong Families Safe Children Coalition St. Johns Board of County Commissioners
4 Sisters Solutions 4Kids of South Florida AMIkids Arnette House Boys Town Central Florida Boys Town North Florida Boys Town South Florida Camelot Community Care Covenant Children's Home Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health EverForward Family Initiative Friends of Children and Families Health Connect America Hibiscus Children's Center National Youth Advocate Program Neighbor to Family North American Family Institute One Church One Child One Hope United Residing Hope Selfless Love Foundation St. Augustine Youth Services Sunshine Health Thompson Twin Oaks Juvenile Development WeCare Family Connections Wesley House Family Services WestCare The Village South Youth and Family Advocates Youth Haven
Adoption-Share CompanyMileage Florida Network of Youth & Family Services Isaiah 117 House Parenting with Love and Limits Stabilify W3 Insurance
13 Members
31 Members
7 Members
51 Member Organizations Statewide “FCC creates opportunities for collaboration that simply would not exist otherwise. Through the coalition, we are able to learn from one another and work together to address system-wide challenges." Laurie Stern, Chief Operating Officer of Thompson
Together, We Strengthen Florida's Child Welfare System Advocacy & Public Policy A Unified Voice for Children & Families
• Legislative updates and policy alerts • Opportunities to participate in advocacy efforts • Access to legislative briefings and strategy discussions • Representation before the Florida Legislature and state agencies • Opportunities to help shape FCC's legislative priorities
Collaboration & Networking Connecting Leaders Across Florida
• Statewide networking opportunities • Peer-to-peer collaboration and problem-solving • Committee and workgroup participation • Cross-sector partnerships and relationship building • Sharing innovative ideas and best practices
Professional Development Strengthening Leadership & Expertise • FCC Annual Conference and leadership events • Webinars and educational trainings • Best practices and emerging trends • Leadership and workforce development • Opportunities to present and share expertise
Information & Resources Tools to Support Your Organization • Policy and operational guidance • Research and industry trends • Communications and advocacy resources • Access to statewide expertise and support
FCC provides an opportunity for professionals to unite with a shared purpose - because one voice can raise awareness, but many voices working together can create lasting change, stronger advocacy and a greater impact for all. Kim Daugherty, Chief Executive Officer of Heartland for Children
Committees, Councils & Subcommittees Board Standing Committees Executive Committee
Governance & Leadership
Chairs: Damon Cates (Coalition), Esther Jacobo (Foundation)
Co-Chairs: Brena Slater, Tom Lukasik
Finance Committee
Legislative Committee
Co-Chairs: Ginger Griffeth, JR Minter
Co-Chairs: Kim Daugherty, Lisa Kroger
Membership Committee
System Ops Committee
Co-Chairs: Eva Horner, Nadereh Salim
Co-Chairs: Cheri Sheffer, Vacant
Supports the Coalition President/CEO and Board in urgent matters and governance continuity.
Oversees financial health and asset safeguarding.
Focuses on member recruitment, retention, and engagement.
Strengthens governance, leadership development, and Board effectiveness.
Advances legislative priorities and advocacy efforts.
Supports operational and programmatic priorities affecting service delivery.
Ad-Hoc Councils Lead Agency CEO Council
Provider CEO Council
Joint CEO Council
Chair: Karin Flositz
Chair: Charles Chervanik
Co-Chairs: Charles Chervanik, Karin Flositz
CFO Council
Legal Issues Council
Communications Council
Chair: Lauren Hahn
Chair: Kelsey Burnette
Chair: Briana Edwards
System Operations Subcommittees Adoptions
Residential
Independent Living
Addresses barriers to adoption, clarifies new or amended statutes/codes affecting finalization timeliness and post-adoption services.
Unites residential providers across Florida to share research, best practices, and advocate for policy and legislative improvements.
Builds collaborative relationships with CBCs to enhance services for young adults aging out of foster care.
Co-Chairs: Felicia Patterson, Vacant
Co-Chairs: Josie Sanz, Cashe Lawson
Co-Chairs: JR Minter, Stephanie Lucas
Case Management
Clinical & Prevention
Licensing & Placement
Provides a platform for sharing best practices and recommending changes to improve outcomes for children and families.
Unites professionals in prevention and clinical services to support child welfare delivery and assess outcomes.
Keeps lead CBCs and partner agencies informed of policies, procedures, and legislation through education and advocacy.
Co-Chairs: Tyler Hudgins, Rick Manuel
Co-Chairs: Emily Garten, Danielle Antione
Co-Chairs: Tiffany Ball, Jill Poole
Training
CIO
COO
Assists with quality training, sharing best practices, and collaboration across the system of care.
Collaborates with Florida CBC provider community and DCF to support technology development that enhances workflow.
Provides a collaborative forum to promote operational excellence and improve care for children and families.
Co-Chairs: Nicky Smith, Vacant
Co-Chairs: Mike Idoni, Kate McHenry
Co-Chairs: Fawn Moore, Amy Bradshaw Hoppock
Advocacy & Legislative Engagement FCC serves as a unified voice for Florida’s child welfare community, working with legislators, state agencies, and policymakers to advocate for policies, funding, and system improvements that strengthen services for children and families statewide.
Legislative Priorities
How Members Can Engage
FCC’s 2027 priorities include addressing rising liability insurance costs threatening provider sustainability, and modernizing the child welfare funding allocation model to distribute resources more equitably across the state.
Members can participate in committees and workgroups, attend legislative meetings, contribute expertise on emerging issues, respond to action alerts, and share experiences to help shape FCC’s advocacy strategies.
Advocacy Events
Policy Updates & Alerts
FCC hosts legislative briefings, advocacy days, committee meetings, conference sessions, and stakeholder discussions connecting members with policymakers and system leaders throughout the year.
FCC keeps members informed through timely policy updates, legislative reports, and action alerts on proposed legislation, budget issues, and statewide initiatives affecting child welfare.
Get Involved Through strategic advocacy, FCC ensures member perspectives are represented in policy discussions and legislative decisions impacting Florida’s child welfare system. Contact FCC to learn how your organization can get involved.
"FCC provides a strong and unified voice for Florida’s child welfare community. Their advocacy ensures that the challenges and successes of our work are understood by policymakers and stakeholders across the state." Larry Rein, CEO & President of ChildNet
Learning Collaborative & Conference FCC Foundation Learning Collaborative
The Learning Collaborative provides resources, training, technical assistance, and capacity building focused on Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) identified in Florida’s Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) plan.
Resources
Training
Technical Assistance
Capacity Building
Curated tools, guides, and materials supporting evidence-based practice implementation across Florida.
Hands-on support for organizations implementing FFPSA-aligned programs and services.
Professional development opportunities including webinar series and in-person workshops.
Strengthening organizational infrastructure to sustain evidence-based interventions long-term.
$325,000 Investment from Sunshine Health & Molina Healthcare Supporting evidence-based practice implementation across Florida (2024-2026)
Annual Conference
FCC’s Annual Conference brings together child welfare professionals, policymakers, and community leaders from across Florida for networking, professional development, and collaborative learning. The conference features keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with peers and partners. Conference Highlights: • Keynote speakers & thought leaders • Breakout sessions on emerging practices • Networking & collaboration opportunities • Professional development credits • Exhibitor & sponsor showcases
FCC Communications & Member Engagement The Florida Coalition for Children is committed to keeping members informed, connected, and engaged through regular communications and statewide information sharing. FCC provides timely updates and meaningful opportunities for members to stay connected to important developments impacting Florida’s child welfare system.
Member Newsletter FCC’s member newsletter highlights programs, initiatives, events, achievements, and news from member organizations across the state. The newsletter serves as a platform to showcase innovative work, celebrate successes, share upcoming opportunities, and keep members informed about important child welfare trends and developments.
Bi-Monthly Membership Calls FCC hosts bi-monthly membership calls that provide members with updates on legislative activity, system initiatives, emerging challenges, and coalition priorities. These calls create opportunities for collaboration, information sharing, and discussion among leaders and partners throughout Florida’s child welfare network.
Digital Communications & Social Media FCC utilizes social media, announcements, and digital communications to share timely information, advocacy updates, event promotions, and relevant child welfare news from the local, state, and federal levels. Through these channels, FCC helps members stay informed, connected, and engaged in strengthening outcomes for children and families across Florida.
Stay Connected • Stay Informed • Stay Engaged
"FCC helps transform individual voices into collective impact." Nadereh Salim, CEO of Children’s Network of Southwest Florida
New Member Checklist Getting Connected & Maximizing Your Membership Welcome to the Florida Coalition for Children! We are excited to partner with you in strengthening Florida’s child welfare system. Use this checklist to help your organization and staff become actively engaged and take full advantage of FCC membership opportunities.
Organizational Engagement
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
[ ] Designate primary FCC contacts within your organization [ ] Ensure leadership and staff are subscribed to the FCC member newsletter [ ] Connect with FCC on social media platforms for updates, events, and advocacy news [ ] Invite the FCC President & CEO to visit your organization and meet your team [ ] Collaborate with FCC staff to schedule meetings with local legislators and community leaders
Committee & Leadership Participation
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
[ ] Have staff join at least one FCC committee or workgroup [ ] Participate in one of the FCC C-Suite Councils (CEO, COO, CFO, HR, CQI, etc.) [ ] Join the FCC Legislative Committee to stay engaged in advocacy efforts [ ] Participate in System Operations subcommittees and collaborative workgroups
Advocacy & Legislative Engagement
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
[ ] Participate in FCC bi-monthly membership calls for updates on statewide initiatives [ ] Sign up for FCC legislative alerts and policy updates [ ] Attend Rally in Tally and participate in legislative advocacy activities [ ] Engage in advocacy opportunities during the Legislative Session
Professional Development & Training
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
[ ] Register leadership and staff for the upcoming FCC Annual Conference [ ] Encourage staff to attend FCC webinars and trainings [ ] Participate in professional development and networking opportunities [ ] Share organizational expertise through FCC events and committees
Collaboration & Networking
✓ ✓ ✓
[ ] Connect with peer organizations through FCC networking opportunities [ ] Share organizational news and highlights for inclusion in FCC communications [ ] Participate in statewide discussions focused on improving outcomes for children and families
Together, We Strengthen Florida’s Child Welfare System
Your engagement helps build a stronger network dedicated to supporting children and families.
"FCC creates opportunities for collaboration that simply would not exist otherwise. Through the coalition, we are able to learn from one another and work together to address system-wide challenges." Lila Cavasos, Chief Development Officer of National Youth Advocate Program
Membership Committee Eva Horner, Co-Chair 4 Sisters Solutions eva@4sisters.us
Karin Flositz Community Partnership for Children karin.flositz@cbcvf.org
Nadereh Salim, Co-Chair Children’s Network of Southwest FL nsalim@cnswfl.org
Laurie Stern Thompson lstern@thompsoncff.org
Damon Cates One Hope United dcates@onehopeunited.org
Phil Scarpelli Family Partnerships of Central FL phil.scarpelli@familypartnerships.org
Desmond Taylor Friends of Children and Families dtaylor@friendscf.org
Denise Marzullo President & CEO denise@flchildren.org
www.flchildren.org
317 East Park Avenue Tallahassee, FL 32301 www.flchildren.org