#14 - An Insider Look at the Florida DCF (Dept. of Children and Families) with Bob McPartlan DCF Community Development Administrator

SUMMARY This episode of From Foster Care to Family Law – A Child Welfare Focus features Bob McPartlan, Community Development Administrator at the DCF. Bob details his role in caring for abused kids and educating his community to get involved as positive influences and mentors to children in need. Susan and Bob also discuss substance abuse and how it is the worst and most common factor in putting children into foster care. They also talk about cases where they extended much-needed help to otherwise neglected children and the recent successes of the DCF in placing children with friends and relatives. —————————— HIGHLIGHTS 07:51 How DCF can help you 16:30 Substance abuse as the worst cause of fostering 31:23 Community development and church involvement 37:32 Case studies: Meeting human needs and the painful realities of foster children 55:18 Increases in domestic violence cases during COVID-19 —————————— QUOTES 16:18 “It could be as simple as just going to school and reading to kids because kids always look for just one positive influence in their life.” 30:56 “I’ve had parents, I’ve had recurring cases, but I treated them the same every time because today might be the day that they say yes, Bob, I’m ready to make a change in my life.” 48:47 “We try to keep those material things because they have sentimental value and we want to pass them on to our children. I don’t have those and I damn sure didn’t want some other kid to have to experience that because her mother was going through a difficult time.” 54:17 “We set a goal of 67% of those children to be placed with friends or relatives because we know they’re more successful because then parents might be more inclined to visit or assist in visitation.” 56:21 “This epidemic has created a lot of stressors in the home. And again, we are seeing a large number of, again, it’s mainly substance abuse and domestic violence going on at home.” —————————— RESOURCES Bob McPartlan – Phone: (772) 708-2900 , Email: [email protected] Florida Department of Children and Families – Phone: 850-300-4323 or 1-866-762-2237, Fax: 1-866-886-4342, Website: https://www.myflfamilies.com/ D-SNAP, formerly known as Food for Florida – Link: https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/access/dsnap/learn.shtml Homeless Services Network of Central Florida – Phone: (407) 893-0133, Fax: (407) 893-5299, Email: [email protected] Food Stamp Program – Link: https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/access/food-assistance-and-suncap.shtml Boys & Girls Clubs of America – Link: www.bgca.org Gifford Youth Achievement Center – Link: https://www.gyac.net/ Hibiscus Children’s Village – Link: https://hibiscuschildrenscenter.org/ Community Based Care of Central Florida – Link: http://www.cbccfl.org/ Team Success Enterprises – Phone: (772) 236-7770, Link: https://teamsuccessenterprises.org/contact-us https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/ https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/dcf-investigations-lawyer/ https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/child-custody/