CLICK HERE to listen to the audio of the full conversation between Juvenile Welfare Board’s new CEO Beth Houghton and St. Pete Catalyst Publisher Joe Hamilton.

When Beth Houghton took the helm of the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) in mid-September, she was fresh off of nearly eight years at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. The well-known community change-maker hadn’t been looking for a new role. She was happily leading the St. Petersburg Free Clinic’s years-long expansion in the community, fully-supported by a functional board, when a board member of JWB reached out and asked her to apply to be the organization’s chief executive officer.

“I’d been aware that they were looking, and to be honest it wasn’t something that had sunk in as something I might really look at,” Houghton explained. “But when I was sought out I was forced to look at it a bit more closely.

“For me, the ability to focus strictly on children was hugely appealing. I’ve always cared about making a difference for people who were behind the 8-ball and didn’t have the advantages that I’d had, but children have always been the heart of my heart. I spent 12 years at All Children’s; that time always appealed to me a great deal.”

Houghton and Hamilton talk about Houghton’s decision to leave the Free Clinic after nearly eight successful years of growth and prosperity to take on a new challenge at JWB, a governmental organization subject to Sunshine Law, overseeing a budget of $94.3 million and workforce of 62.

“Those were the two major things [children and government] I really thought about, but the budget and the focus told me it was a place I could be a part of making a huge impact for children.”

https://stpetecatalyst.com/beth-houghton-on-her-new-role-at-juvenile-welfare-board-and-why-its-focus-drew-her-in-audio/

After a unanimous vote of approval by the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, Beth A. Houghton began her tenure as the organization’s new chief executive officer on Oct. 1.

“We are thrilled to have Beth onboard as our new CEO,” said JWB Board Chair Susan Rolston who also led the board’s executive search committee efforts. “After an exhaustive national search, we were fortunate to attract an experienced Pinellas County executive who checks all the boxes.”

Rolston described Houghton as an “individual passionate about JWB’s mission, who possesses legal and fiscal expertise, a proven track record of organizational excellence and a reputation for getting things accomplished.”

Houghton came to JWB from the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, where she held the top position — first executive director then chief executive officer – for eight years. Under her leadership, the organization expanded its reach to eight food, shelter and health care programs that distribute to more than 55,000 people monthly.

Houghton graduated with highest honors from Stetson University College of Law, earned her Master of Business Administration with highest honors from Tulane University Graduate School of Business, and her Bachelor of the Arts with honors in Economics and Political Science from Newcomb College of Tulane University.

She is licensed to practice law in Florida. She served as chairman of the Board of Directors for Signature Bank in St. Petersburg. Her previous employment includes serving as chief financial officer and general counsel of John’s Hopkins All Children’s Health System.

“The Juvenile Welfare Board has always been known for shaping the future of our county’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens,” Houghton said. “I have always been passionate about improving the lives of our children, both because they are the innocent who cannot control their circumstances and because, as a society, improving children’s lives today and into the future is simply a smart investment.” In her role as CEO, Houghton will oversee an annual program and general government budget of $79.3 million and a workforce of 62, while ensuring policies set forth by the JWB Governing Board are implemented.

Established by a Special Act of the Florida Legislature in 1945, approved overwhelmingly by Pinellas County voters in 1946, and reauthorized in 1990, the Juvenile Welfare Board is an independent special taxing district that is governed by an 11-member Board. It is tasked with responsibly investing property tax dollars to give children the best opportunities to succeed.

Ms. Houghton succeeded Marcie Biddleman, who retired in September after a decade-long tenure with the organization.

To view article by Tampa Bay Newspapers visit: https://www.tbnweekly.com/pinellas_county/article_b19ce616-ef66-11e9-b9ef-eb3cc9e36d20.html

St. Petersburg College has received a grant award of $323,446 from the U.S. Department of Education for the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools program.

The goal of CCAMPIS is to increase access to affordable childcare and support services for low-income students with children, ultimately helping them persist and complete a postsecondary education.

In a recent survey of SPC students with children, more than 61 percent indicated that access and cost of childcare has significantly impacted their ability to remain in school. The grant, renewable for up to four years, will allow SPC to develop a voucher-based childcare program for low-income (Pell grant-eligible) students.

Working with community partners, such as the Juvenile Welfare Board, Lutheran Family Services Head Start and Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, SPC will offer vouchers for local, quality childcare on a sliding fee scale, with priority given to full-time students needing full-time childcare.

First authorized in 1998, the CCAMPIS program grant is housed under the Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education. CCAMPIS provides grant awards to colleges who aid low-income student parents with childcare. In 2018, Congress passed a spending package that increased funding for the program to $50 million.

At SPC, the program will serve an estimated 85 students per year through vouchers for local child care services, provided by outsourced contracts with licensed and accredited child care providers near SPC’s 11 learning site. The program also includes wrap-around support services, such as career and academic advising, financial literacy and life skills workshops to help students succeed.

To view article by Tampa Bay Newspapers visit: https://www.tbnweekly.com/schools/article_5f9a4978-ea00-11e9-b547-fb36664e5ef8.html

Congressman Charlie Crist visited St. Petersburg College Seminole campus Wednesday and presented a check for $323,446 on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education to increase child care access for students at the school. 

• Grant will total more than $1 million over 4 years
• Program kicks off spring semester 2020

The goal of CCAMPIS is to increase access to high-quality, affordable child care and support services for low-income students with children.  A recent survey of SPC students with children found more than 61 percent of respondents indicated that access and cost of child care has significantly impacted their ability to remain in school. 

The grant, which will total more than $1 million over four years, will allow SPC to develop a voucher-based child care program for low-income students.  SPC will work with community partners, such as the Juvenile Welfare Board, Lutheran Family Services Head Start, and Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, to offer vouchers for local, quality child care on a sliding fee scale. 

The program kicks off Spring semester of 2020. 

Parents like Nicole Graybarz can now have peace of mind and become successful students. 

Watch the video to hear how this new program is changing the lives of students like Nicole and her husband.

To view video by Spectrum Bay News 9 visit: https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2019/10/09/grant-to-give-st–pete-college-students-access-to-quality-child-care#

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County approved Beth Houghton as its new CEO, effective retroactively to Oct. 1.

Houghton previously served as head of the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, a group that offers medical care, food and shelter to homeless individuals.

Houghton’s appointment was unanimous.

“We are thrilled to have Beth on board as our new CEO,” said JWB Board Chair Susan Rolston, who also led the Board’s executive search committee efforts.

“After an exhaustive national search, we were fortunate to attract an experienced Pinellas County executive who checks all the boxes: an individual passionate about JWB’s mission who possesses legal and fiscal expertise, a proven track record of organizational excellence, and a reputation for getting things accomplished.”

Houghton served as executive director at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic for eight years where she oversaw a massive expansion effort increasing the group’s reach to eight food, shelter and health care programs that is now able to provide food and services to more than 55,000 people a month, provide free healthcare to 9,000 people a year and is helping 400 homeless individuals become housing independent through the group’s shelter programs.

“The Juvenile Welfare Board has always been known for shaping the future of our county’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens,” Houghton said.

“I have always been passionate about improving the lives of our children, both because they are the innocent who cannot control their circumstances and because, as a society, improving children’s lives today and into the future is simply a smart investment. So, coming to the JWB to work with our Board, staff, and community organizations was an easy choice for me.

“I knew I could come to work every day and really make a difference in the trajectory of our community.”

In her new role, Houghton will oversee an annual budget of $79.3 million and a workforce of 62 employees. She’ll oversee policies and ensure they are effectively implemented and will work with both the JWB board of directors and its staff.

She will also establish strategic partnerships and oversee the funding of high-quality programs that benefit tens of thousands of Pinellas County children and families annually.

“Beth is someone who has dedicated her entire life to giving back,” Rolston said. “It’s important that we have a champion for children and families, like Beth, in our top leadership position.”

In addition to her work locally, Houghton has also participated in several mission trips to Honduras. She serves on the Board for the Foundation for International Missions that supports a rural health clinic.

Houghton also serves as chair of the Hospital Board of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. She previously served as board president for Great Explorations and the Houghton-Wagman Children’s Museum.

“Beth embodies the entire package,” Rolston said. “All of her attributes, combined with her experience developing and using impact measures and metrics, will serve us well as we prepare to sunset our current strategic plan, and adopt a new one in 2021.”

The JWB was established by a Special Act of the Florida Legislature in 1945 and approved by Pinellas County voters in 1946. It was reauthorized in 1990.

Houghton replaces Marcie Biddleman who retired in September after a decade-long tenure with the organization.

To view article by Florida Politics visit: https://floridapolitics.com/archives/307703-beth-houghton-juvenile-welfare