Author: jwb admin

Juvenile Welfare Board Receives Top Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting

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(l to r) JWB Senior Accountant Richard Godfrey, Chief Financial Officer Laura Krueger Brock, Senior Manager of Accounting Lynn De la Torre, and JWB Board Chair Judge Patrice Moore with JWB's 4th GFOA Award

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recently awarded the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award for their 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

In its announcement of the award, GFOA stated that JWB’s annual comprehensive financial report “has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive ‘spirit of full disclosure’ to clearly communicate its financial story…. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.”

This is the fourth consecutive year JWB has received the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

“Earning the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award is a great accomplishment,” said JWB CFO Laura Krueger Brock, who was also a 2023 Tampa Bay Business Journal CFO of the Year. “This shows a commitment to JWB and provides valuable historical and accounting knowledge to the organization,” she said.

Ms. Brock congratulated the JWB Accounting team by name—Senior Manager of Accounting Lynn De le Torre, Senior Accountant Richard Godfrey, Accountant Anne Crawford, and Fiscal Specialist Lilia Pletnev—while noting the team’s continuity and extremely low turnover: Collectively, the Accounting unit has 57 years of employment with JWB, with an average of 14 years of service.

“The GFOA award—considered the Gold Star in financial reporting—is a testament to the JWB Accounting team’s dedication to organizational transparency and accountability,” said JWB Board Chair Judge Patrice Moore, while presenting the newest award to staff at the January 18th Board meeting. “The Accounting team deserves our congratulations for this recognition of their hard work and dedication to excellence!”

Submission requirements are very detailed: The reviewer checklist is very lengthy—more than 100 pages. JWB accounting staff poured tremendous effort into this endeavor while completing the day-to-day duties associated with the organization’s annual impact budget of $93 million, which strengthened the lives of nearly 64,000 children and families.

Learn more about how JWB has been putting Pinellas County children first for more than 75 years at https://www.jwbpinellas.org/about/

Pictured above: Juvenile Welfare Board Receives Top Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting Four Years Running: (l to r) JWB Senior Accountant Richard Godfrey, Chief Financial Officer Laura Krueger Brock, Senior Manager of Accounting Lynn De la Torre, and JWB Board Chair Judge Patrice Moore.

Julie Menke is a 2023-2024 KidsFirst Award Winner

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The Juvenile Welfare Board believes those who work to give children brighter futures deserve recognition. This year, we’ll be honoring four new KidsFirst award winners, and we were pleased to publicly announce our first 2023-2024 KidsFirst Awardee at the December 14, 2023, JWB Board meeting after a surprise award presentation by our Chief Administrative Officer, Lynda Leedy, during a Suncoast Center staff meeting earlier in the month.

An outstanding social service professional who consistently goes above and beyond to put children first, Julie Menke is a therapist with 20 years of service at Suncoast Center.

Her focus for the past few years has been on leading the Active Parenting Now class, teaching parents healthy and effective parenting skills, as well as providing them with the knowledge needed to understand children’s behaviors and the family dynamics.

In recent years, she has enhanced the parenting course with a special session that focuses solely on child and adolescent suicide prevention, which has received very favorable feedback from parent participants. In fact, it’s not uncommon for parents to request additional trainings or presentations on various matters affecting parents.

Julie has been a Qualified Clinical Supervisor for decades. In this role, she provides therapeutic feedback and support to new therapists and has been pivotal in countless therapists’ growth and journey toward licensure. Even outside this role, Julie takes every opportunity to support her coworkers and program teammates and volunteers to help lead social and supportive activities.

If Julie finds a need in the community, she actively seeks solutions, and if one cannot be found, she will work within her role to meet that need. In this way she has spoken to PTAs about suicide prevention and to community organizations about how they can support families.

Please join us in congratulating JWB’s remarkable KidsFirst Awardee! View the Facebook album containing photos from both award announcements.

Nominations for the 2023-2024 KidsFirst awards are being accepted though February 9, 2024.

The Economic Impact of Mental Health

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Mental illness costs the economy about $200 billion in lost earnings each year. That’s why it’s so important to normalize conversations about mental health, especially in the C-suite. Mental health is physical health, but too often shame and stigma prevent employees from seeking treatment. When leaders openly share their own emotional and mental health challenges, it models this behavior, so employees feel safe to do so as well.


In Tampa Bay Thrives’ 2023 Resident Mental Health Study, 14% (a 4% increase over the previous year) of respondents reported missing work due to a mental or emotional condition, and the typical employee missed 4 days per month. This corresponds to a loss of 524,500 workdays per month or 6.3 million workdays per year, a significant increase from 2022.


At The Mosaic Company, the world’s leading integrated producer of concentrated phosphate and potash, some company huddles begin with a mental health query: “How is everyone doing today? Let’s check on how you’re feeling.” It’s all part of a psychological wellness program rolled out by Mosaic three years ago that moves beyond the risk reduction environment to one that centers around overall wellness: physical, psychological, and financial health.


This year, Tampa Bay Thrives is partnering with companies such as, The Mosaic Company, Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, and Polk County Board of County Commissioners, to guide them on their journey to becoming Bell Seal certified. The Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health is a national certification program recognizing employers committed to creating mentally healthy workplaces.


Mental health isn’t just about one person. It affects the entire family. Our generation of young people has experienced multiple traumatic events: the pandemic, school shootings, widespread environmental and natural disasters, and global humanitarian crises. More than half (54%) of all Mental Health America screenings were completed by children and young adults under 25, and screenings skyrocketed by over 594% from 2019 to 2022.


Parents with children under 18 make up 40% of the workforce, and, beyond that Gen Z-ers are the future of our workforce. If the kids are not alright, neither are working caregivers. 1 in 3 Tampa Bay residents does not feel comfortable talking with their children about mental health. The main reason is that parents fear they might upset their children or make them worry unnecessarily.


Tampa Bay Thrives has engaged over 1,000 individuals, youth, parents, teachers, and providers to support our children’s mental health and will convene stakeholders and leaders to build a transformational approach in 2024.
Tampa Bay Thrives needs CEOs, employers, and business leaders to join the mental health movement! You play a pivotal role in helping shape a more mentally healthy future. The benefits and culture around mental health support that you or your company provides can create the ripple effect that leads to saved lives and systems change.
Join the movement, together, for a better tomorrow.


Deputy Sheriff Tyler Wilson recalls how he overcame the stigma to seek help in our #IYKYK campaign.


“While serving my community as a Deputy Sheriff, I began to experience severe PTSD symptoms, including flashbacks, depression, and anxiety. I had been exposed to multiple critical incidents, one involving a shooting with a suicidal individual and another with a terribly violent traffic crash involving the death of multiple children. The flashbacks and other symptoms became so severe that I seriously contemplated taking my own life to end the pain.


I sought help through my Employee Assistance Program, only to find the counselor inept at dealing with the severity of the trauma I had experienced. I also met with a psychiatrist who quickly prescribed me strong and habit-forming medications, which didn’t feel like the right fit for me.


Luckily through perseverance, I found a therapist who better fit my needs, and she was able to help guide me out of the darkness. I was also blessed to be treated by a cutting-edge virtual reality treatment. These treatments are the reason I am able to share my story today. I am now fortunate enough to speak nationwide about my experience and assist others in their healing process.”


Read the article as originally published at https://tbbwmag.com/2023/12/06/the-economic-impact-of-mental-health/

Protecting Our Babies: Campaign to Avoid Sleep-Suffocation

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Fox 13’s “Good Day Tampa Bay” spotlighted St. Petersburg Fire Rescue first responders who volunteered their time on October 25th to pack nearly 1,000 bags filled with items designed to save babies’ lives during sleep.

St. Pete Fire Rescue is an active partner in Sleep Baby Safely, a campaign created by the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) that has cut infant sleep-related deaths in half since 2018.

October is National Infant Safe Sleep Month–and the perfect time to share with parents and caregivers the importance of protecting babies from suffocation during sleep, every night and every nap.

The Sleep Baby Safely campaign features consistent messaging, data-based facts and tips, and coordinated materials used by all Pinellas County birthing hospitals, doctors’ offices, parent educators, and first responders, such as St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. Learn more at www.SleepBabySafely.com.

Watch the entire Fox 13 “Good Day Tampa Bay” segment here:

“Sleep Baby Safely” Campaign to Avoid Sleep-Suffocation

Posted on by jwb admin

Fox 13 covered first responders from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue as they volunteered their time on October 25th to pack nearly 1,000 bags filled with items designed to save babies’ lives during sleep.

It’s all part of Sleep Baby Safely, a campaign created by the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) that has cut infant sleep-related deaths in half since it launched in 2018.

October is National Infant Safe Sleep Month–and the perfect time to share with parents and caregivers the importance of protecting babies from suffocation during sleep, every night and every nap.

The Sleep Baby Safely campaign features consistent messaging, data-based facts and tips, and coordinated materials used by all Pinellas County birthing hospitals, doctors’ offices, parent educators, and first responders, such as St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. Learn more at www.SleepBabySafely.com.

Watch the entire Fox 13 “10:00 News” segment here:

Celebrities Meet With White House to Discuss Mental Health in Entertainment Industry

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Celebrities descended on Washington D.C. for a mental health roundtable with the White House Office of Public Engagement and Domestic Policy Council.

Mädchen Amick, Kal Penn, and Katori Hall (pictured above, from left: AMY SUSSMAN/GETTY; CRAIG BARRITT/GETTY; MATT WINKELMEYER/GETTY) were just a few of the Hollywood stars who attended the conversation about how to further include accurate mental health storylines in film and television series. The roundtable was a part of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ ongoing work to address the nationwide mental health crisis.

The entertainment figures and administration officials discussed the opportunities for proactive mental health storylines, according to the White House. They also spoke about the lessons they’ve learned from previous campaigns for positive representation of mental health in entertainment and how to tackle depictions of it sensitively.

Other celebrities who attended the roundtable include Tzi Ma, Freddie Highmore, Bianca Lawson, Lisa Ann Walter, David Shore, Milicent Shelton, Shawn Ryan and Joely Fisher. They were joined by professionals who specialize in psychology and mental health storytelling. It was organized by The Hollywood Committee, On Our Sleeves, JED Foundation, USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the Juvenile Welfare Board.

Fisher, who is Carrie Fisher’s half-sister and SAG-AFTRA’s secretary-treasurer, shared a post on the actors union’s Instagram following the discussion, elaborating on the importance of mental health for those in the entertainment industry.

“This strike we are conducting carries very real pain for everyone in the industry and beyond,” she wrote in the post and caption. “This sort of environment can cause acute mental and emotional challenges. As your union leaders, we see this, and we want to declare our support, whether you are a strike captain, a volunteer or any member — we see you, and we hear you. You are not alone.”

She also took a moment to share a personal anecdote about how mental health has always played a part in her life and hits especially close to home currently.

“My brilliant sister Carrie Fisher, who would’ve celebrated her 67th birthday today, wore her mental illness like a crown and scepter,” she wrote in the post. “When she departed, I took up the mantle of supporting humans who otherwise felt alone. What I didn’t know then was that a similar challenge and diagnosis would soon strike one of my children. The struggle is real.”

Read the article as originally published at https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/celebrities-mental-health-entertainment-industry-white-house-1235624231/

Readout of White House Meeting on Mental Health in the Entertainment Industry

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On Friday, the White House Office of Public Engagement and Domestic Policy Council convened over 20 leaders from throughout the entertainment industry to discuss the inclusion of accurate mental health storylines into film and series content. This roundtable is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing commitment to address the nationwide mental health crisis as part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda.

Administration officials and entertainment leaders discussed recent actions President Biden has taken, including strengthening the mental health workforce and system capacity, connecting more Americans to care, and creating healthy and supportive environments. As part of the conversation, participants discussed opportunities for proactive mental health storylines, lessons learned from previous campaigns to model positive behavior through entertainment, and how to sensitively navigate depictions of those experiencing mental health challenges. Participants agreed to continue the conversation and work together to foster accurate mental health storylines to decrease stigma and promote access to resources.

Administration Participants Included:

  • Steve Benjamin, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement
  • Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor
  • Terri Tanielian, Special Assistant to the President for Veterans Affairs
  • Erica Loewe, Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff for Public Engagement

External Participants Included:

  • Mädchen Amick, Actor and Director
  • Dr. Eric Butter, Chief of Psychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
  • Michael Costigan, Producer
  • Alexandra Daddario, Actor
  • Robert Disney, Organizer
  • Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, Chief Medical Officer, The JED Foundation
  • Joely Fisher, Actor and Singer
  • Katori Hall, Playwright and Television Producer/Creator
  • Freddie Highmore, Actor
  • Dr. Ariana Hoet, Executive Clinical Director, On Our Sleeves
  • Beth Houghton, Chief Executive Officer, Juvenile Welfare Board
  • Ashley Kolaya, Mental Health Storytelling Initiative
  • Bianca Lawson, Actor
  • Ken Lazebnik, Writer
  • Tzi Ma, Actor
  • John MacPhee, Chief Executive Officer, The JED Foundation
  • Tracy McMillan, Writer and Author
  • Dr. David Osher, Vice President at American Institutes for Research
  • Shawn Ryan, Writer and Producer
  • Millicent Shelton, Director and Writer
  • David Shore, Writer and Showrunner
  • Kal Penn, Actor and Author
  • Lisa Ann Walter, Actor, Comedian, and Producer

Read the original article as published by The White House at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/21/readout-of-white-house-meeting-on-mental-health-in-the-entertainment-industry/

OST Staff Celebrated at “The Power of You” Conference

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JWB’s 2023 Annual Out of School Time Conference titled “The Power of You” was held on September 29th. This was a hybrid professional development conference streamed live to watch parties across the County! It was also our largest conference yet, with 636 JWB funded agency out-of-school time staff registered.

Our CEO, Beth, kicked off the event, and JWB Training Specialist Jaime Cole was an energetic emcee!

There was a dynamic panel including Zaneta N. Ellison of New Vision Behavioral Health, Janielle McCullough with Evara Health, and Alana-Maria Luczak, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from USF. They shared practical tips to help kids thrive, to build community, and to proactively address discipline.

Herbie Mack, Suicide Interventionist, shared how our inherent superpowers can improve the wellness of youth.

OST staff attendees received superpower swag, connected through a social wall, asked questions directly of the speakers, and downloaded valuable resources for their programs. And we’ve heard from many attendees that they were inspired and recharged by the Conference and have rededicated themselves to their work with Pinellas County children.

You can enjoy a photo album of the event here, and we’ll be sharing a video of this event soon, as well.

The FOCUS Faith-Based Symposium Spotlighted the Supports Needed in a Post-Pandemic World

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The FOCUS Faith-Based Symposium on September 28th at Anona United Methodist Church centered on the role that faith-based and social service communities play in a post-pandemic Pinellas County.

JWB Community Engagement Advocate Joanne Reich moderated a panel including Directions for Living CEO April Lott; Sandnes Boulanger with Operation PAR, Inc.; and Gabriela Holton from CASA Pinellas.

Jeanine Evoli, JWB’s Director of Family Services Initiative, also spoke.

The event drew 125 attendees who were eager to network and explore resource tables representing 16 different community agencies.

We’ve shared a video of the event on the Faith-Based Partnerships page of our website so anyone can watch it on-demand.

A Facebook album of event photos has been published, as well.