Hope Villages of America is expanding into the affordable housing market.

The Pinellas County nonprofit was recently forced to close its homeless shelter. Executive director Kirk Ray Smith announced that they would be transitioning the Grace House homeless shelter into an affordable housing campus. He said the nonprofit’s same services would continue, just without a shelter element.

“I hope donations don’t go down, but I think government support is getting harder secure, to be honest, and they’re making it tough on us man; it’s not easy,” explained Kirk Ray Smith.

The reason for this transition stems from a decision in December of 2020 by the juvenile welfare board. They decided to terminate nearly half a million dollars in funding to Hope Villages to operate The Grace House, citing administrative, programmatic, and financial concerns. Smith said he still doesn’t understand the decision and points to his organization’s record in helping the homeless progress back into society.

“Again, we’re talking about a 90% success rate, we didn’t agree with that decision, but we didn’t get a chance to defend it,” explained Smith.

The current apartments will become affordable housing units starting October first. There are 14 units adding to the 11 existing that Hope Villages of America already operates. However, Smith said the effects of this will be felt across the county.

“It’s going to happen because there isn’t many other places for homeless to go in Pinellas County. There are only 130 beds available to Pinellas County families, and we facilitate 80 of those, and that inventory will close,” said Smith.

The juvenile welfare board chose to award the funding to St. Vincent De Paul – another organization that operates shelters for the homeless in Pinellas County.

Read the article at https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/gmtb/hope-villages-of-america-converting-homeless-shelter-into-affordable-housing

Parents and caregivers looking for affordable and enriching childcare this summer should look no further than the city of Clearwater’s summer camps. Children will build new friendships, create life-long memories and go on adventures and field trips from May 31 to August 5. 

Each week campers will focus on character traits like honesty, respect, courage, self-control or leadership. The character trait theme will be carried into their arts and crafts project, team sports, field trips and more. Camp is offered for children entering elementary and middle school at the Countryside Recreation Center, the Long Center and Morningside Recreation Center.

Campers can spend the entire ten weeks of summer at one of Clearwater recreation centers for $100 or less per week. For session and individual week pricing, visit myclearwater.com/camps.

For those that qualify, the North Greenwood Recreation Center and Ross Norton Recreation Complex summer camps are sponsored by the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB), are free and include lunch.

Camp registration begins today for Clearwater residents and open registration begins on Friday, March 18. Parents and caregivers can register their child in-person at one of the following locations:

• Countryside Recreation Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Dr., (727) 669-1914
• Long Center, 1501 N. Belcher Rd., (727) 793-2320
• Morningside Recreation Complex, 2400 Harn Blvd., (727) 562-4280
• North Greenwood Recreation & Aquatic Complex, 900 N. MLK Jr. Ave., (727) 462-6276
• Ross Norton Recreation & Aquatic Complex, 1426 S. MLK Jr. Ave., (727) 562-4380

 For more information, contact the specific camp location you are interested in or visit myclearwater.com/camps.

Access the full article at https://www.myclearwater.com/Home/Components/News/News/3595/

The Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) recently announced a call-for-nominations for the inaugural Dillinger-McCabe “Putting Children First” Leadership Award to honor former, long-standing JWB Board members, Bernie McCabe and Bob Dillinger. Nominations are being accepted for remarkable individuals, living or deceased, who embody the leadership qualities of Mr. McCabe and Mr. Dillinger; those leaders who have made a significant difference and demonstrated extraordinary leadership, excellence, advocacy, and dedication in improving the lives of Pinellas County children and families.

The public is invited to make nominations now through Friday, October 1, 2021, at 5:00 PM. To make a nomination, click here for online form: https://form.jotform.com/212227190061040

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Nomination Criteria:

The award will be presented to an individual who has consistently demonstrated and proved:

• Leadership in driving system change for Pinellas County children and families, specifically related to prevention;
• Excellence in ensuring children have equitable opportunity to fulfill their potential and achieve meaningful, purposeful lives;
• Advocacy and compassion for putting children first, especially those in underserved communities; and
• Dedication and determination in improving the lives of Pinellas County children and their families.

Nominees Must:

• Have demonstrated success and impact for Pinellas County children and/or their families based on the above criteria
• Not be a current JWB Board, Community Council, or Staff member, or current member of the Dillinger-McCabe Leadership Award Selection Committee

Nominees May:

• Be living or deceased
• Be nominated by someone, or nominate themselves
• Be a former JWB Board, Community Council, or Staff member

All nominations will be reviewed by a Selection Committee, comprised of the JWB Board Chair, JWB Immediate Past Board Chair, Former JWB Board Member, and members of the McCabe and Dillinger families. The recipient (or if deceased, recipient’s family member) will be honored during the JWB 75th Anniversary Awards Luncheon, which has been postponed to Spring 2022.

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Bob Dillinger and Bernie McCabe | Extraordinary Leaders Who Put Children First

In January 2021, the Juvenile Welfare Board mourned the loss of long-standing Board Member, former Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe. During his 20 years of service, Mr. McCabe was a cornerstone of the JWB Board and long-serving Chair of the Board’s Finance Committee. A legend in the legal community, Mr. McCabe was steadfast in his commitment to always do what is best for children, and his litmus test was always, “Is it good for the kids?”. His colleague and friend, Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender Bob Dillinger, was a fierce advocate for the underserved. He made it his life’s work to fight childhood hunger and meet basic needs of children and families to prevent them from entering deeper end services. Mr. Dillinger retired from public office, completing his 20-year term on the JWB Board in December 2020.

Both men were formidable leaders on the JWB Board, and their dedication to Pinellas County children is unparalleled. While they did not always agree, they found common ground when it came to putting children first. To honor their long-standing service, JWB’s Board created a leadership award in their names to be presented annually to a well-established leader and champion for Pinellas County children and families.

Learn more at: www.jwbpinellas.org/dillinger-mccabe-leadership-award

The Juvenile Welfare recently unveiled a moving tribute video in memory of The Honorable Bernie McCabe at the March 11, 2021 Board meeting, with his beloved wife, Denise McCabe, and friends in attendance. The passing of Mr. McCabe, Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney and longstanding member of the JWB Board, has left a hole in our hearts. But his legacy lives on through the investments of the Juvenile Welfare Board, and is reflected in the lives of Pinellas County children who have been positively impacted by his servant leadership.

On January 29, 2021, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) hosted our 7^th Annual Children’s Summit. This year’s event was held virtually with a record number of 500 in attendance, and the theme was “A Year of Resiliency”,

JWB Board Chair Susan Rolston welcomed participants before turning it over to Beth Houghton, JWB Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Houghton addressed the challenges of last year’s global pandemic, and shared highlights from JWB’s new five-year Strategic Plan. She then introduced keynote speaker Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, MPH, MSLIS, MD, an expert in the field of early brain and child development, and early literacy. Dr. Navsaria is a pediatrician working in the public interest. He blends the roles of physician, educator, public health professional, child health advocate, and occasional children’s librarian. An associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Dr. Navsaria presents nationally on early brain and child development, early literacy, and advocacy, and is the founding medical director of Reach Out and Read Wisconsin. His keynote presentation, Early Experiences Elevate Everything, aligns with JWB’s new strategic focus on early childhood development and validates how critical the first 1,000 days of a child’s life are in shaping the brains and ultimately the futures of children. 

Ms. Houghton then introduced JWB’s annual report video featuring the work and impact of JWB and our partners last fiscal year, with emphasis on COVID relief efforts. The Summit closed with JWB Board Vice Chair Michael Mikurak’s call-to-action, inviting participants to continue to engage with JWB’s collective efforts and campaigns.

Click on the links below to view the recordings of the Children’s Summit and Dr. Navsaria’s keynote presentation, along with the FY20 Annual Report Video. 

• Recording of JWB Children’s Summit | A Year of Resiliency
• Recording of Dr. Dipesh Navsaria’s Early Experiences Elevate Everything Keynote Presentation
• Slides of Dr. Dipesh Navsaria’s Early Experiences Elevate Everything Keynote Presentation
• FY20 JWB Annual Report Video

We are pleased to announce that The Honorable Bruce Bartlett has joined the Juvenile Welfare Board in an ex-officio capacity as State Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

For 28 years, Mr. Bartlett served as Chief Assistant State Attorney until his appointment as State Attorney of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on January 21, 2021.

Mr. Bartlett began his career with the Sixth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office in 1979, where he rose to Division Director and then to Chief Assistant State Attorney in 1992. In his role as Chief Assistant State Attorney, he directly supervised 170 Assistant State Attorneys in Pinellas and Pasco counties and tried over 200 jury trials involving serious felonies.

During his career spanning four decades, Mr. Bartlett has held numerous professional memberships and received multiple awards. He has been a lecturer at Stetson University, instructor at St. Petersburg College and Pasco-Hernando Community College, and is currently on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission. He formerly served as Chair of Law Week for the Pinellas County Bar Association, Chair of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee (6-D), Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission Sixth Judicial Circuit, and member of the Pinellas County Police Athletic League (PAL). He received the Outstanding Professionalism in the Practice of Law Award from the St. Petersburg Bar Association (2007), Richard T. Earle Jr. Barney Masterson Inn of Court Award Demonstrating Highest Degree of Professionalism in the Practice of Law (2004), and Elk Lodge 1224 Prosecutor of the Year (1994). Born in St. Petersburg, Bruce Bartlett received his Bachelor of Science from the University of South Florida and his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law. He is married with two adult children, and is a life-long resident of Pinellas County.

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Barbara Morrison-Rodriguez in the position of Chief Evaluation and Innovation Officer. In her new position, Dr. Barbara Morrison-Rodriguez oversees JWB’s evaluation team and is responsible for developing, streamlining, and implementing program metrics across JWB’s portfolio. She also oversees JWB’s newest result area for Early Childhood Development, and plays a critical role in the Zero to Three Campaign. 

Prior to joining JWB’s executive leadership team, Dr. Morrison-Rodriguez served as President and CEO of BMR Consulting, LLC, since its founding in 2001. Her consulting was primarily focused with non-profit organizations and foundations in the Southeastern United States, as well as with federal agencies such as the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and its grantee programs. In that role, she provided evaluation and accountability consultation and training for grantees of several foundations primarily in Florida, and has trained over 800 non-profit organizations in evaluation. Her areas of expertise include program evaluation, strategic planning, strategic grant making, program development, and Board development. 

In her 45 year career, she has been on the faculty of multiple colleges and universities, including Hunter College (CUNY), the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine (NYC), State University of New York (Albany), the University of South Carolina (Columbia) where she held an endowed chair in Social Welfare, and the University of South Florida (Tampa) where she was Associate Dean of the Florida Mental Health Institute. In her career as a civil servant, Dr. Morrison-Rodriguez served as Director of Long Term Care for the New York State Office for Aging and Associate Commissioner for Long Term Care and Geriatrics at the New York State Office of Mental Health.  She co-authored a text book on research methods and has published several articles in the areas of research, aging, child welfare, and services to racial and ethnic minority populations. She earned her MA and PhD degrees in Social Welfare Research from the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Douglass College, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  

We are pleased to announce that The Honorable Sara Mollo has joined the Juvenile Welfare Board in an ex-officio capacity as Public Defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

In 2020, Sara Mollo was elected as Public Defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, serving Pinellas and Pasco counties. Ms. Mollo has practiced criminal law for over 20 years, serving as both a prosecutor and now as the Public Defender. This unique background has led her to a deeper understanding of the importance of justice for all.  She is well known as a fierce advocate for her clients and for seeking solutions for the misunderstood complexities of mental illness and poverty.

Ms. Mollo grew up in a military family; her father is a retired Lt. Colonel in the United States Army. She received her Doctorate degree from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. In 1997, she was admitted to the Florida and Missouri Bars and was appointed as Prosecutor. Two years later, she joined the Public Defender’s Office in Monroe County and, in 2002, she moved to Clearwater, joining the Sixth Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office.

Ms. Mollo is also Past President of the Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Legislative Co-Chair of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Humanitarian Award Recipient bestowed by the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), and Graduate of Leadership Pinellas Class of 2020.

Ms. Mollo believes that being a member of a vulnerable population doesn’t define you, but how we as a society treat the most vulnerable amongst us does.