For the second year in a row, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) is hosting a series of family-friendly events across Pinellas County to celebrate and support grandparents raising their grandchildren.

Three unique and free Grand Families Events will be held this spring where families headed by grandparents can come out to enjoy great food, fun activities, and resources designed to support them in their caregiver roles. We are also extending invitations to these events to all relative caregivers who are raising their nieces, nephews, or siblings in their homes.

“As a grandparent myself who is raising my two grandsons, I can speak to the unique joys and challenges this presents. While I am fortunate to have access to resources, I know many struggle to know where to turn,” shared JWB CEO Beth Houghton, who is a passionate advocate for relative care. “JWB is dedicated to bringing resources to grandparents and other relative caregivers who are stepping up to help their kin, as well as making connections to improve their quality of life and strengthen their families.”

During our first series of events last year, grandparents told us of the rising costs of meeting basic and immediate needs as they’re stepping up in an unexpected role during their later years. JWB listened and, this year, we’ve gathered even more partners to help these families overcome their unique challenges and walk away with practical items that they need every day: Grand families can come out for a fun-filled day of free activities, food, music and crafts—and leave with non-perishable food items, safety kits, infant and hygiene items, and more!

Information about the three Grand Families events is listed below. All events are being hosted by JWB and our three Community Councils in north, mid-, and south Pinellas County and are free of charge to the public.

DID YOU KNOW?

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU DATA:

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), in the United States (Grandparents and Their Coresident Grandchildren: 2021):

• 6,928,281 grandparents are living with their grandchildren.
• Almost 33% of those grandparents report sole responsibility for their grandchild(ren).
• 16% of grandchildren under the age of 18 living with grandparents were in poverty.

2021 PINELLAS COUNTY DATA

According to the ACS (2021), in Pinellas County:

• 17,072 grandparents are living with their grandchildren.
• 35% of those grandparents report sole responsibility for their grandchild(ren).
• 22% of grandchildren under the age of 18 living with grandparents were in poverty.

A 3-in-1 and individual event flyers are attached as PNGs. PDFs in English and Spanish can be downloaded from www.jwbpinellas.org/calendar.

GRAND FAMILIES EVENTS – FREE TO THE PUBLIC:

South County Grand Families Unity Day

Saturday, April 5th from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM

Campbell Park, 601 14th St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33705

A resource fair hosted by JWB and our South County Community Council with no-cost health screenings and kids’ haircuts; fun crafts and a food truck; plus free non-perishable food boxes, hygiene supplies, and other giveaways.

North County Grand Families Day

Saturday, April 26th from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

CAP | Union Academy Family Center, 401 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Hosted by JWB’s North County Community Council, the event will feature family resources, free health screenings, family-friendly activities and giveaways of non-perishable food boxes, hurricane supplies, and more.

Mid-County Grand Families Resource Fair: Celebrating the Heroes of Caregiving

Saturday, May 10th from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, 4951 78th Ave. N., Pinellas Park, FL 33781

JWB’s Mid-County Community Council-hosted fair will provide family resources; free health screenings and kids haircuts; family-friendly activities and giveaways of non-perishable food boxes, hygiene and safety supplies, and more.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Learn more about JWB’s Grand Families Events and download PDFs in English and Spanish at www.jwbpinellas.org/calendar.

For questions, contact Community Engagement Manager Yaridis Garcia at 813-381-2407 or ygarcia@jwbpinellas.org.

Karen Boggess, who has been with Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) for nearly 20 years, was recently promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO).

“In each role at JWB, Ms. Boggess has become more and more valuable to the work that we do for children and families,” said JWB CEO Beth A. Houghton when announcing the promotion.

Ms. Boggess, who holds a master’s degree in social work, served in a variety of roles in children’s mental health before moving from New York to Florida.

When she joined JWB in 2005, she started as a Senior Contract Manager. She continued in Program positions of increasing responsibility, which included the creation of the Quality Early Learning Initiative, until 2014, when she was promoted to Manager of Performance and Evaluation.

In 2021, Ms. Boggess was promoted to Chief Program Officer (CPO). In this role, she led JWB’s workforce stabilization efforts and increased opportunities for JWB-funded programs, overseeing the community event support funding and the growth of community initiatives and collaboratives.

In her new role as COO, Ms. Boggess will lead the performance of the following units reporting to her: Program Administration, Community Engagement, Community Collaborations, Family Services Initiative, and Performance and Evaluation.

“Ms. Boggess is well-equipped to continue growing with the Juvenile Welfare Board as we work for Pinellas children and families,” Ms. Houghton concluded.

Read Ms. Boggess’ full bio.

Beth A. Houghton has been named to the Board of Directors for Tampa Bay Thrives (TBT), a nonprofit that envisions an emotionally healthy community where mental health is a priority and all thrive together. Established in 2019, TBT brings together community leaders from across the Tampa Bay region to devise strategic solutions centered on behavioral health navigation, access to care, and stigma reduction.

Ms. Houghton serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB), a mission-driven organization with an 80-year history of strengthening the lives of children and families. In her CEO role, Ms. Houghton oversees an annual impact budget of $133 million and serves as the nexus between the JWB Governing Board and day-to-day operations. This includes administering accountability systems and measurements to safeguard the community’s investments, advocating for children’s issues and underserved families, and overseeing the funding of high-quality programs that served more than 77,000 children and families last year. She also directs the implementation of life-changing strategic initiatives and campaigns that benefit tens of thousands annually, including JWB’s Children’s Mental Health Initiative aimed at fostering prevention, early intervention, and treatment with a focus on children ages 4 to 11.

“Beth is a strong leader and advocate in the children’s mental health space,” stated Carrie Zeisse, President and CEO of Tampa Bay Thrives. “Her breadth of knowledge and wealth of experience as JWB’s CEO will bring a fresh perspective and expertise to the table. We are thrilled to have Beth join our Board.”

Since 2018, JWB’s Children’s Mental Health Initiative has successfully integrated behavioral health and support services within pediatric practices, built capacity for pediatricians to feel equipped and comfortable identifying and treating low-to-moderate mental health conditions, and focused on public awareness and family engagement outreach to normalize conversations about mental health and wellness. Last year alone, the initiative screened 17,000 children for early detection and intervention, resulting in 8,000 behavioral health visits within pediatric settings, and engaged 7,500 through community events focused on mental wellbeing.

“Under Beth’s leadership, JWB continues the important work of promoting children’s mental health and wellness by reducing stigma, fostering healthy connections, and getting further upstream towards prevention,” added Zeisse.

Ms. Houghton’s prior experience includes serving as CEO of the St. Petersburg Free Clinic and Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel of All Children’s Health System. She graduated with honors from Stetson College of Law, Tulane University Graduate School of Business, and Newcomb College of Tulane. She is licensed to practice law in Florida and served as Chairman of the Board for Signature Bank in St. Petersburg. In addition, Ms. Houghton is the Immediate Past Chair of the Hospital Board of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, prior Board President for Great Explorations Houghton-Wagman Children’s Museum, was named a Boss for Babies by the Florida Children’s Movement, and has taken numerous mission trips to rural Honduras.

This Saturday, June 22, the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) and St. Petersburg Free Clinic (SPFC) will partner to giveaway free fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and more to families struggling to put food on the table for their kids this summer. This event will take place in the JWB Parking Lot located at 14155 58^th St. N., Clearwater, FL 33760, and is the first of six events planned at sites across Pinellas County this summer.

“A perfect storm is brewing for struggling families,” stated Beth Houghton, JWB Chief Executive Officer. “Summer is always a challenge, given so many children count on school meals for their daily nutrition. This summer is particularly tough since a pandemic-initiated stipend of $300 per child will end for families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, otherwise known as Summer EBT. This comes at a time of high housing, utility, and food costs, and the gap-weeks before and after summer school are of particular concern.”

JWB’s Childhood Hunger Collaborative forecasted this issue ahead of summer and convened partners to quickly devise a plan. The group has been highly effective in identifying and filling food gaps for kids, responding swiftly to urgent needs as it did throughout the pandemic.

“JWB is committed to ensuring no child goes hungry. We invest $4.2M in bulk food with the St. Pete Free Clinic, which then distributes to food banks and pantries across Pinellas County,” continued Houghton. “We will access these investments to distribute free fresh food to families at six drive-thru mobile sites in mid, north, and south Pinellas County, starting this Saturday.”

Each family will receive a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins/meats, dairy, eggs, cereals, canned goods, and more – approximately 52+ pounds of food per family. A total of 21,000 pounds of food will be given away at each event, which equates to 126,000 pounds of food distributed across the six events when summer ends.

For a list of all six summer food events, visit www.jwbpinellas.org/calendar/free-summer-food-for-families/

Childhood Hunger Stats:

• 1 in 8 (18,369) children in Pinellas County are food insecure, or 12.6% of the total population of children under age 18.
• 1 in 5 (676,945) children in Florida are food insecure, or 14.3% of the total population of children under age 18.
• 1 in 5 (14,783,000) children in the United States are food insecure, or 20% of the total population of children under age 18.

*Food insecurity means children do not have enough food at times for a healthy, active life.

WHAT:            Summer Food for Families Drive-Thru Mobile Food Pantry Giveaway

WHEN:            Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (while supplies last)

WHERE:           Juvenile Welfare Board Parking Lot, 14155 58^th St. N., Clearwater, FL 33760

WHO:              Families with children in need of food (anticipate feeding 400+ families at this one event). Elected officials and other dignitaries will be on hand to volunteer to pass out food.

Editor’s Note: There will be opportunities for interviews with JWB CEO Beth Houghton, elected officials/VIPs who will be volunteering, and families in the drive-thru line who are receiving free food. We will also have staff available to give interviews in Spanish.

###

ABOUT JWB: For more than 75 years, JWB has been investing in the futures of children to strengthen our community. JWB invests in programs, services, and initiatives so children are ready to learn, succeed, and thrive in homes, schools, and neighborhoods that are healthy and safe. To learn more about JWB, please visit www.jwbpinellas.org.

ABOUT SPFC: With compassion and respect, SPFC changes lives by providing health care, nutritious food, recovery housing, and education for our neighbors in need.  To learn more about SPFC, please visit www.thespfc.org.

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) is pleased to announce that Robbi Stivers has been named Chief Financial Officer of the organization.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Robbi join our team,” stated Beth Houghton, JWB Chief Executive Officer. “He has extensive experience navigating the intricacies of government finance in top executive roles, mainly in higher education, and has a track record for demonstrating strong accountability and transparency, making him a good fit for our organization.”

Stivers is a proven leader with 20-plus years of finance experience with local and state governments and public higher education. Building on a successful banking career, he has applied principles of sound business practices, financial management, and organizational leadership to his government finance roles. Stivers is a skilled problem-solver who applies his entrepreneurial vision to create new programs for increased accountability and efficiencies; possesses in-depth knowledge of risk assessment and mitigation; and is savvy to federal, state, and local leadership, legislation, and regulatory environments.

In his role as JWB CFO, Stivers will be responsible for the development and use of sound fiscal and contracting policies and practices that support JWB’s mission and activities while furthering its strategic plan. As Department Chief, he will plan, direct, and supervise the work of JWB personnel engaged in the activities of accounting, budget preparation and analysis, procurement, administrative contract management, and program finance. In addition, he will regularly report to JWB’s 11-member Board who are representative of the community and guide citizens’ investments.

Stivers earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Tennessee Wesleyan University and his M.A. in Organizational Management from Tusculum University. He is a Certified Government Financial Manager (granted by the Association of Government Accountants). He has early career certifications and experience in both insurance and banking. 

JWB in an independent special taxing district that has been committed to making children a priority for more than 75 years. Governed by an 11-member Board and driven by data, JWB ensures children are ready to learn, ready to succeed, and ready to thrive in homes, schools, and neighborhoods that are healthy and safe. JWB invests in 100 quality programs with 53 nonprofit agencies, and works collectively to address childhood hunger, grade-level reading, and preventable child deaths. Last year, JWB’s investments strengthened the lives of more than 70,000 children and families across six strategic result areas: Early Childhood Development, School Readiness, School Success, the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Strengthening Community, and Organizational Capacity.

Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) CEO Beth Houghton was recently named a Boss for Babies.

Bosses for Babies is a statewide initiative of The Children’s Movement of Florida designed to engage business leaders in boosting their workforce and contributing to community prosperity through family-focused practices.

Last year, JWB served 64,000 children and families through investments in 85 quality programs with 50 nonprofit agencies. Plus, we served tens of thousands more through our initiatives and campaigns that address complex issues facing our county’s children: children’s mental health, preventable child deaths, childhood hunger, and grade-level reading. These investments and work are focused in five strategic result areas: Early Childhood Development, School Readiness, School Success, Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and Strengthening Community.

“I am passionate about improving the lives of 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. And I am proud of the leadership role JWB has taken for babies and their families,” Houghton said of the recognition. “As we know at JWB, 80% of brain growth happens before a child’s third birthday, and what parents and caregivers do in the first 1,000 days has a profound impact on their children’s future learning and development. So, the earlier we invest in children, the greater the return. Investing in high-quality early education yields an impressive economic return of $16 for every dollar invested, leading to higher graduation rates, increased income levels, and reduced social welfare costs.”

One of her favorite messages is, “In Pinellas County, children are 16% of the total population but they represent 100% of our future. The Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) understands this and has been investing in the future of children and families in Pinellas County for more than 75 years.” This year, under Houghton’s leadership, JWB will invest a substantial portion of our $106.8M to support families with infants and young children, including the following programs and services:

• Infant and Maternal Health
• Early Childhood Development (includes screenings and supports)
• Infant Mental Health/Children’s Mental Health/Behavioral Health
• Early Learning Centers
• Food Security/Childhood Hunger Initiative
• Parenting Education/Family Support (includes home visiting)
• Family Stabilization
• Fatherhood Initiative
• Early Literacy
• Domestic Violence Supports
• Preventable Child Death
• Neighborhood Family Centers
• Respite Services

JWB’s strategic initiatives and public awareness campaigns focused on infants, young children, and their families include:

• Turbo Babies Early Childhood Public Awareness Campaign – Turbo Babies embraces the power of play and represents the rapid pace at which children, birth to three, develop and grow. Fueled by JWB, the campaign encourages early connections and nurtures a baby’s drive to learn. It features consistent messaging, coordinated materials, parent education and training, and role modeling to give parents and other caregivers the confidence they need to be their child’s first and best teachers.
• Children’s Mental Health Initiative – JWB understands that mental health begins at birth and that early intervention is key for developing healthy coping skills and resiliency. That’s why JWB and our community partners launched the Children’s Mental Health Initiative to foster prevention, early intervention, and treatment with a focus on children ages 4 to 11. A key strategy is to increase access by integrating behavioral health services into the pediatric setting and offering same-day appointments. The initiative also works to increase knowledge among pediatric providers in identifying and treating low-to-moderate mental health conditions and to destigmatize mental health.
• Fatherhood Initiative – JWB and our partners are working collectively to bring a focus on fathers and promote father-inclusive community resources to equip dads with the tools they need to shine in their caregiver role. The initiative lifts up the voices of fathers, trains professionals who work with dads, and eliminates barriers and biases for fathers.  
• Preventable Child Death Initiative – JWB and our partners launched an initiative to prevent the needless deaths of children under age six, tackling the three leading causes: suffocation due to unsafe sleep practices, drowning, and abusive head trauma. JWB’s Sleep Baby Safely campaign features consistent messaging, fact-based tips, coordinated materials, and education to protect babies from sleep-related suffocation every night and every nap. Since its launch, the campaign has reduced the number of infant sleep-related deaths in half and was expanded statewide last year.

JWB has also implemented strategies to build organizational capacity in the birth-to-three space:

• 0-3 Think Tank – JWB has convened a group of thought leaders and subject matter experts in the birth-to-three space to help inform our work, guide policy, and amplify advocacy efforts.
• Workforce Stabilization – JWB will invest $2M in workforce stabilization efforts, plus another $3.2M for cost-of-living adjustments across our funded programs, in response to record inflation and to ensure continuity of quality service delivery. Included are programs focused on infants, young children, and their families.
• Grand Families – Working in partnership with our three Community Councils, JWB will host three family-focused events for grand families this spring.  Included will be resources and supports for grandparents raising their grandbabies and young grandchildren.

Support for babies and working parents is built into JWB’s culture: JWB employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid Parental Leave – Paid parental leave up to six weeks is provided to JWB employees following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care. The purpose of paid parental leave is to enable the employee to care for and bond with a newborn or a newly adopted or newly placed child. This policy will run concurrently with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, as applicable.
• Breastfeeding-Friendly Workspace – JWB is a breastfeeding-friendly workplace, ensuring accommodations are in place for nursing mothers returning to the office.

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

All children deserve the opportunity to live, learn, grow, and thrive in homes, schools, and neighborhoods that are supportive and safe.

Consistent access to nourishing food is key to their healthy development. Yet one in five children in Pinellas County do not have enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life.

More families than ever—two in five—live below the ALICE threshold, meaning they are employed but struggle to make ends meet. And while housing, utility, and food costs are rising. But paychecks aren’t.

Recognizing the extraordinary need, JWB’s Board invested in bulk food purchases and a centralized hub with the St. Petersburg Free Clinic (SPFC). In turn, the Free Clinic orchestrates the distribution of food to dozens of partner sites, feeding children and families countywide.

“While the pandemic saw historic numbers of families seeking food assistance, their need for nutritious food is only increasing, said Jennifer Yeagley, St. Petersburg Free Clinic CEO. 

“Last year, JWB led the charge in SPFC’s ability to distribute more than 20.4 million pounds of food throughout Pinellas County, serving 1.2 million individuals in 2022 alone. They do this through distributing food to partner food pantries, churches, other nonprofit organizations, neighborhood family centers, and even preschools.”

On average, the Free Clinic serves more than 135,000 individuals a month across Pinellas County, a 51% increase year over year.

This is achieved thanks to dozens of food partners across the county, like Dunedin Cares.

Kristina Garcia, Dunedin Cares Director, said need has increased since the pandemic and many cannot afford to purchase healthy meals. They’ve seen recent spikes in families with children seeking help as federal food stamp (SNAP) benefits are decreasing due to federal funds for COVID/pandemic relief ending. Therefore, Dunedin Cares’ focus is on healthy food for families, like meats, dairy, eggs, fresh produce.

Another North County partner, FEAST, serves families five days a week, including evening hours for working families—and offers special things for families with children, like providing a birthday cake on a child’s birthday!

The Free Clinic also coordinates JWB’s funded food program, distributing pre-packaged meals to kids at schools, NFCs, and after school programs and filling food gaps during weekends and summers…to the tune of 200,000 meals last year!

Plus, through partnerships with 11 preschools, their Fresh Sprouts program fosters healthy eating habits for young children, zero to five, offering weekly fresh produce, recipe cards, and even interactive activity ideas to promote connection at mealtime for families!

The Free Clinic also partners with JWB’s Neighborhood Family Centers to stock their pantries and support food distribution efforts, reaching families where they live and serving special populations.

Anthony Verdeja, Family Center on Deafness Director, said, “We are so grateful for SPFC. The deaf community did try to take advantage of the food pantries in the area but were not able to communicate with the folks working there. We fill that need once a month.”

Verdeja also shared that many families are asking for more food, not necessarily for themselves, but to share with others in their neighborhood, and that these families feel more secure knowing that can receive as much food as they need.

Thanks to JWB’s investments in the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, Pinellas families can put healthy, nutritious food on their tables…and take at least one worry off their plates!

Jennifer Yeagley, St. Petersburg Free Clinic CEO, said, “We would not be able to keep children healthy, focused, and growing without the critical support of JWB.”   

Watch the related video at https://youtu.be/4ydOe6LUkGk