Family Services of Metro Orlando and DCF Reach Agreement
- Child welfare agency contract to be extended -
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Services of Metro Orlando, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to empowering communities to create possibilities for children and families, today announces an agreement with the Department of Children and Families to extend its contract through March 31, 2011. As part of the agreement, Family Services of Metro Orlando will drop its official protest of the decision by DCF to end its contract on December 31, 2010.
Under the new agreement, Family Services of Metro Orlando will continue to serve Orange and Osceola Counties while working closely with its partners and DCF to prepare for a smooth transition of services at the end of March.
"Today, the Board and leadership of Family Services of Metro Orlando made a very difficult decision to drop our protest and accept an extension of our contract. The decision was made in the best interests of children and families as well as our partners and caregivers throughout the community," said Greg Kurth, CEO of Family Services of Metro Orlando. "While we have dropped our protest, this in no way diminishes our concerns with respect to the process by which the decision to end our longstanding partnership was made."
Family Services of Metro Orlando has completed record numbers of foster care adoptions in each year of its existence and invests millions of dollars annually in child abuse prevention programs. It is the first nationally accredited lead agency for child welfare services in Florida to be replaced for reasons other than performance concerns. DCF did not provide a compelling reason for the decision to end its seven-year partnership with Family Services of Metro Orlando.
About Family Services of Metro Orlando
Family Services of Metro Orlando is a private, non-profit organization responsible for the management of services to vulnerable children and families in Orange and Osceola counties. Through its innovative programs and extensive community partnerships, the organization provides oversight of child protection services, such as prevention, intervention, foster care, adoption and independent living services. Family Services maximizes public and private resources and coordinates community partnerships toward holistic services for children and families.
For more information, visit www.fsmetroorlando.org or call 877-6-MY-KIDS.
SOURCE Family Services of Metro Orlando
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