Child Abuse Prevention/Foster Care/Homeless Issues

The FDOE points of contact for foster care are Jennifer Kruis, Assistant Bureau Chief, Bureau of Federal Educational Programs, and Beverley Wilks, School Social Work Consultant, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services.

The FDOE’s Foster Care page provides up-to-date contact lists, statutes, and guidance.

Education of Homeless Children and Youth (K12: 2007-150) (October 2007)

School District Foster Care Requirements in the Every Student Succeeds Act, Effective December 10, 2016 (2016-166) (October 25, 2016)

• Local Educational Agency (LEA) Checklist Related to Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care

Building Community, Building Hope User’s Guide is a joint product of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau, its Child Welfare Information Gateway, and the FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention. This annual guide offers trusted information, strategies, and resources to help communities support and strengthen families and promote the well-being of children and youth.

Child Abuse Prevention Sourcebook for Florida School Personnel: A Tool for Reporting Abuse and Supporting the Child — Developed by the Student Support Services Project for the Florida Department of Education (in partnership with the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Health, Children’s Medical Services), this sourcebook provides Florida teachers and other school district employees information about their legal responsibilities as mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse and/or neglect, to assist them in recognizing indicators of abuse and neglect, and to better prepare them to support students who have been maltreated.

The Children’s Bureau (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services) focuses on improving the lives of children and families through programs that reduce child abuse and neglect, increase the number of adoptions, and strengthen foster care.

Foster Care Caregiver’s Guide on PreK-12 Education and Related Services — This fact sheet is designed to provide caregivers with information necessary to support the educational process for foster youth in Florida.

Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect — This one-hour course is for teachers of grades kindergarten through 12, and it satisfies the requirement specified section 1012.98(12) of the Florida Statutes (F.S.).