In a state where balmy weather, miles of beaches and endless swimming pools draw millions of vacationing families a year, here’s a fact some Floridians may not know:

Children with autism can be drawn to water.

Our country sees more than 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths a year, and it’s no surprise that Florida consistently ranks high. More children ages 1-4 die from drowning than from any other cause, and it’s the second leading cause of death by unintentional injury for children ages 5-14.

And studies show that people with autism have a dramatically higher risk.

Autism — formally, Autism Spectrum Disorder — appears in the first three years of a child’s life, is categorized as a developmental disability, and can cause communication and behavioral challenges, including sensory sensitivities. One in 31 children is diagnosed with autism, and millions of adults are considered to be on the spectrum.

Why water?

For someone with sensory sensitivities, the visual andtactile aspects of water may be soothing. For a person who can get overwhelmed by the noise, lights and movement that are part of an ordinary day, the feeling of being submerged may muffle all that commotion and help regulate anxiety. Even the smell of water, such as saltiness or chlorine, may attract someone with autism.

For the tourist-friendly Sunshine State, knowing the connection between water and autism is power and, potentially, prevention. And it’s only one of the many reasons for better understanding autism.

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, funded through a special taxing district to direct community investments to support children and families, recently became officially autism-certified under a global standard. That’s some fitting news for April, Autism Awareness Month.

Nearly every member of the organization’s professional staff took hours of training from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards on multiple facets of autism — the importance of early identification, understanding and supporting children with autism, comorbidities, parent perspectives and more. Then they passed the required test, putting the organization on the international map of places that serve children with autism.

This step, another investment in children, makes sense: The organization already funds autism-inclusive programs ranging from children’s mental health to early childhood success to caregiver support.

Education grows understanding. As the word “spectrum” implies, symptoms of autism come in different forms and vary in severity depending on the individual. There’s a saying that those who took the training got to know and believe: When you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism. Everyone is more than a diagnosis.

The Clearwater nonprofit LiFT — which stands for Learning Independence for Tomorrow and includes LiFT Academy for students with learning differences and neurodiversity — has also achieved autism certification. Mesa, Arizona; High Point, North Carolina; Palm Springs, California; and Dubai all saw the value in becoming autism certified.

Here at home, Clearwater is exploring becoming an autism-certified city. The Juvenile Welfare Board and LiFT are working to identify local partners in healthcare, public safety, education, workplace inclusion, hospitality, and recreation to help make it happen.

Understanding the connection between autism and water can potentially prevent tragedy, particularly when a child goes missing and seconds count. Even beyond that, a greater understanding of people with autism goes a long way toward creating a place where visitors and residents alike can feel welcome, seen, and safe.

Rebecca J. Albert is director of strategic initiatives for the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County. She serves as chairperson of the Child Death Review for the State of Florida and the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Read the article as originally published at https://www.tampabay.com/viewpoints/2026/04/07/autism-spectrum-disorder-children-water-drowning-florida-tampa-pinellas/

Watch 10 Tampa Bay’s broadcast news segment celebrating a milestone for inclusion in our community, as JWB received the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County has become the second organization in Clearwater to receive a Certified Autism Center designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). 

This means that JWB staff members have completed specialized training to better understand and support individuals on the spectrum. Eighty percent of the team needed to participate in the training to earn the certification. JWB exceeded the requirements at 94%. 

A presentation ceremony was held Tuesday at LiFT (Learning Independence for Tomorrow) in Clearwater. The nonprofit educational institution, which provides a safe space for neurodiverse students, was the first in the city to receive the designation. 

Today marks the start of Autism Acceptance Month. 

“It really adds more value in support of those children who need to be heard and seen,” JWB interim CEO Michael Mikurak told the Catalyst. “Their families need to be understood. We need to be able to help them navigate through this process and provide them with the services that they need to allow their children to become who they want to be.” 

He added that JWB’s staff enthusiastically participated in the effort. They had to attend classes and were tested on their knowledge. 

Jacksonville-based IBCCES provides training and certifications in the “fields of autism, neurodiversity and accessibility” in over 130 countries, according to the organization’s website. 

JWB leaders began exploring the opportunity over a year ago, Mikurak explained. The organization, which was created by a special act of the Florida legislature in the 1940s, develops and financially supports programs that serve youth in Pinellas County. 

Neurodiversity, he said, was “an area that didn’t get enough visibility.” There is a “growing population” of children who have been diagnosed with autism. The goal was to equip JWB’s team with the necessary skills to help these young people in the community thrive. 

Currently, JWB supports a wide range of programs that benefit neurodiverse youth including early childhood services, specialized learning initiatives and caregiver support, Mikurak explained. Collaborations with organizations such as the Suncoast Center, Parc Center for Disabilities and R’Club Child Care have been an essential component of this work. 

“We are looking to expand and extend the reach of our current programs,” he said. “We are additionally looking at potential future programs that will fit in the mode of this.” 

JWB board chair and Lealman Fire District division chief James Millican has been very supportive of the effort, Mikurak added. His grandson was diagnosed with autism. 

“This is part of a larger initiative to make Clearwater and other surrounding areas an Autism Certified City,” said IBCCES president Meredith Tekin. “This means that there are multiple options for folks who are autistic or have sensory sensitivities where they are going to feel welcomed and understood and there’s organizations coming together that are focusing on making sure that people feel included.”  

Mesa, Arizona was the first U.S. municipality to receive the Autism Certified City designation, also provided by IBCCES, in 2019. 

“LiFT’s mission to inspire and empower people with neurodiversity to learn, thrive and succeed is so important,” LiFT Academy 12th grade student John Oureilidis said at the Tuesday ceremony. 

 “But, this mission should not stop at our school. It’s something our entire community needs to embrace. When communities make the effort to appreciate and accommodate these differences, they create opportunities for everyone to succeed.” 

JWB website

 IBCCES website 

Read the article as originally published at https://stpetecatalyst.com/juvenile-welfare-board-receives-autism-center-designation/

The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) proudly awards the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB). To become a CAC, at least 80% of staff completed autism and sensory training to empower them with the knowledge and understanding to best assist, support, and communicate with autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals. JWB went above that standard, with 94 percent of staff fulfilling the training requirements. By completing the training and certification, JWB becomes the second organization in Clearwater to earn the CAC accreditation.

“As an organization dedicated to the health and safety of children in Pinellas County, we were excited to partner with IBCCES to earn our Certified Autism Center™ credential,” said Michael Mikurak, interim CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board. “This training gives our team the tools to better connect with children who are autistic or have sensory sensitivities, while also deepening our understanding of the unique needs of their families and caregivers. It inspires us to create experiences where every child feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.”

“By becoming a Certified Autism Center™, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County is taking a powerful step toward ensuring that every child and family they serve feels understood, supported, and included,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES board chairman. “This certification reflects JWB’s dedication to building a community where neurodiversity is recognized and embraced. The impact will extend far beyond individual programs and strengthen the entire community by creating more accessible, compassionate services for the families who rely on them every day.”

JWB’s certification also complements a broader, community-led effort to explore the possibility of Clearwater becoming an Autism Certified City™ (ACC), which is being spearheaded by Learning Independence for Tomorrow (LiFT). If pursued, this designation would ensure both visitors and residents have access to a wide range of organizations that are trained and certified to better welcome and assist autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals across the healthcare, public safety, education, hospitality, entertainment, and recreation industries.

For 25 years, IBCCES has been a leader in providing autism, sensory and neurodiversity training and certification for professionals worldwide, including those in healthcare, education, public safety, travel, and corporate sectors. As the only credentialing board offering these programs, IBCCES provides training from subject matter experts and autistic self-advocates, along with long-term support, continuous learning, onsite reviews, and renewal requirements to ensure continued growth and lasting impact.

To further support inclusivity efforts, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County is featured on the IBCCES Accessibility App, which is free to download. This app provides individuals with a variety of disabilities real-time guidance on certified destinations, sensory-friendly spaces, and tailored recommendations. By connecting users to accessible locations worldwide, the app helps ensure seamless, enjoyable experiences for everyone.

IBCCES also provides access to resources such as AccessibilityCertified.com and AutismTravel.com, which are free online tools for families that list certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the site has met IBCCES certification requirements.

Read the article as originally published at https://www.florida-observer.com/article/902753752-juvenile-welfare-board-of-pinellas-county-becomes-second-certified-autism-center-in-clearwater-florida

While a contentious meeting about a new CEO was unfolding in a conference room at the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County last month, 80 people were at work in cubicles down the hall.

The agency’s workforce has little to do with the board of high-ranking officials and gubernatorial appointees who are in a standstill over whom to elect for CEO. Among the front-runners are interim CEO Michael Mikurak and Glenton “Glen” Gilzean Jr., a popular appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis who was accused of misspending millions in his last position.

The 11-member board consists of five county officials — including the state attorney and public defender — and six people appointed by DeSantis.

All but one of the board members appointed by DeSantis voiced their support for Gilzean during a straw poll at the Feb. 20 meeting, drawing questions from community members about whether the welfare board is taking a political turn.

The board is responsible for deciding how to spend $100 million annually in taxpayer funds. Employees behind the scenes rely on data and community relationships to workshop programs that support the county’s children and families.

The job application lists the CEO’s salary range between $200,000 and $245,000.

Here’s what to know about the employees behind the organization.

‘Like a think tank’

In fiscal year 2025, the welfare board spent $102 million on 98 programs across 51 organizations, said Chief Operating Officer Karen Boggess.

Boggess has been at the organization for more than 20 years and said many of her neighbors don’t know that the board funds programs they use, including early learning centers and after-school programs at the YMCA.

The Juvenile Welfare Board also funds hunger initiatives, domestic violence organizations and behavioral health services.

In 2025, dollars went toward providing 7 million meals to children, connecting 9,000 kids with mental health services and distributing thousands of brain development materials to new parents, Boggess said.

A key success of the year, Boggess said, was that 99% of parents receiving in-home support from the organization reported being “free of abuse or neglect” during or after services.

“The staff take their work so seriously,” said Megan Seales, director of performance and evaluation. “We’re taking dollars out of homes in our community and they’re trusting us to be accountable to them. Behind every number is a kid.”

Becky Albert, director of strategic initiatives, said she sees the welfare board as a “think tank” for what the county’s children need.

She said the board has historically focused on funding programs in “higher-risk” areas of the county, but data told a different story. She discovered through Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner’s Office data that children were dying by suicide more frequently in higher income areas north of Ulmerton Road.

A couple years ago, she persuaded the board to change its mindset and allocate funds for mental health specialists to embed in private practice pediatric offices in the northern part of the county.

Albert also sits on the state’s child abuse death review team, where she and others discuss how child deaths could be prevented.

Suffocation is the leading cause of preventable death for children, said Albert, who brought the Sleep Baby Safely initiative to the Juvenile Welfare Board in 2018. Infant sleep-related deaths have been cut in half countywide since the educational campaign launched, according to medical examiner’s office data.

Some of the campaign’s key tips include always putting babies to sleep on their backs, having babies sleep in a crib and not an adult bed, and staying alert while breastfeeding by setting an alarm.

Two-thirds of infant sleep-related deaths happened when parents shared a bed with their baby, and infants are 40 times more likely to die in adult beds than a crib, according to the Sleep Baby Safely website.

Data has become a backbone to most of the organization’s work, said Michael Havelka, who prefers “data dude” to his formal title of senior data business and intelligence analyst.

Havelka is working on an interactive map of Pinellas County that will allow the public to see how issues differ from neighborhood to neighborhood based on census tract data.

Jomar Lopez, senior strategic researcher, said that Havelka finds the “what” in the numbers and then goes into communities to find the “why.”

Lopez meets with residents at neighborhood councils in three parts of the county to hear what they need from the welfare board and what issues are unique to their areas.

“We inform them and they inform us,” he said.

Humble beginnings

For nearly 80 years, the welfare board has remained nonpartisan.

A judge and an attorney worked together in the 1940s to try to persuade Pinellas County commissioners to allocate funds toward juvenile welfare at the conclusion of World War II.

When commissioners refused, the attorney, Leonard W. Cooperman, wrote a bill that called for the creation of a board. Voters approved the referendum during the November 1946 general election.

The Juvenile Welfare Board became the first entity in the United States dedicated to serving children and families with taxpayer dollars,according to a digital history written by USF. Mailande Holland Barton, who helped establish the Junior League of St. Petersburg, became the first board chairperson.

At the February meeting, some officials on today’s board expressed concern about the organization taking a political direction.

“I don’t want to see JWB become a political entity,” said Pinellas schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick. “I want JWB to be about kids, I want to become less political, apolitical.”

Becca Gross-Tieder, a public awareness officer for the board, came to work at the agency because her father, Judge Raymond Gross, once served on the board.

“The reason this organization is so essential is because of the tireless efforts that often go unseen by the incredible people who work here,” she said.

She said she feels a responsibility to see that work continue. The board is scheduled to make a decision on the CEO on April 6.

Read the article as originally published at https://www.tampabay.com/news/pinellas/2026/03/27/pinellas-juvenile-welfare-board-jwb/