JWB’s mission of strengthening Pinellas County children and families simply could not be accomplished without those who work directly with families, so, for more than 30 years, JWB has recognized outstanding “boots on the ground” professionals each year with the KidsFirst Cooperman-Bogue Awards.

At a surprise presentation during National Home Visiting Week, JWB COO Karen Boggess presented the first KidsFirst Award of 2026 to Gena Calisch, a Family Support Specialist with Healthy Families Pinellas.

Gena identifies ways to pour into families—mentoring, coaching, and cheering them on. She gives them tools and support to break negative intergenerational cycles—so children grow up with stronger attachments, safer homes, and brighter futures.

But Gena doesn’t just serve families; she also strengthens her team. She launched a regular “lunch bunch”—a safe space for staff to reflect on the work and the big feelings it can bring—helping create psychological safety and supporting retention.

When we asked Gena’s nominator, Program Manager Christy Robinson, to describe Gena, she called her, “a hope broker, a relentless chain-breaker, and a dedicated life changer! Gena equips families with tools to change their lives; she builds real rapport and helps them build confidence and resilience.”

We also learned that in 2023, Gena was named the Best Home Visitor across all Healthy Families programs in America—a prestigious national service award from Prevent Child Abuse America and Healthy Families America—a fact our entire Governing Board celebrated with her during her visit to our May Board meeting.  

JWB’s Board, leadership, and staff are proud to recognize Gena for the way she shows up, the way she leads, and the way she never gives up on families.

She has dedicated 12 years to this mission—and your impact shows in families across Pinellas County. Your work helps parents dream again. It helps children feel safe. And it helps our whole community get healthier—one family at a time.

Enjoy this video highlighting her important work:

On Saturday, May 2, 2026, JWB hosted the first-ever Turbo Babies Baby Day Dash.

Hundreds of families with babies and toddlers came together for a hands-on experience highlighting the first three years of life and why they matter so much. In celebration of National Baby Day, the one-of-a-kind event paired play with practical, life-changing and life-saving information for parents.

Families explored the museum and visited interactive stations tackling some of the most urgent and preventable risks facing young children today. From safe sleep practices to drowning prevention, a leading cause of death for toddlers and a focus during Water Safety Awareness Month, parents learned tips they can use right away.

“JWB remains dedicated to investing in the healthy development of children from birth to three,” said JWB Interim CEO Michael Mikurak. “Our first-ever Baby Day event is all about giving parents educational tools to help their little ones sleep safe, splash smart, and start strong. By supporting families during these critical early years, we are building a stronger future for our entire community.”

The event also connected families directly with experts and resources, including early brain development guidance, as well as a free Turbo Babies Pit Crew brain-building bag filled with materials and activities to support learning and growth at home.

Parents also accessed information about VPK registration and signed up for Parent ProTech, an expert-backed video library focused on keeping children safe in a digital world.

The Turbo Babies Baby Day Dash is part of JWB’s commitment to promoting early childhood well-being and supporting parents and caregivers as their child’s first and best teachers. The first three years of life are a time of rapid brain development, and when children are most vulnerable to unsafe sleep environments, water hazards, and missed developmental milestones. Events like the Baby Day Dash help families put critical tips into everyday practice.

Enjoy these photos and check out a few more of the photos we’ll share from this family-favorite event!

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Start your engines, Pinellas County. The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) is racing into National Library Week (April 19–25) with a high-energy surprise for families: Turbo Babies “Pit Stops” are now open at local libraries.

Through a new partnership with the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, libraries across the county are transforming into learning pit stops—where families with babies ages 0–3 can pull in and pick up a free Turbo Babies “Pit Crew” bag packed with playful, brain-boosting goodies.

Each Pit Crew bag is designed to get little learners off to a great start, including:

🏁 A board book

🏁 Fun, educational toy

🏁 Age-based activities designed to rev up kids’ learning and keep their development on track

🏁 A chance to sign up to receive free birthday gifts for baby through age three

“An astonishing 80 percent of a baby’s brain is developed by age three,” said JWB Interim CEO Michael Mikurak. “That growth happens at lightning speed, making the early years a critical time to fuel development. Turbo Babies puts families in the driver’s seat, giving parents and caregivers the tools they need to boost learning through everyday moments—like reading, talking, and playing together.”

At these library “Pit Stops,” families can grab gear and discover easy ways to keep their baby’s development on track. From storytime to toddler time and pop-up playgroups, libraries offer fun opportunities to bond and learn together. As part of National Library Week and this year’s theme, Find Your Joy, this effort highlights how libraries support early learning and family connection.

“This partnership is a natural fit. In our early literacy programs, we remind parents they are their child’s first and best teacher—and these Turbo Babies bags help bring that to life,” said Mandy Morris, Librarian with St. Petersburg Library System. They’re a great takeaway, giving families simple, on-the-go ways to read, talk, and play together while supporting their baby’s brain development during those critical early years.”

Just like any great team, every child needs a strong crew. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join the Turbo Babies Pit Crew by registering at TurboBabies.com. Members receive expert tips, access to community events, and even free birthday surprises for their child through age three.

For a list of participating Pinellas County public libraries, visit TurboBabies.com/Library-Pit-Stops.  

More than 130 attendees gathered for an indoor Caregivers’ Brunch connecting kinship caregivers with resources and one another—made possible by volunteers, partners, and community support.

The South County Community Council hosted a Caregivers’ Brunch to support caregivers raising grandchildren and other relatives, offering expert guidance, helpful resources, and time to connect. The response from families and partners was overwhelmingly positive.

Highlights included a warm welcome by St. Pete’s Mayor Ken Welch; Ashli Doss of the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Office as emcee; a panel with expertise from Pinellas County Schools, St. Pete Free Clinic, Bay Area Legal Services, and St. Pete Hubs; live music from the Gibbs High School Jazz Band; and a personal reflection from South County grandmother Rebecca Bray on the joys and challenges of raising her grandchild. Brunch, catered by Johnny Newsome (JNew BBQ and Catering), featured a delicious spread of eggs, grits, sausages, chicken, and waffles.

Kelly and the Community Council expressed their thanks to the exhibitors and volunteers—including JWB staff (Yaya, Joanne, Adelson, Cristen, Brianna, Marlaina, and Cristina); JWB Board Member Alicia McShea; and South County Council Member Michael Flores and his wife Eliana.

The Council planning team (Dexter McCree, Deneen Wyman, and Kerry Carlisle) deserve a warm round of applause, along with the City of St. Pete and the Lake Vista staff for their seamless support.

The event reflected the strength of our community—and the importance of showing up for kinship caregivers.

Enjoy even more photos of the day in this Facebook post.

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Parenting can be hard. Growing up can be, too.

April is Home Visiting Month, highlighting how home visitors strengthen families—supporting parent and child health and helping prevent child abuse.

Home visiting professionals work alongside families to build confidence and self-sufficiency; utilizing a variety of research-based models, they strengthen parenting skills, share early childhood development and school-readiness best practices, help children build resilience and life skills, and connect families to support.

You might’ve noticed Home Visiting Month coincides with National Child Abuse Prevention Month. That’s intentional— underscoring home visiting as a proactive, non-judgmental way to prevent crises.

Next week (April 20–24) is National Home Visiting Week. We’re proud to highlight two JWB-funded programs serving Pinellas families and celebrate the impact home visitors make every day.

“Home visiting is a powerful tool to help make our families and communities stronger and more resilient,” said JWB Interim CEO Michael Mikurak. “Our local home visitors are incredible, and we’re proud to highlight their important work through National Home Visiting Week and beyond.”

Florida Department of Health Nurse-Family Partnership Program

The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is an evidence-based home visiting program funded by JWB to promote the well-being of first-time, low-income mothers and their children. 

Pinellas Nurse Family Partnership serves mothers experiencing socioeconomic challenges and risk factors for poor key health outcomes; priority is given to first-time mothers. Home visits are used to educate, counsel, and guide the first-time mother: NFP nurses provide pregnancy and parenting education, breastfeeding support, referrals to community resources, and promote family enrichment beginning in pregnancy through the child’s second birthday. Goals for the program include improving pregnancy outcomes, child health and development, supporting early identification of developmental delays, and family economic self-sufficiency.

The program is available to residents of Pinellas County beginning in pregnancy prior to 28 weeks’ gestation through the child’s second birthday. Visits are made every two to four weeks.

Julie Goodrich, an RN with NFP, was recognized as one of JWB’s 2023-2024 KidsFirst Cooperman Bogue Award Winners (above). Following in her mother’s footsteps, Julie supports first-time moms through their pregnancies and until their children turn two. When her clients graduate from the program, they have direction in their lives and the tools to successfully raise healthy children and build strong families. What matters to Julie is connecting so that, long after she’s gone, her families are able to nurture and advocate for their children.

Truancy Intervention Prevention Services (TIPS)

Bethel Community Foundation’s mission centers on strengthening families emotionally, physically, and spiritually through services that yield both immediate and lasting benefits for the community. BCF’s philosophy stems from a prevention-based model, teaching families replacement behaviors that foster positive change both within the household and as individuals.

Their TIPS program serves youth ages 8-17 who face school-related challenges, including habitual truancy and other unmanageable behaviors. Through personalized case management and support services, including home visits, TIPS helps families navigate these challenges with dignity and respect.

Key TIPS offerings include:

• Life skills training to boost youth resilience
• Mental health, anger management, and substance abuse counseling
• Weekly youth mentoring
• Bi-weekly parent coaching/support
• A summer Youth Enrichment Summit (YES) focused on mental wellness and school readiness
• These intervention services have proven to be paramount in increasing graduation rates and civic engagement.

By equipping youth and families with tools to succeed, BCF’s TIPS program aims to reshape futures and restore promise across Pinellas County.

Family Center on Deafness (FCD)

Deafness can impact home life and personal relationships. FCD is a nonprofit providing services specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) residents of Pinellas County. They offer specialized services and staff trained in American Sign Language and experienced working with the D/HH population. FCD’s programs and services are geared toward empowering D/HH individuals and their parents/guardians/households; they work with the entire family.

Programming includes parent and infant activities (birth – 5); after-school, full-day, and summer camp programming for elementary, middle, and high school students; and enrichment and leadership programming. Additional after-school support for school-age youth is provided through individual tutoring, group tutoring, literacy activities, and sign language instruction. These programs are designed to positively impact youth participants’ self-esteem and strengthen their learning capabilities. 

Outside of FCD’s home visitation services, parents are also engaged not only through educational and recreational activities but also parent networking events.

While the center provides literacy classes, counseling, home visits, resources, and more for the whole family to fully support its clients, FCD is also an essential hub for connection and community building for D/HH Pinellas families and children.

Learn more about JWB’s work and partnerships around the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect every day.

JWB staff and Community Council members showed up in blue    Not just to wear the right color on Wear Blue Day, but to stand for something bigger and show that we believe that when we, as a community, invest in Pinellas families early and often, our community’s children grow up safe, supported, and full of possibility.

We work with partners across Pinellas County every day to put kids first.

Still, Wear Blue Day serves as a meaningful reminder of our shared responsibility to create safe, supportive, and nurturing environments for our kids.

The blue pinwheel, the national symbol of child abuse prevention, represents the healthy and secure childhoods all children deserve; JWB staff planted a pinwheel garden in front of our office as a reminder that we all play a role when it comes to the healthy development of our children.

We welcome every Pinellas resident to join JWB in showing your commitment to prevention by standing with Pinellas County children and families—today and every day. When families are supported, communities thrive—and possibilities are endless!

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The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners has proclaimed April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation, which was read aloud and presented to JWB Board Chair Division Chief Jim Millican (pictured above, center) and Interim CEO Mike Mikurak (right) by Commissioner and JWB Board Member Chris Latvala (left) during the April 6 Board meeting, spotlights JWB’s investments and partnerships in prevention and early intervention that promote economic stability, reduce the likelihood of abuse and neglect, and ensure our County’s children have the foundation for lifelong well-being.

“We thank the Pinellas County Commissioners—the Hon. Dave Eggers, Hon. Chris Latvala, Hon. Rene Flowers, Hon. Vince Nowicki, Hon. Kathleen Peters, Hon. Chris Scherer, and Hon. Brian Scott—for their recognition that effective child abuse prevention is achieved through quality programming, strong partnerships, innovation, advocacy, and collaboration to build resilient and supportive communities,” said JWB Interim CEO of the proclamation and presentation.

JWB believes prevention is possible and that every child deserves to grow and thrive in a safe, supportive environment. We also know that early childhood experiences lay the foundation for lifelong success, and families who receive the support they need are better equipped to provide safe, healthy, and nurturing homes. Last year alone, JWB invested $126.4 million last year to improve the lives of 83,622 Pinellas County children and their families, with 99 percent of families receiving home visiting and mental health services remaining free from abuse and neglect one year after program completion.

Throughout April, pinwheels, the national symbol of child abuse prevention, will be displayed at locations across Pinellas County—including at the JWB offices. The pinwheel represents the bright future all children deserve.

On April 10, JWB staff invite all community members to join us in participating in Wear Blue Day by wearing blue to show their support for child abuse prevention. Wearing blue is a simple and visible way to raise awareness and show that our community stands for the safety and well-being of every child.

JWB and our partners offer resources and support for families throughout the year. For more information about child abuse prevention programs and services, visit our Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect page.