Category: JWB News

JWB Book Bus Delivered 10,000+ FREE Books to Kids in July

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Over the course of three weeks in July, the Juvenile Welfare Board’s (JWB) Summer Book Bus made 81 stops at community sites across Pinellas County and gave away 10,756 books to 5,378 eager young readers.

A partnership with Pinellas County Schools, the JWB Summer Book Bus visits underserved neighborhoods across Pinellas County to combat summer learning loss. It’s all part of JWB’s Early Readers Future Leaders Grade-Level Reading Campaign, helping mitigate summer learning loss while instilling a love of reading in kids of all ages. Reading on grade-level by the end of third grade is an important predictor of high school graduation and future success.

And that’s why, for each of the last eight summers, Pinellas parents and kids have been invited to hop aboard the JWB Book Bus to choose two free books. A retrofitted school bus turned mobile bookfair on wheels, the JWB Book Bus offers exciting reading choices for children from birth to 18. From animals to machines and from the Earth to the stars—whatever topic they want to read about, Pinellas kids will find titles they can’t wait to add to their home library

Dedicated volunteers—including elected officials, JWB Board and Legacy Board Members, and more—join us on the Book Bus each summer to help kids pick out their very own, brand-new books; they tell us that seeing that the joy and smiles on children’s faces as they peruse the bins full of books brings them back year after year.

With stops at community sites from Tarpon Springs to South St. Petersburg, the JWB Book Bus stops include public libraries, community recreation centers, neighborhood family centers, childcare centers, and more. See the full Book Bus Stop schedule here: https://www.jwbpinellas.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Book-Bus-Schedule-2025.pdf

This year JWB debuted the Meal Mobile, creating JWB-funded pop-up food pantries stocked by the St. Pete Free Clinic at 46 Book Bus sites along the way and giving away 3,945 boxes of shelf-stable food.

Knowing that children in Pinellas County face hunger every day—1 in 8 live in homes with low food security, meaning they do not have enough food at times for an active, healthy life—and that families are also facing rising costs for all their basic needs, adding the Meal Mobile to Book Bus stops helped ensure Pinellas kids had access to the nutrition they need to thrive over the summer.

JWB’s Second 2025 KidsFirst Award Winner Works with Kids after Trauma

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As we observe BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month in July, we’d like to introduce you to Gabriella Moran, a trained Behavior Analyst and Classroom Consultant for Directions for Living’s First Five program.

But she is also so much more than that: Gabriella is a coach, a counselor, a problem-solver, and a steady hand for Pinellas children, parents, and educators.

Gabriella works one-on-one and in small groups with children who have experienced trauma. She helps these little ones build emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and the confidence to stay in their classrooms and succeed.

Of her work, Gabriella says, “Providing trauma-informed behavior analytics services to our youngest learners is not just my profession; it’s my passion.”

She teaches children social and communication skills, promoting positive interactions with peers, teachers, and family members. These skills are essential in pursuit of children developing meaningful relationships and participating more fully in their community, and – most importantly – being able to heal from past traumatic events and prevent future traumas.

One of Gabriella’s clients, a 4-year-old boy, had been expelled from multiple early learning centers due to challenging behaviors. His family was literally on the brink—at risk of losing their jobs and housing. Then Gabriella rolled up her sleeves. She worked closely with his teachers, partnered with his family, and crafted a plan that helped him navigate the hardest parts of his day. Because of her passion and dedication, he has successfully completed VPK, started kindergarten, and is thriving! That is the power of one person who refuses to give up on a child.

And she doesn’t stop there—Gabriella works closely with teachers and caregivers, equipping them with practical tools, offering encouragement, and creating plans tailored to each child’s unique needs and history. She creates safe spaces for learning and healing for children and adults.

In her parent education groups, families learn how to manage tantrums, co-regulate emotions, and navigate the beautiful chaos of early childhood. Gabriella’s invaluable lessons on reducing specific issues like bedtime tantrums, successful family outings, and supporting your child’s social-emotional growth through co-regulation, not only support the children’s mental health and well-being but also that of their caregivers. Families consistently say Gabriella’s support has been life-changing.

“While I hope I’m teaching my students something every day,” she says, “the truth is they’ve taught me more than I ever imagined about resilience, unconditional love, and strength that has nothing to do with size or age.”

For more than 30 years, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County has used the annual KidsFirst Cooperman-Bogue Awards to recognize outstanding social services professionals who provide direct services and work tirelessly to put children first. Gabriella Moran is certainly worthy of one of our four 2025 KidsFirst awards!

U.S. Veteran and Tutor with City of Clearwater Named JWB 2025 KidsFirst Award Winner

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JWB COO Karen Boggess presents Paul Kleeman with the 2025 KidsFirst Award

Paul Kleeman is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. After his service, he wanted to give back to his community and was drawn to the opportunity to work with students in the City of Clearwater’s Parks & Recreation out-of-school-time programs. What began as a short-term volunteer opportunity became his personal mission and passion project.

For more than 25 years, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County has used the annual KidsFirst Cooperman-Bogue Awards to recognize outstanding social services professionals who provide direct services and work tirelessly to put children first.

And Paul Kleeman is certainly worthy of the KidsFirst award!

Since 2019, Paul has worked professionally tutoring nearly 400 Clearwater students. Time with a tutor isn’t often on a child’s list of favorite things to do after school. But when Paul walks into the room, the kids excitedly call out, “Mr. Paul, Mr. Paul! Work with me!” When asked, they describe him as “my mentor, friend, and ‘School Dad!’”

Paul once worked with a struggling 3rd grader who was set to be retained. Paul helped him academically and worked tirelessly to rebuild his confidence. That student went from struggling to making the honor roll—and now, as a 7th grader, he still seeks out Paul for guidance.

To combat summer learning loss, Paul took the initiative to develop a 10-week summer academic program, providing targeted math and reading lessons to students at risk of falling behind. Thanks to his efforts, many students returned to school not only prepared for success but also ahead of their peers.

When invited to the April JWB Board Meeting for recognition of his efforts and life-changing impact, Paul excused himself early, saying “Thank you so much, but I have to get back to my kids! I know they’ll be waiting on me.”

Juvenile Welfare Board Appoints Michael Mikurak as Interim CEO

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Mike Mikurak

The JWB Board has named Michael Mikurak as Interim CEO, effective June 9, 2025. Mikurak is a staunch advocate for Pinellas County children and families and of the JWB-funded programs, initiatives, and campaigns by which they are served. Appointed to the JWB Board in 2013, he held the positions of Board Chair, Vice Chair, and Finance Committee Chair, and represented JWB on several child-serving boards until his term expired in April 2025.

Mikurak has more than 30 years of experience in business strategy and supply chain management and is well known in the international business community. He was an international consulting partner at Accenture, PLC, where he focused on consulting with Fortune 100 companies. He retired from Accenture in 2003 with Founder Partner status, as one of the original company partners who helped take the company public.

Since retiring, he has continued to utilize his knowledge and experience, including intellectual property from the nine global patents he holds in Business Collaboration; one in e-learning; one pending patent in e-learning with Raytheon Corporation; and seven International Patents pertaining to Path03gen Solutions’ Foot Sanitizing and Handheld Pathogen Eliminating Devices. Mikurak has authored articles for and been quoted in numerous business periodicals and management books.

Mikurak currently serves on the St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation Board, and has served on the boards of BayCare Health Systems, St. Anthony’s Hospital (St. Petersburg), Pinellas County License Board, and Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County.

“We are excited for Mike’s appointment as Interim CEO given his rich business acumen and depth of knowledge,” stated JWB Board Chair Judge Moore. “He has always held JWB to the highest standards of accountability while promoting innovation, strategic thinking, and process optimization, and I look forward to working alongside him in his new role.”

The appointment was made given the recent announcement that current JWB CEO Beth Houghton will be retiring, effective July 11, 2025.

Juvenile Welfare Board CEO Beth A. Houghton Announces Her Retirement

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JWB CEO Beth Houghton

After nearly six years of service, Beth A. Houghton has announced her retirement as CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB), effective July 11, 2025.

“Beth has been an extraordinary leader and champion for the children and families of Pinellas County,” stated The Honorable Patrice Moore, Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge and Chair of the Juvenile Welfare Board. “Under her leadership, JWB responded rapidly to meet emergent needs during a global pandemic, weathered back-to-back major hurricanes last year, successfully implemented a five-year strategic plan, and balanced accountability with new program growth, ensuring today’s funds are invested wisely to strengthen the lives of today’s children.”

Houghton was hired in 2019 after an exhaustive national search as an “experienced Pinellas County executive who checked all the boxes: an individual passionate about JWB’s mission who possesses legal and fiscal expertise, a proven track record of organizational excellence, and a reputation for getting things accomplished,” according to then-Board Chair Susan Rolston.

Houghton came to JWB from the St. Petersburg Free Clinic where she served as CEO for eight years. She is licensed to practice law in Florida and was the Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel for John’s Hopkins All Children’s Health System. She graduated with high honors from Stetson University College of Law, earned her MBA with honors from Tulane University Graduate School of Business, and her BA with honors in Economics and Political Science from Newcomb College of Tulane University.

Houghton has dedicated her life to giving back, including numerous mission trips to rural Honduras. She currently serves on the boards of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Foundation for International Missions, and Tampa Bay Thrives, and she served as Board President for Great Explorations, the Houghton-Wagman Children’s Museum. She has received numerous awards for leadership and community service, including being named a Boss for Babies for her advocacy in the zero-to-three space.

“The Juvenile Welfare Board is known for shaping the future of our county’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens,” commented Houghton as she took the reins in 2019. “I have always been passionate about improving children’s lives, both because they are the innocent who cannot control their circumstances and, as a society, improving children’s lives today and into the future is simply a smart investment. I knew I could come to work every day at JWB and truly make a difference in the trajectory of our community.”

Houghton has certainly lived up to her early words, making invaluable and impactful contributions to JWB and leaving a lasting impression on the lives of tens of thousands of children and families during her tenure. She most recently oversaw an annual program and general government budget of $133.2 million and a workforce of 76, while ensuring effective implementation of JWB Board policies and use of the community’s investments. She advocates for children’s issues and underserved families, creates and strengthens strategic partnerships, and oversees the funding of 98 quality programs that served more than 77,000 children and families last year.

Highlights of her storied accomplishments as JWB CEO include:

  • A monumental funding opportunity for new strategically aligned programs to address unmet needs, plus significant investments to stabilize the workforce of funded agencies.
  • New accountability data systems and measurements to safeguard the community’s investments, plus JWB’s first-ever Florida Government Finance Officers’ Association Award for financial reporting excellence – a designation JWB has now received for five consecutive years.
  • Innovative integration of behavioral health therapists into Pinellas pediatric practices for increased access to mental health screenings, interventions, and treatments, serving 70,000 children since the launch of JWB’s Children’s Mental Health Initiative.
  • Investments over a five-year span aimed at eliminating childhood hunger and resulting in 27 million meals for kids to fill food gaps and stock pantries across the county.
  • Improvements in reading and math scores for out-of-school-time youth, higher literacy rates, and a driving force behind the success of the Pinellas Grade-Level Reading Campaign. 
  • Adoption of a new Early Childhood Development strategic result area with significant program investments and a public awareness campaign, Turbo Babies, to keep babies on track from birth to three.
  • Launch of the life-saving Sleep Baby Safely campaign that has significantly reduced the number of infant sleep-related suffocation deaths and expanded to 18 Florida counties as a statewide best practice.
  • Expansion of JWB’s innovative Quality Early Learning Initiative model to five sites countywide for higher kindergarten readiness scores and graduation rates.
  • Recognition as a “Best Place to Work” by the Tampa Bay Business Journal and with the Bell Seal Award for Mental Health in the Workplace by Mental Health America in 2024.
  • Investments and an intentional focus on targeted populations, including fathers and grandparents raising their grandchildren, for training, resources, and other supports.

“Beth embodies the entire package,” added JWB Board Chair Judge Moore. “All of her attributes, combined with her experience developing and using impact measures and metrics, have served JWB well. Most importantly, Beth has a heart for kids, and her legacy will be written on the hearts of the Pinellas children and families whose lives her work has changed.” Given Houghton’s retirement, the JWB Board has named Michael Mikurak as Interim CEO, effective June 9, 2025. The JWB Board also voted to create a CEO Search Committee to be led by Pinellas County Commissioner and JWB Board Member The Honorable Chris Latvala.

St. Pete Fire Rescue Visits JWB to Pack Welcome Baby Bags

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As we continue moving through National Volunteer Month, JWB celebrates the ongoing support from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue (SPFR)!


SPFR recently sent 18 helpful cadets to JWB to pack Welcome Baby Bags in support of the Sleep Baby Safely Campaign on Monday, April 21st. The cadets worked efficiently as a team, packing 500 bags so quickly that they had time left over during their visit to also pack Children’s Mental Health Initiative materials for the upcoming NAMI Pinellas Walk! 

St. Pete Fire Rescue cadets packing Welcome Baby Bags


Annually, about 7,000 parents of newborns are given face-to-face education to protect babies from suffocation during sleep and Welcome Baby Bags filled with life-saving items, including a Sleep Me This Side Up onesie, Alone-Back-Crib sleep sack, and more. 


JWB is grateful for this collaboration with St. Pete Fire Rescue in supporting our safe-sleep campaign and training their new cadets.

St. Pete Fire Rescue cadets folding onesies

St. Pete Fire Rescue and John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Share Life-Saving Tips for Hot Car Death Awareness Month

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One of JWB’s most crucial initiatives is our Preventable Child Deaths Campaign, which seeks to raise awareness around the unfortunate number of deaths among children from easily avoidable causes such as infant unsafe sleep practices, drowning, and abusive head trauma. Another preventable yet tragic cause of early loss of life is pediatric vehicular heatstroke, which occurs when a child is left alone in a hot car.    

April is Hot Car Death Prevention Month 

April has been designated by the State of Florida as “Hot Car Death Prevention Month.” In recognition, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue joined forces with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (JHACH) for a powerful press conference.   

Members of the community and media gathered at the St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Master Station on Thursday, April 17th to learn startling facts and life-saving strategies to prevent pediatric heatstroke in vehicles. 

Speakers included: 

  • Fire Rescue Chiefs Keith Watts and Lindsay Judah  
  • JHACH Emergency Center Physician Dr. Danielle Mercurio 
  • JHACH Injury Prevention Program Manager and Safe Kids Supervisor Petra Vybiralova Stanton. 

Hot Car Facts

Each speaker at the press briefing shared crucial facts for parents and caregivers to be mindful about when it comes to hot cars. These facts include: 

  • Since 1998, more than 1,000 children in the U.S. have died from preventable heatstroke due to being left in cars. 
  • A child’s body temperature can spike far more rapidly than that of an adult. This is exacerbated by the rapid heat increase inside a car on a hot Florida day. 
  • Temperatures inside a car can rise as much as 20 degrees in 10 minutes even on a day with forecasts as mild as 80 degrees outside the vehicle.     

Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke Statistics

Life-Saving Tips 

While some incidents result from leaving a child in a car “just for a minute,” many are caused by forgetfulness or a child climbing into an unlocked car unnoticed. This tragedy can happen to anyone—which is why creating awareness habits is so crucial. 

You can help prevent pediatric vehicular heatstroke by taking these simple actions: 

  • Never leave your child unattended in a car, even for a short period of time. 
  • Always check the back seat before leaving your car. 
  • Place a personal item (like your purse or wallet) in the back seat or set alarms to create a reminder. 
  • Keep cars locked and keys out of children’s reach at all times. 
  • Never let children play in or around vehicles. 
  • Call 911 immediately if you see a child alone in a car. 

Tips to avoid forgetting child in a hot car

The event included a heartbreaking live simulation that featured a parked vehicle with a visible thermostat. While the outside temperature read 82 degrees, the interior temperature had been gradually increasing during each speaker’s remarks—in only 20 minutes, it had reached 102 degrees. 

The simulation illustrated just how rapidly temperatures can escalate—and how dangerous even a short delay can be. 

JWB is continually grateful for its partnership with St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in spreading the messages shared in this press briefing. 

For important strategies to prevent heatstroke deaths in hot cars, click here.

For more helpful information or resources on JWB’s Preventable Child Death Campaign, click here. 

Rebecca Gross Tieder Shares Passion for Education on “Finding Joy in Education” Podcast

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JWB Director of Public Policy Rebecca Gross Tieder shared her perspective on education and taking joy in one’s work on the “Finding Joy in Education” podcast, hosted by 2022 Florida Teacher of the Year Sarah Painter. 

Painter and Tieder, alongside Senior Professional Development Coordinator for Pinellas County Schools Robin Ford and parent Raizel Turner, had a lively and insightful discussion, pulling together life experience and a deep understanding of the world of education. 

The podcast, published by Pinellas County Schools, typically features a heartfelt conversation with a parent and an industry expert on what joy in education looks and feels like. Listen to the episode on Spotify here.

JWB Hosts Three Events to Celebrate Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

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JWB grand families tree logo

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.

JWB 2025 Grand Families event series flyer

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.