TAMPA, Fla. — A Hurricane Community Expo is being held in Clearwater Saturday to help residents prepare for storm season.

Juvenile Welfare Board is partnering with about twenty other community organizations, including the St. Pete Free Clinic, the Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center, and the Hispanic Outreach Center, to provide much-needed resources to residents and a approach to disaster readiness efforts compared to last year, especially in specific populations.

“We all were impacted by the hurricanes and the different storms but we know we have some vulnerable communities like the Latino community and grand families,” said Yaridis Garcia, community engagement manager for the Juvenile Welfare Board.

The organization started preparing for this storm season immediately after Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit last year. Committees were formed to begin proactive planning to reach specific populations at events geared toward grandparents who raise their grandchildren, and ensuring resources and information are provided in Spanish.

And to make sure supplies are readily available immediately following a disaster, JWB recently approved $200,000 for the St. Pete Free Clinic to pre-stock hurricane supplies in advance, to include things like: hygiene items, diapers and baby wipes.

This means warehouse shelves will already be stocked with items ready to distribute.

The Hurricane Community Expo will take place Saturday, June 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Clearwater East Community Library, located at 2465 Drew St.

Read the article as originally published at https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2025/06/06/hurricane-community-expo-in-clearwater-saturday

Beth A. Houghton has announced her retirement as CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County after heading the agency for six years.

Her retirement is effective July 11.

“Beth has been an extraordinary leader and champion for the children and families of Pinellas County,” said 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 a national search. Previously, she had served as CEO of the St. Petersburg Free Clinic for eight years.

The JWB Board has named Michael Mikurak as interim CEO, effective June 9. 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.

View the article as originally published at https://www.tbnweekly.com/pinellas_county/article_f94c5aaf-0887-4f98-ba28-5873edd16803.html.

After six years of service, Beth A. Houghton will retire as CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB), effective July 11.

Houghton leaves behind a legacy as an extraordinary leader and champion for children. Under her leadership, JWB successfully implemented a five-year strategic plan, met emergent needs during the global pandemic and major hurricanes, and balanced accountability with new program growth to ensure today’s funds are invested wisely to strengthen the lives of today’s children.

Learn more about JWB at www.jwbpinellas.org.

View the article as originally published at https://www.tampabay.com/sponsored/2025/06/06/beth-houghton-retires-from-jwb/.

The Juvenile Welfare Board announces Michael Mikurak as Interim CEO, effective June 9, 2025.

A prior member and chair of the Board, Mikurak is a staunch advocate for Pinellas children and families and has always held JWB to the highest standards of accountability while promoting innovation, strategic thinking, and process optimization. With more than 30 years’ business strategy and supply chain management experience, Mikurak brings his rich business acumen and depth of knowledge to the role.

Learn more about JWB at www.jwbpinellas.org. Learn more about Michael Mikurak at www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mikurak-6033498.

View the article as originally published at https://www.tampabay.com/sponsored/movers-shakers/2025/06/06/mike-mikurak-interim-ceo-at-jwb/.

Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, Pinellas County

The Juvenile Welfare Board announces Michael Mikurak as Interim CEO, effective June 9, 2025. A prior member and Chair of the Board, Mikurak is a staunch advocate for Pinellas children and families and has always held JWB to the highest standards of accountability while promoting innovation, strategic thinking, and process optimization. With more than 30 years’ business strategy and supply chain management experience, Mikurak brings his rich business acumen and depth of knowledge to the role.

See this article as originally published at https://www.floridatrend.com/movers/2025-6/

Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, Pinellas County

After six years of service, Beth A. Houghton will retire as CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB), effective July 11. Houghton leaves behind a legacy as an extraordinary leader and champion for children. Under her leadership, JWB successfully implemented a five-year strategic plan, met emergent needs during the global pandemic and major hurricanes, and balanced accountability with new program growth to ensure today’s funds are invested wisely to strengthen the lives of today’s children.

See this article as originally published at https://www.floridatrend.com/movers/2025-6/

After six years of service, Beth A. Houghton will retire as CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB), effective July 11. Houghton leaves behind a legacy as an extraordinary leader and champion for children. Under her leadership, JWB successfully implemented a five-year strategic plan, met emergent needs during the global pandemic and major hurricanes, and balanced accountability with new program growth to ensure today’s funds are invested wisely to strengthen the lives of today’s children.

See this article as originally published at https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/potmsearch/detail/submission/6560200/Beth_Houghton

The Juvenile Welfare Board announces Michael Mikurak as Interim CEO, effective June 9, 2025. A prior member and chair of the Board, Mikurak is a staunch advocate for Pinellas children and families and has always held JWB to the highest standards of accountability while promoting innovation, strategic thinking, and process optimization. With more than 30 years’ business strategy and supply chain management experience, Mikurak brings his rich business acumen and depth of knowledge to the role.

Read the article as originally published at https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/potmsearch/detail/submission/6560201/Michael_Mikurak

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida’s Camp Wai Lani is open for summer after hurricane recovery and other improvements.

Mary Pat King, who serves as CEO for Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, says their reopening was thanks to support from community partners.

“This camp in particular suffered massive flooding, dock damage and major building damage,” said King.

The Juvenile Welfare Board funded some $500,000 for storm recovery, cleanup and to complete projects that were already underway.

Beth Houghton, CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board in Pinellas County, emphasized the importance of completing that work to continue the camp’s character-building programs.

“We can strengthen girls so that they start with a sense of confidence, of belonging and have done things that they thought maybe they could never do,” said Houghton.

The initial hit from 2024’s storms stuck with Calley Pate, a former Girl Scout, now Troop Leader.

Pate’s daughter is also a Girl Scout and has participated in camp activities for eleven years.

“Seeing the damage to the property was kind of heartbreaking to the point where I probably cried a few times, just the uncertainty of when it was going to be open and the extent of the damage,” said Pate.

Several of the projects included refurbishing nine cabins and installing additional air conditioning in main gathering areas.

Work finished in time to welcome the first round of summer campers on June 8.

“It warms my heart because I know that these are core memories and our Girls Scouts are really building not only the character that they need in life but also the skills,” said King.

View the segment and read the article as originally published at https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2025/05/28/girl-scout-camp-wai-lani-ready-for-summer-campers-after-storm-damage-

Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Renee Chiea and Alicia McShae to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County and reappointed Kristen Gnage and James Millican to the board.

Chiea is a compliance director for Elevance Health, Inc. She is the mother of two sons in the Pinellas County Public School System. Chiea earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from California State University.

McShae is a client relations manager at Franklin Templeton Investments. Active in her community, she is a member of the Junior League of St. Petersburg and MavPAC Tampa Bay. McShae earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Pennsylvania State University.

Gnage is the assistant state attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit. She is a member of the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Gnage earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston College and her juris doctor from Stetson University.

Millican is the division chief and Fire Marshall of Lealman Fire District. He is president of the Florida Association of Special Districts and a board member of the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board. Millican earned his emergency medical technician and state firefighter certification from St. Petersburg College.

These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Read the article as originally published at https://www.tbnweekly.com/pinellas_county/article_b5a0cdfc-bd00-467e-9de8-a9a0ee636ad8.html

For nearly 80 years, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) has been investing in children’s futures to strengthen our community. These investments ensure children are ready to learn, thrive, and succeed in homes, schools, and neighborhoods that are healthy and safe. Last year, JWB invested in 98 quality programs with local nonprofit agencies serving more than 77,000 children and families!  

Each year JWB recognizes individuals who work in these programs with the KidsFirst Award: “boots on the ground” professionals, like Paul Kleeman, who consistently go above and beyond to always put children first!

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

Since 2019, Paul has worked professionally tutoring hundreds of 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 in, the kids excitedly call out, “Mr. Paul, Mr. Paul! Work with me!” They describe him as “my mentor, friend, and ‘School Dad!’”

Great Day Live invited Paul to be part of their special broadcast dedicated to veterans and to honor him as the first of JWB’s 2025 KidsFirst Award recipients!

View the segment as originally published at https://www.wtsp.com/video/features/great-day-live/us-veteran-helping-our-kids/67-5426e0f6-ec7b-46b8-af01-98dfae9cfd31