Category: Press Releases & Advisories

Juvenile Welfare Board Receives Top Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting

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(l to r) JWB Senior Accountant Richard Godfrey, Chief Financial Officer Laura Krueger Brock, Senior Manager of Accounting Lynn De la Torre, and JWB Board Chair Judge Patrice Moore with JWB's 4th GFOA Award

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recently awarded the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award for their 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

In its announcement of the award, GFOA stated that JWB’s annual comprehensive financial report “has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive ‘spirit of full disclosure’ to clearly communicate its financial story…. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.”

This is the fourth consecutive year JWB has received the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

“Earning the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award is a great accomplishment,” said JWB CFO Laura Krueger Brock, who was also a 2023 Tampa Bay Business Journal CFO of the Year. “This shows a commitment to JWB and provides valuable historical and accounting knowledge to the organization,” she said.

Ms. Brock congratulated the JWB Accounting team by name—Senior Manager of Accounting Lynn De le Torre, Senior Accountant Richard Godfrey, Accountant Anne Crawford, and Fiscal Specialist Lilia Pletnev—while noting the team’s continuity and extremely low turnover: Collectively, the Accounting unit has 57 years of employment with JWB, with an average of 14 years of service.

“The GFOA award—considered the Gold Star in financial reporting—is a testament to the JWB Accounting team’s dedication to organizational transparency and accountability,” said JWB Board Chair Judge Patrice Moore, while presenting the newest award to staff at the January 18th Board meeting. “The Accounting team deserves our congratulations for this recognition of their hard work and dedication to excellence!”

Submission requirements are very detailed: The reviewer checklist is very lengthy—more than 100 pages. JWB accounting staff poured tremendous effort into this endeavor while completing the day-to-day duties associated with the organization’s annual impact budget of $93 million, which strengthened the lives of nearly 64,000 children and families.

Learn more about how JWB has been putting Pinellas County children first for more than 75 years at https://www.jwbpinellas.org/about/

Pictured above: Juvenile Welfare Board Receives Top Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting Four Years Running: (l to r) JWB Senior Accountant Richard Godfrey, Chief Financial Officer Laura Krueger Brock, Senior Manager of Accounting Lynn De la Torre, and JWB Board Chair Judge Patrice Moore.

JWB Investments Put Nutritious Food on Pinellas Family Tables—and Take at Least One Worry Off their Plates

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All children deserve the opportunity to live, learn, grow, and thrive in homes, schools, and neighborhoods that are supportive and safe.

Consistent access to nourishing food is key to their healthy development. Yet one in five children in Pinellas County do not have enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life.

More families than ever—two in five—live below the ALICE threshold, meaning they are employed but struggle to make ends meet. And while housing, utility, and food costs are rising. But paychecks aren’t.

Recognizing the extraordinary need, JWB’s Board invested in bulk food purchases and a centralized hub with the St. Petersburg Free Clinic (SPFC). In turn, the Free Clinic orchestrates the distribution of food to dozens of partner sites, feeding children and families countywide.

“While the pandemic saw historic numbers of families seeking food assistance, their need for nutritious food is only increasing, said Jennifer Yeagley, St. Petersburg Free Clinic CEO. 

“Last year, JWB led the charge in SPFC’s ability to distribute more than 20.4 million pounds of food throughout Pinellas County, serving 1.2 million individuals in 2022 alone. They do this through distributing food to partner food pantries, churches, other nonprofit organizations, neighborhood family centers, and even preschools.”

On average, the Free Clinic serves more than 135,000 individuals a month across Pinellas County, a 51% increase year over year.

This is achieved thanks to dozens of food partners across the county, like Dunedin Cares.

Kristina Garcia, Dunedin Cares Director, said need has increased since the pandemic and many cannot afford to purchase healthy meals. They’ve seen recent spikes in families with children seeking help as federal food stamp (SNAP) benefits are decreasing due to federal funds for COVID/pandemic relief ending. Therefore, Dunedin Cares’ focus is on healthy food for families, like meats, dairy, eggs, fresh produce.

Another North County partner, FEAST, serves families five days a week, including evening hours for working families—and offers special things for families with children, like providing a birthday cake on a child’s birthday!

The Free Clinic also coordinates JWB’s funded food program, distributing pre-packaged meals to kids at schools, NFCs, and after school programs and filling food gaps during weekends and summers…to the tune of 200,000 meals last year!

Plus, through partnerships with 11 preschools, their Fresh Sprouts program fosters healthy eating habits for young children, zero to five, offering weekly fresh produce, recipe cards, and even interactive activity ideas to promote connection at mealtime for families!

The Free Clinic also partners with JWB’s Neighborhood Family Centers to stock their pantries and support food distribution efforts, reaching families where they live and serving special populations.

Anthony Verdeja, Family Center on Deafness Director, said, “We are so grateful for SPFC. The deaf community did try to take advantage of the food pantries in the area but were not able to communicate with the folks working there. We fill that need once a month.”

Verdeja also shared that many families are asking for more food, not necessarily for themselves, but to share with others in their neighborhood, and that these families feel more secure knowing that can receive as much food as they need.

Thanks to JWB’s investments in the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, Pinellas families can put healthy, nutritious food on their tables…and take at least one worry off their plates!

Jennifer Yeagley, St. Petersburg Free Clinic CEO, said, “We would not be able to keep children healthy, focused, and growing without the critical support of JWB.”   

Watch the related video at https://youtu.be/4ydOe6LUkGk

Hundreds Gathered to Honor Individuals Putting Kids First in Pinellas

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On Friday, April 28th, nearly 600 Pinellas County community leaders and child advocates gathered at the St. Pete Coliseum to celebrate JWB’s annual awards luncheon with a theme of “Imagine.”

Last year, JWB celebrated its 75th anniversary, marking the milestone of our nation’s first independent board enacted to guard the rights and needs of children. And it’s hard to imagine where our county would be today had it not been for courageous leaders and citizens who had the foresight to tax themselves to invest in children’s futures.

JWB packed the room again this year to cheer on our amazing honorees:

  • Our KidsFirst Cooperman-Bogue Winners who work tirelessly to strengthen the lives of children … Summer Kirk with the Pace Center for Girls, Christina Mokhtar Hassan with Suncoast Center, Johnareus Young with Clearwater Parks & Recreation, and Mary Wooding with the Florida Department of Health’s Healthy Families Pinellas program.
  • Our H. Browning Spence Education Award Recipients whose stories of overcoming each earned standing ovations … Gloria Richardson, April Dempsey-Adams, and Joanna Steenberge.
  • And our numerous Nominees for this year’s coveted Dillinger-McCabe “Putting Children First” Leadership Award, named in honor of two long-standing Board Members Bob Dillinger and Bernie McCabe, which was presented to Ray Hensley of the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas. His decades of leadership and dedication to young children and their families is undeniable and unmatched!

WHAT: JWB 2023 Kids First Awards Luncheon
WHEN: Friday, April 28, 11:30 AM – 1 PM
WHERE: The Coliseum, 535 4th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
WHO: Nonprofit and Community Leaders, Elected Officials, Child Advocates

Our largest crowd ever with nearly 600 attendees, including current and former JWB Board members, nonprofit CEOs, and other dignitaries. Special guests of honor included Mrs. Denise McCabe and The Honorable Bob Dillinger, retired Pasco-Pinellas Public Defender.

Facebook photo album: https://bit.ly/2023KidsFirstPhotos
YouTube videos at @JWBPinellas: JWB 2023 Kids First Awards Luncheon | April 28, 2023; JWB 2023 KidsFirst Award Winners; JWB 2023 Dillinger-McCabe Putting Children First Leadership Award Intro

Additional photos and videos available upon request; interviews with winners can be arranged.


MEDIA CONTACTS:

April Putzulu | 727.804.6404 | aputzulu@jwbpinellas.org

Jennifer Dodd | 813.767.7895 | jdodd@jwbpinellas.org

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ABOUT JWB:
For 75 years, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) has been investing in the futures of children to strengthen our community. Governed by an 11-member Board and driven by data, JWB ensures children are ready to learn, ready to succeed, and ready to thrive in homes, schools, and neighborhoods that are healthy and safe. In FY21, JWB and our partners served more than 58,000 children and families through 85 programs with 55 nonprofit agencies. Plus, collective efforts to address childhood hunger, grade-level reading, and preventable child deaths served thousands more. JWB was created by Pinellas County citizens who were the first in the nation to collectively make children a priority. At that time, few alternatives existed for children experiencing trauma or abuse other than adult jail. Three early champions – Attorney Leonard Cooperman, Judge Lincoln Bogue, and St. Petersburg Junior League Founder Mailande Holland Barton – drafted legislation, and on November 5, 1946, Pinellas County voters enacted the Juvenile Welfare Board Special Act into law. It was the first time in U.S. history that such an entity had been created to guard the rights and needs of children. Learn more at www.jwbpinellas.org.

Juvenile Welfare Board Receives Top Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting

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Juvenile Welfare Board Board chair and staff posing with GFOA's top award for Excellence in Financial Reporting: (l to r) Senior Accountant Richard Godfrey, Senior Manager of Accounting Lynn De la Torre, JWB Board Chair Mike Mikurak, and Fiscal Specialist Lilia Pletnev.
Juvenile Welfare Board Receives Top Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting: (l to r) Senior Accountant Richard Godfrey, Senior Manager of Accounting Lynn De la Torre, JWB Board Chair Mike Mikurak, and Fiscal Specialist Lilia Pletnev.

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recently awarded the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award for the 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

This is the third year in a row JWB has received the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (COA) in 1945 to “…encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare annual comprehensive financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal.”

Submission requirements are very detailed—the first award, given in 2021 after nearly nine months of review of the 2019 financial report, required the compilation of 10 years of statistical data. JWB accounting staff poured tremendous effort into this endeavor while completing the day-to-day duties associated with the organization’s annual impact budget of $87.3 million, which strengthened the lives of nearly 60,000 children and families.

“The GFOA award is a testament to the JWB Accounting team’s dedication to organizational transparency and accountability,” said JWB Board Chair Michael Mikurak, while presenting the newest award to staff at the March 9th Board meeting. “Accounting Manager Lynn De la Torre and her accounting team deserve our congratulations for this recognition of their hard work and dedication to excellence!”

Learn more about how JWB has been putting Pinellas County children first for more than 75 years at https://www.jwbpinellas.org/about/

JWB Board Chair Mike Mikurak (left) and JWB Accounting Manager Lynn De la Torre (right) at the March 9, 2023, Board meeting, where it was announced JWB has received the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award, for the third year in a row.

Pinellas Pediatric Practice Expands to Offer On-Site Mental Health Services for Kids

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Juvenile Welfare Board and North Pinellas Children’s Medical Center Cut Ribbon and Host Tours in Recognition of National Mental Health Awareness Month

(PALM HARBOR, FL) In recognition of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month, the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) and North Pinellas Children’s Medical Center held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to signify the recent expansion of integrated mental health and support services within North Pinellas Children’s Medical Center.

When we talk about healthy children, we’re really talking about both physical and mental health. We know that childhood experiences lay the foundation for future success. Nearly 50% of all chronic mental health conditions begin by age 14, yet most conditions go untreated for years.

That’s why JWB launched the Children’s Mental Health Initiative, a multipronged approach that is focused on prevention, early detection, and intervention. For example, JWB provides funding to integrate mental health and support services within pediatric practices, helping to reduce barriers and increase access for children and their families. JWB first funded mental health supports within Evara Health’s pediatric offices, and most recently at North Pinellas Children’s Medical Center. Collectively, these two Pinellas pediatric practices will be able to reach more than 40,000 children with mental health support each year!

Why are prevention, early detection, and interview of young children so critical?

  • 1 in 5 youth will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime
  • 1 in 6 children ages two to eight have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder
  • 1 in 4 youth have considered suicide and/or have a plan
  • In December 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General issued its first-ever Youth Mental Health Advisory. Advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that need the nation’s immediate awareness and action to urgent public health issues. Highlights from the Advisory include:
    • Mental health challenges are the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people
    • 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. report having a mental, emotional developmental, or behavioral disorder
    • Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, studies revealed alarming increases in the prevalence of mental health challenges:
    • In 2019, one in three high school students and half of female students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness – an overall increase of 40% from 2009
    • 19% seriously considering attempting suicide – a 36% increase from 2009
    • 16% reported having a suicide plan – a 44% increase from 2009
    • Between 2007 and 2018, suicide rates among youth ages 17 to 24 increased by 57% – and early estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics suggest there were tragically more than 6,600 deaths by suicide among the 10-24 age group in 2020.

Photos, video clips, and interviews available upon request; contact Communications@jwbpinellas.org.

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ABOUT JWB:

For 75 years, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) has been investing in the futures of children to strengthen our community. Governed by an 11-member Board and driven by data, JWB ensures children are ready to learn, ready to succeed, and ready to thrive in homes, schools, and neighborhoods that are healthy and safe. In FY21, JWB and our partners served more than 58,000 children and families through 85 programs with 55 nonprofit agencies. Plus, collective efforts to address childhood hunger, grade-level reading, and preventable child deaths served thousands more. Click here for a copy of the JWB Children’s Mental Health Initiative Impact Sheet, or learn more at:  www.jwbpinellas.org/childrens-mental-health

Uplifting video by Hispanic Outreach Center kids help spread joy, not virus

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As Cinco de Mayo kicks off, the children of the Hispanic Outreach Center partnered with the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) to create an uplifting video for everyone coping during COVID-19. The video’s message reminds everyone: Estás en Nuestros Corazones (You Are in Our Hearts)!

The children hope to bring joy to anyone feeling alone or isolated during the pandemic, or to those working on the front lines to care for, protect, and serve others.

The video is part of a series featuring children served by programs funded by the Juvenile Welfare Board, a Pinellas County special taxing district with a 75-year history dedicated to strengthening the lives of children and families. Many of JWB’s programs continued to operate throughout the pandemic, providing child care to essential workers or operating neighborhood centers in communities of highest need, such as the Hispanic Outreach Center. 

Operated by the InterCultural Advocacy Center, the Hispanic Outreach Center is one of eight neighborhood family centers that JWB supports. These centers are located in the heart of their communities, and provide youth programming, basic needs’ assistance to families such as food and financial support, and other unique services based on the populations they serve.

The Hispanic Outreach Center is also partnering with JWB on a virtual Cinco de Mayo event, promoting a number of restaurants featuring Mexican cuisine at the ready for takeout orders. To learn more visit: www.hispanicoutreachcenter.com

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About the Hispanic Outreach Center:

The Hispanic Outreach Center (HOC), operated by the InterCultural Advocacy Institute, was founded in 2000 as a partnership with the Clearwater Police Department to provide interpreter services for police officers in the course of their duties and offer advocacy for Spanish-speaking crime victims. Services quickly expanded to include youth programs, intensive family support, English classes, education seminars, legal clinics, and more. HOC continues to be the only multi-service center of its kind in Pinellas County dedicated to strong families, resilient youth, integrated community, educational opportunities, and human rights for Hispanic families. To learn more visit www.hispanicoutreachcenter.org.

About the Juvenile Welfare Board:

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) has been committed to making children a priority for nearly 75 years. As a countywide special taxing district, JWB invests in 53 nonprofit agencies that deliver 82 quality programs, and served 70,000 Pinellas County children and families last year. JWB’s investments are focused in four strategic areas: school readiness, school success, prevention of child abuse and neglect, and strengthening community. In addition, JWB leads collective initiatives to address childhood hunger, grade-level reading, and preventable child deaths. To learn more visit www.jwbpinellas.org.

Safer at home might not be safe for some

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CASA and the Juvenile Welfare Board are taking preemptive measures to ensure the safety of those who may be facing domestic violence in Pinellas County

With the unprecedented emotional and financial stressors of the recent pandemic only expected to worsen, JWB joined CASA in rehabbing a property in Pinellas County to build capacity. CASA Pinellas County’s certified domestic violence center is seeing a 40 percent increase in hotline calls since social distancing guidelines of the COVID-19 pandemic went into effect. Countries around the world are also seeing an uptick in domestic violence incidents. According to a United Nations report:

  • Domestic violence in France increased 30 percent following the country’s lockdown on March 17
  • Spain saw an 18 percent increase in domestic violence calls in the first two weeks of lockdowns
  • Helplines in Singapore have received 30 percent more calls

Close quarters, financial stressors, and increased alcohol/substance use are just a few of the many factors in the COVID-19 pandemic that are increasing the risk of explosive events of domestic violence.

“The opportunity to work with JWB to rehab this property allows us to get ahead of the problem,” stated Lariana Forsythe, CASA CEO. “We are paying close attention to national and international domestic violence trends, and unfortunately we need to be prepared for the worst.”

When the project is complete, this site will be able to serve a variety of needs, including:

  • Potential shelter for residents who may test positive for COVID-19 and be in need of isolation from the general population
  • Overflow or to relieve shelter capacity, as we continue to follow social distancing guidelines
  • Childcare site for essential CASA shelter employees with children

The property has the potential to serve a minimum of eight large families while adhering to the CDC’s social distancing guidelines, and can be used for existing domestic violence programs after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The decision to make this investment was an easy one, because it has to do with the safety and well-being of children and their parents. I made a few calls, and we were able to get the property ready for occupancy rather quickly, thanks to the support of our Board,” added Beth Houghton, JWB CEO.

Call to Action:

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call CASA’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline (727) 895-4912 | TTY (727) 828-1269. Outside of Pinellas County call (800) 500-1119 | TTY (800) 621-4202

Looking for ways to support CASA through the COVID-19 pandemic? By purchasing a “Home Should Be A Safe Place” yard sign, you can support CASA services while sharing critical resources to neighbors in need across Pinellas County: www.casa-stpete.org/donate

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About CASA:

Founded in 1977, CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) is the official 501c3 domestic violence center based in southern Pinellas County, FL. CASA operates safety, empowerment, and prevention programs aimed at ending domestic violence. These include the area’s 24-hour hotline and emergency shelter; non-residential programs, such as support groups, economic empowerment and legal advocacy; Child Protective Investigative Team support; community and corporate training; and the CASA Peacemakers anti-bullying and healthy relationship school curriculum. To learn more visit www.casa-stpete.org. 

About JWB:

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) has been committed to making children a priority for nearly 75 years. As a countywide special taxing district, JWB invests in 53 nonprofit agencies that deliver 82 quality programs, and served 70,000 Pinellas County children and families last year. JWB’s investments are focused in four strategic areas: school readiness, school success, prevention of child abuse and neglect, and strengthening community. In addition, JWB leads collective initiatives to address childhood hunger, grade-level reading, and preventable child deaths. To learn more visit www.jwbpinellas.org.

JWB expanding efforts, investments to feed children and support families during the pandemic

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Clearwater, FL – Amid the COVID-19 crisis, low income families with children are disproportionately impacted, and those of moderate means may now be without a paycheck. Licensed childcare for essential healthcare workers and first responders may be scarce. Financial and other stressors impact families, driving up domestic violence calls. The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County is responding by investing in several emergency efforts, bringing partners together to identify and fill gaps.

“During any economic downturn or public health crisis, low income families are disproportionately impacted,” stated Beth A. Houghton, CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board. “Before COVID-19, fifty percent of Pinellas families earned less than the basic cost of living, and one in five children were food insecure. I imagine it’s much worse now. Our children and families are hurting, and we are working hard to identify resources, expand investments, and plow through barriers, alongside our partners.”

Support to JWB Funded Agency Non-Profits and Their Employees

  • Emergency Response Fund: Allows all 50+ nonprofit agencies – funded by JWB to serve children and families through early learning, home visiting, before/after school, domestic violence shelters, mental health services, and more – to access their budget allocations to cover operational expenses, including paying and retaining employees, should programs be required to close or reduce services due to COVID-19.

Food Assistance for Children and Families

  • $200,000 Emergency Food Relief: With retail food donations down nearly seventy-five percent to local food banks, JWB is investing $200,000 in emergency food relief for children and families, to be distributed to Tarpon Springs Shepherd’s Center, Religious Community Services (RCS) in Clearwater, Florida Dream Center in Lealman, and St. Petersburg Free Clinic. Additional funds will be allocated as need presents.
  • $350,000 Meals for Kids: In a proactive measure, JWB’s eight Neighborhood Family Centers were approved to double all pre-packaged meal purchases for kids; these Centers serve families in highest need areas.
  • $12,000 Meals on Wheels 4 Kids: With school and congregate meal site closures, JWB is providing a portion of the initial funding for an innovative pilot with Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger to deliver meals to the doorstep of families with children when barriers exist and using the volunteer-based Meals on Wheels model.
  • BreakSpot Grab & Go Meal Expansion: JWB is partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay to open additional Pinellas sites where grab-and-go meals for children can be distributed. We recently launched a new website with a schedule of all Pinellas school and community BreakSpot sites: www.jwbpinellas.org/breakspot-meals  

Basic Needs Assistance to Families

  • $1.7M Family Services Initiative Basic Needs Fund: JWB’s Family Services Initiative (FSI) offers real-time basic need assistance to families, including rent/utility assistance, food, and household items. While this fund is in place for access by families year-round, it is especially critical given our current crisis. To request support, families should dial 2-1-1.

For more information on food assistance for Pinellas County children and families visit: www.jwbpinellas.org/childhood-hunger.

For the Family Services Initiative for basic needs assistance, families should dial 2-1-1 or visit https://211tampabay.org/family-services-initiative-fsi/

For those wishing to donate, JWB recommends contributions be directed to the Pinellas Community Foundation and their Disaster Relief and Childhood Hunger funds; visit: www.pcfpinellas.org.

Beth A. Houghton takes over CEO reins to lead the Juvenile Welfare Board

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R:\Website\New Website\Newsroom\Photos\Beth Houghton Head Shot.jpg

Clearwater, FL – After a unanimous vote of approval by the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, Beth A. Houghton was appointed and began her tenure as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer on October 1. 

“We are thrilled to have Beth onboard as our new CEO,” stated JWB Board Chair Susan Rolston who also led the Board’s executive search committee efforts. “After an exhaustive national search, we were fortunate to attract an experienced Pinellas County executive who checks 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.”

Ms. Houghton came to the Juvenile Welfare Board from the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, where she held the top position – first Executive Director then Chief Executive Officer – for eight years. Under her leadership, the organization expanded its reach to eight food, shelter, and health care programs that distribute to more than 55,000 people monthly, provide free health and wellness services to 9,000 annually, and guide another 400 on their path to independent living through shelter services. Ms. Houghton graduated with highest honors from Stetson University College of Law, earned her MBA with highest honors from Tulane University Graduate School of Business, and her BA with honors in Economics and Political Science from Newcomb College of Tulane University. Ms. Houghton is licensed to practice law in Florida and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Signature Bank in St. Petersburg. Her previous employment includes serving as Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel of John’s Hopkins All Children’s Health System. 

“The Juvenile Welfare Board has always been known for shaping the future of our county’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens,” commented Houghton from her new post at JWB. “I have always been passionate about improving the lives of our children, both because they are the innocent who cannot control their circumstances and because, as a society, improving children’s lives today and into the future is simply a smart investment. So, coming to the JWB to work with our Board, staff, and community organizations was an easy choice for me. I knew I could come to work every day and really make a difference in the trajectory of our community.” 

In her role as CEO, Ms. Houghton will oversee an annual program and general government budget of $79.3 million and a workforce of 62, while ensuring policies set forth by the JWB Governing Board are effectively implemented. She will serve as the nexus between the JWB Board and day-to-day operations of the organization, and advance and oversee accountability systems and measurements to ensure effective use of the community’s investments. In her leadership role, she will advocate for children’s issues and underserved families. She will create strategic partnerships and oversee the funding of high-quality programs that benefit tens of thousands of Pinellas County children and families annually. 

“Beth is someone who has dedicated her entire life to giving back,” noted Rolston. “It’s important that we have a champion for children and families, like Beth, in our top leadership position.”

Ms. Houghton has taken numerous mission trips to rural Honduras and currently serves on the Board for the Foundation for International Missions which supports a rural health clinic. She also serves as Chair of the Hospital Board of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Previously, Ms. Houghton served as Board President for Great Explorations, the Houghton-Wagman Children’s Museum, and she has received numerous awards for community service and leadership. She has three adult children, three grandchildren, and is raising two grandchildren. 

“Beth embodies the entire package,” added Rolston. “All of her attributes, combined with her experience developing and using impact measures and metrics, will serve us well as we prepare to sunset our current strategic plan, and adopt a new one in 2021.”

Established by a Special Act of the Florida Legislature in 1945, approved overwhelmingly by Pinellas County voters in 1946, and reauthorized in 1990, the Juvenile Welfare Board is an independent special taxing district that is governed by an 11-member Board and responsibly invests property tax dollars to give children the best opportunities to succeed. 

Ms. Houghton succeeded Dr. Marcie Biddleman, who retired in September after a decade-long tenure with the organization. 

For more information about the Juvenile Welfare Board visit www.jwbpinellas.org or contact Communications@jwbpinellas.org. 

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue partner with JWB for infant safe sleep press conference

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St. Petersburg, FL – Infant sleep-related suffocation is the number one cause of preventable death for children under 18. Statistics show on average every month a healthy baby dies from sleeping unsafely in Pinellas County, and the majority of these deaths happen in St. Petersburg.  First responders have encountered these tragedies far too often and are working to stop these preventable deaths from occurring. 

October is Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month. Learn how St. Petersburg first responders have partnered with the Juvenile Welfare Board and others to help save lives of infants in our community, including an announcement on how the public can get involved. Event includes a variety of subject matter experts and visuals, including infant safe sleep demonstration, first responder testimonial, and campaign materials.  Please see details below: 


Press Conference Date/Time and Location: 

Monday, September 23, 2019 at 10:30 AM

St. Petersburg Fire Recue Headquarters

400 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South, St. Petersburg, FL. 33701-4472


Media Point of Contact:

Lt. Steven Lawrence, CFEI, IAAI-FIT

Deputy Fire Marshal/PIO

C: 727-831-1370 / steven.lawrence@stpete.org


Press Conference Attendees: 

Chief James Large, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue

Chief Anthony Holloway, St. Petersburg Police Department

Rescue Chief Ian Womack, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue

Firefighter/Paramedic David O’Neil, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue

Beth Houghton, Juvenile Welfare Board CEO

Michelle Schaefer, Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas

Bill Pellan, District 6 Medical Examiner’s Office

Jane DeMauro, Bayfront Baby Place