Florida DCF To Transition Child Protective Investigations From Sheriff’s Offices Back To DCF

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) intends to transition child protective investigative duties from seven local sheriff’s offices to DCF staff. For the past 20 years, sheriff’s offices, not DCF staff, have been responsible for child welfare investigations in Broward, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Seminole, and Walton counties. In Florida’s other 62 counties, child protective investigations are conducted by DCF staff.

In a letter to stakeholders on February 17, 2023, DCF said that it intended to transition investigations back to DCF staff to reflect changes in child welfare practice and changes to federal and state . . .