Monday, June 7, 2010 Safe Children Coalition Receives “Community Champion Award”

The Department of Children and Families awarded the Sarasota Family YMCA’s foster care management program – the Safe Children Coalition – its “Community Champion Award” last month.

The award was for safely reducing the number of children in foster care in the 12th Circuit of Florida, and was presented by DCF Secretary George Sheldon.

“It is great that the efforts of our staff are acknowledged for helping provide the best services and care to children and families in our community,” said Ed McBride, Vice President of the YMCA’s Community Based Care Operations.

Chief Judge Lee Haworth and Bill Little, the Director of the Sarasota Health Department, also received awards for their work in starting and successfully managing the Family Safety Alliance, a group of community stakeholders that oversees Child Welfare Services in Circuit 12, which includes DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota Counties.