The purpose of the Florida Department of Children and Families is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

The department's activities include the following.

• Child and Family Services is responsible for a wide range of services, including adoption and foster care, assisting families to safely stay together or be reunited, and helping youth and young adults transition from foster care to independence. The department contracts with 16 community-based care organizations to manage statewide child welfare services at the local level, such as coordinating foster homes or therapeutic foster homes, residential group care, family reunification, case management, and mental health services. 
• Safety and Protection is responsible for the safety, protection, care, and well-being of children, families, and vulnerable individuals through the following service components. Florida Abuse Hotline, which accepts reports of suspected child abuse, neglect, or abandonments and reports of known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult. Adult Protective Services, which is responsible for preventing further harm to vulnerable adults who are victims of abuse, neglect, exploitation or self-neglect. Domestic Violence oversees state and federally funded initiatives for the prevention and intervention of domestic violence services. This includes monitoring and funding certified domestic violence centers in Florida. Human Trafficking is responsible for identifying and overseeing services for victims of commercial sexual exploitation, including participating in multidisciplinary teams to determine placement, service, and treatment needs of suspected or verified child victims of commercial sexual exploitation, and providing resources on its website to report human trafficking of adult victims. The department also staffs a Human Trafficking Prevention Unit to guide policy at the state level and provides support, training, and assistance at the regional level.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health is responsible for the oversight of a statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders. This includes offering treatment and prevention resources to individuals with serious mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders.
• Licensing is responsible for licensing foster and group homes, substance use disorder treatment providers, and child care facilities.
• Public Benefits and Services determines eligibility for several assistance programs for families in Florida including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Cash Assistance, Medicaid, and Refugee Services.
• Background Screening is responsible for conducting level II background screenings, which includes fingerprinting, of employees of various entities licensed and regulated by the department, including summer camps, recovery residences, child placement agencies, and child care agencies.  

The funding information listed below is provided by Transparency Florida. Additional funding information can be obtained on the State of Florida Fiscal Portal or by contacting the department.

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Annual Reports.

OPPAGA Reports and Presentations
A complete list of OPPAGA reports and presentations is available on our website.

Other Reports
Florida Department of Children and Families, Inspector General Publications and Reports
A complete list of Florida Auditor General reports is available on its website.

Websites of Interest
Florida Institute for Child Welfare
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families

Section 20.19, Florida Statutes

Florida Department of Children and Families Contact Website
Florida Department of Children and Families
2415 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4190
(850) 487-1111
Website