Pictured: Safe Children Coalition team members (from l-r) Colleen Buscemi, Dana LaBlanc, Desiree Brown and Robin Jensen. Photo by Rod Millington Safe Children Coalition.

In an effort to better prepare case managers for their work and reduce historically high turnover rates, local child welfare organization Safe Children Coalition has jumped headfirst into the new statewide pre-service training program, The Florida Academy. Case managers are a key cog in the child welfare wheel, helping to improve family outcomes and ensuring child safety. Proper training and continuity of care are critical to positive outcomes for children and families: Case manager turnover can increase the length of time a child is likely to remain in the state care system. Lack of consistent support can also result in additional trauma for children when new professionals are put on their case. While case manager turnover in the state ranges from 37-50% -- even reaching 80% in some areas of Florida -- Safe Children Coalition's one-year data running through April 30, 2026 shows the effectiveness of the new training: the percentage of case management turnover at SCC is now well below the average of 30%, landing at just over 23%.

Pictured: Safe Children Coalition team members (from l-r) Colleen Buscemi, Dana LaBlanc, Desiree Brown and Robin Jensen. Photo by Rod Millington Safe Children Coalition.