Eckerd Youth Alternatives Gets Child Protection Contract

Alliance for Children and Families member Eckerd in Clearwater, Fla., recently received a child protection contract for Hillsborough County from the Florida Department of Children and Families.

The $65.5 million contract begins July 1 and extends through 2017. Eckerd will be responsible for 2,500 children in Hillsborough County. The organization already provides services to Pinellas and Pasco counties.

Eckerd is concentrating on three goals as it embarks on the transition:

• Assess and improve safety
• Ensure no disruption of services
• To communicate effectively

Eckerd won the contract over Hillsborough Kids Inc., which was created in 2001 after the Florida legislature voted to outsource services.

Lorita Shirley, director of community alternatives at Eckerd, will lead the organization’s community-based child welfare efforts in Hillsborough County. Shirley has 20 years of experience in child welfare and has led one of the largest child welfare systems in the state of Florida.