2024
Heartland for Children has been selected as a recipient of a 2024 Impact Polk grant in the amount of $10,000 that will support "Creating Safety & Security for Children within the Child Welfare System". This project is being funded by the George W. Jenkins Fund within GiveWell Community Foundation.
Marquina Butts Fisher, Transition Age Youth Services Program Manager was awarded the 2024 Selfless Love One Voice Impact Staff Champion
2023
Heartland for Children has been selected as a recipient of a 2023 Impact Polk grant in the amount of $10,000 that will support "Behavioral Health Supports and Interventions for Children." This project is being funded by the George W. Jenkins Fund within GiveWell Community Foundation.
A special thank you to the Iron Horse Family Foundation for the $50,000 grant award to support capital improvements at our Heartland Youth Village. The Iron Horse Family Foundation is a Lakeland, FL based, private family foundation that is devoted to carrying on the legacy of David M. Clark. Iron Horse Family Foundation exists to improve the lives of children through initiatives, projects, and support of organizational missions that bolster children’s health and wellness. Iron Horse Family Foundation is an invitation-only grantor.
A special thank you to the Lakeland Florida Stake Latter-Day Saints for donating $20,000 to support our young adults transitioning into their own housing. This donation will be used to purchase much needed household items. There was an additional in-kind donation of $5,000 to shop for a variety of commodities that includes dry food items and personal hygiene products. We appreciate your continued partnership!
2022
Heartland for Children has been selected as a recipient of a 2022 Impact Polk grant in the amount of $19,955 that will support "Creating Safety and Security for Children in the Child Welfare System." This project is being funded by the George W. Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation.
Crystal Lake Elementary was awarded certification as the first Community Partnership School in Polk County by the UCF Center for Community Schools in November of 2022.
2021
Heartland for Children has been selected as a recipient of a 2021 Impact Polk grant in the amount of $20,000 that will support "Respite Services for Special Needs Children." This project is being funded by the George W. Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation.
Heartland for Children was awarded a 4 year grant through the Florida Blue Foundation in the amount of $399,606. HFC will partner with Central Florida Health Care to improve the well-being and reseiliency in children and families through trauma informed care and a trauma informed response.
2020
We are grateful to be a recipient of the 2020 Impact Polk grant in the amount of $18,950.00 for our project “Caregiver Support Program for Children in Foster Care.” This project is funded through this grant from the George W. Jenkins Foundation, Inc. within the GiveWell Community Foundation.
We are so grateful to be the recipient of a $30,000 grant from the George Jenkins Foundation, Inc. in order to purchase 50 Chromebooks and 250 Pack & Plays for our children and teens in care.
2019
Adoption Excellence Award
Presented by Children's Bureau and the Department of Health and Human Services
Sustaining Partnership Award
Presented by Champion for Children Foundation
2018
In May 2018, Heartland for Children was awarded $5,000 though Impact Polk towards the Community Partnership School Needs Assessment. The grant was made possible by the George W. Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation.
Dyer Difference Award - In recognition of outstanding achievements and tireless efforts in making our community a better place to live.
Presented by Dyer Chevrolet & Dyer Kia, Lake Wales
Partners in Caring Award
Presented by Florida State Foster & Adoptive Parent Association
Partnership Legacy Award
Presented by Once Church One Child
2017
Re-accreditation for meeting the highest National standards for professional performance
Council on Accreditation
American Advertising Awards Silver ADDY Award
Presented by American Advertising Federation
Non-Profit of Excellence Award
Presented by Lakeland Chamber of Commerce
2012
Re-accreditation for meeting the highest National standards for professional performance
Council on Accreditation
2010
Not-For-Profit Community Action Organization of the Year
Presented by the Bartow Committee of 100
Community Champion for safely reducing the number of children in foster care in the 10th Circuit of Florida
Presented by the Florida Department of Children & Families
2007 & 2008
Recognition of Outstanding Support of Florida's Foster Families
Presented by the Florida State Foster Adoptive Parent Association
2006
Creative Services Excellence
Presented by Brighthouse
2005
Recognized as one of Polk County's Best Places to Work
Presented by CareerSource Polk (formerly PolkWorks)
2003 - 2004
Achievement Award - Permanency Through Adoption
Presented by the Florida Department of Children & Families
Budget and Compensation
Heartland for Children’s current FY Budget and Executive Compensation Report as required by 409.988 F.S. are listed below:
- Executive Compensation Report
Compliance Data required by Chapter 409.988 (k) F.S.:
Caseload, Turnover, Home Visits, Placement, Recruitment, Services, and Conversions
Heartland For Children includes the most recent data available for the elements identified below in the weekly performance and quality improvement report published on this webpage under the Quality Improvement & Performance link for all of its subcontracted case management organizations:
- Average Caseload of Case Managers - located in packet titled "Caseload Census Information"
- Turnover Rates for Case Managers/Supervisors - located in packet titled "Case Management Organization Turnover" (Note: Rolling 12 month turnover data is also included on his webpage under the Case Management Organization Staff Turnover Data link)
- Percentage of Home Visits Completed - located in packet titled "Scorecard Measure 4 - Children Seen Every 30 Days"
- The Number of Unlicensed Placements – located in packet titled “Number of Children in Out of Home Care by Placement Type”
- Percentages and Trends for Foster Parent and Group Home Recruitment – located in packet titled “Foster Parent/Group Home Recruitment”
- The percentage of families being served through Family Support Services (in-home and out-of-home services) for the 12 previous months – located in packet titled “Number of Children Active by Service Type”
- The percentage of cases that were converted from non-judicial to judicial for the previous month – located in packet titled “Children Entering Out of Home Care”
Children’s Legal Services Staffing Rates are posted by the State of Florida Department of Children and Families at this link.
Performance on Outcome Measures
Performance on outcome measures pursuant to Florida Statute 409.988 is provided for the previous 12 months in the following document titled 409.988 and 409.986 Child Protection and Child Welfare Outcomes. Additional outcomes and performance measure information can be found at www.heartlandforchildren.org on the About Us page under the Quality Improvement & Performance link.
409.988 and 409.986 Child Protection and Child Welfare Outcomes
Current policies related to 2023 SB 664: