Improving safety, permanency, and well-being for all children in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties.
To eliminate child abuse and neglect in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties.
Heartland for Children is a community-based care lead agency contracted with the Department of Children and Families. In March 2003, Heartland for Children was selected as the lead agency for Community Based Care in Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties. As the lead agency, Heartland for Children assumed the responsibilities for System Administration of a comprehensive child welfare service provider network that included protective services, foster care, adoptions, independent living, prevention, family preservation, family support services and other related services. Heartland for Children has taken the child welfare system in Circuit 10 to a performance focused and results oriented system.
Heartland for Children is an engaged, fully mature, system administrator. We offer strong leadership and partnership with diverse agencies across Florida. We are committed to safety, quality, consistency, and accountability in everything we do. HFC’s primary role in the system of care is not to provide direct services, but rather to serve as a system administrator dedicated to building an integrated network of services with traditional and non-traditional providers and supports. This network has the capacity to provide a comprehensive array of culturally competent services to children and families in both rural and urban areas. As a system administrator, Heartland for Children manages resources effectively and efficiently to ensure positive outcomes for children and families.
As the existing lead agency, we have a proven track record in this community. We have an in-depth understanding of the vast array of existing community resources, as well as, the strengths and challenges in each of our communities. Going forward, we will continue to build on our strong relationships and past experiences, continuously learning from our mistakes and successes and relentlessly pursuing excellence.
Executive Management Team
- Meet Heartland for Children's Executive Management Team!
Board of Directors
-
2024 Upcoming Board Meetings
-
January 24, 2024
-
February 28, 2024
-
March 27, 2024
-
April 24, 2024
-
May 22, 2024
-
June 26, 2024
-
July: NO MEETING
-
August 28, 2024
-
September 25, 2024
-
October 23, 2024
-
November 20, 2024
-
December: NO MEETING
All board meetings take place at Heartland for Children from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm and are open to the public. For more information, call (863) 519-8900 x 200.
Our Team
Download the Heartland for Children Staff Directory and see our HFC Organizational Chart.
Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Interpreter Services for the Hearing-Impaired
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you are entitled to interpreter services at no cost to you. Services may be accessed through Florida Relay by dialing 711 or calling toll free:
- (800) 955-8770 (Voice)
- (800) 955-8771 (TTY)
- (877) 955-8773 (Spanish)
- (877) 955-8707 (French Creole)
Please inform the following if services are needed:
- Heartland for Children's Point of Contact, Kristen Embree, (863) 519-8900 ext 256
- Jamie Horne, DCF Human Resource Analyst, (850)-717-4567
Any person who believes that he/she has been discriminated or retaliated against in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and/or the American Disabilities Act of 1990 may file a complaint in writing or by calling:
Office of Civil Rights 1317 Winewood Boulevard, Building 1, Room 110, Tallahassee, FL 32399; (850) 487-1901 (Voice); (850) 922-9220 (TTY)
Case Management Organization Staff Turnover Data
Caseload, Turnover, Home Visits, Placement, Recruitment, Services, and Conversions
In accordance with Chapter 409.988 (1)(k) Florida Statutes, 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 services, 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 the link below:
Quality Improvement & Performance
In accordance with Chapter 409.988 (1)(k) Florida Statutes, 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 for all of its subcontracted case management organizations:?
System of Care Performance & Feedback
2023 Surveys
2019 Surveys
Joining HFC’s Provider Network
For Case Management:
P & P: Executive - Human Resources
To request a copy of the following policies & procedures, email info@heartlandforchildren.org.
| POLICY # |
POLICY NAME |
| 1-000 |
Employee Handbook |
| 1-001 |
Privacy – Personnel Records |
| 1-002 |
Drug Free Workplace |
| 1-003 |
Internships |
| 1-004 |
Overtime |
| 1-005 |
Position Descriptions |
| 1-006 |
Employee Fraud |
| 1-007 |
Workplace Violence |
| 1-008 |
Employee Separation |
| 1-009 |
Employee Exit Interviews |
| 1-010 |
Harassment |
| 1-011 |
No Solicitation/Distribution |
| 1-012 |
Personnel Information -New Employees |
| 1-013 |
Employee’s Children at Workplace |
| 1-014 |
Membership in Professional Organizations/ Conventions & Professional Meetings |
| 1-015 |
Volunteer Services |
| 1-016 |
Staff Tuition Assistance |
| 1-017 |
Non-Retribution/Non-Retaliation |
| 1-018 |
Recruitment & Interviewing |
| 1-019 |
Non-discrimination in Employment |
| 1-020 |
Performance Management |
| 1-021 |
Background Screening |
| 1-022 |
Motor Vehicle Reports |
| 1-023 |
Worker’s Compensation |
| 1-024 |
Transitional Work Program |
| 1-025 |
On-Call/Call Back |
| 1-026 |
Ethical Practice |
| 1-027 |
Disciplinary Guidelines |
| 1-028 |
Sharing Concerns/Suggestions (Employee Grievance) |
| 1-029 |
Employees Involved in Reports of Abuse, Neglect, Abandonment or Exploitation |
| 1-030 |
Secondary Employment/Internships |
| 1-031 |
Health and Wellness |
P & P: Finance
To request a copy of the following policies & procedures, email info@heartlandforchildren.org.
| POLICY # |
POLICY NAME |
| 2-000 |
Reconciliation of Bank Accounts and Petty Cash |
| 2-001 |
Journal Entries |
| 2-002 |
Budget Preparation |
| 2-003 |
Budget Monitoring |
| 2-004 |
Client Trust |
| 2-005 |
Capital Assets |
| 2-006 |
Record Retention of Financial Records |
| 2-007 |
Cost Allocation Plan – Creation |
| 2-008 |
Cost Allocation |
| 2-009 |
Month End Closing |
| 2-010 |
Staff Travel |
| 2-011 |
On-Site Audits by Government Funding Sources |
| 2-012 |
Credit Card Authorization/Usage |
| 2-013 |
Purchasing and Accounts Payable Authorization |
| 2-014 |
Resource Management for Authorizing Services |
| 2-015 |
Gift Card Usage |
| 2-100 |
Invoice Preparation |
| 2-101 |
Interest Earned on Advance or Estimated Payments |
| 2-102 |
Cash Receipts |
| 2-103 |
Undeposited Cash/Checks |
| 2-104 |
Internal Control |
| 2-200 |
Request for Payments |
| 2-201 |
Signature Authority |
| 2-202 |
Payments |
| 2-203 |
Terms, Discounts and Late Fees |
| 2-204 |
Accounts Payable Process |
| 2-205 |
Entering Invoices into Oracle for Payment |
| 2-206 |
Void Check Processing |
| 2-207 |
Reconcile Payments |
| 2-208 |
Petty Cash |
| 2-209 |
Accounts Payable Accruals |
| 2-300 |
Payroll Department Security |
| 2-301 |
Payroll Processing |
| 2-302 |
Garnishments |
| 2-303 |
Stop Payments |
| 2-304 |
Payroll Accruals |
| 2-305 |
Employee Terminations |
| 2-306 |
Payroll Direct Deposits |
P & P: Quality & Performance - Training
To request a copy of the following policies & procedures, email info@heartlandforchildren.org.
| POLICY # |
POLICY NAME |
| 3-100 |
Child Protection Professional Training Program and Certification |
| 3-102 |
Continuing Professional Development for Case Management Organizations |
| 3-103 |
New Employee Orientation Training |
| 3-104 |
Continuing Professional Development for HFC Personnell |
| 3-105 |
Standards for HFC Staff Supervision |
| 4-204 |
Child Passenger Safety |
P & P: Quality & Performance - Quality & Contract Management
| POLICY # |
POLICY NAME |
| 3-218 |
Email Systems |
| 3-219 |
Data Transport Encryption |
| 3-300 |
Grievance |
| 3-301 |
Incident Reporting |
| 3-302 |
Performance and Quality Improvement |
| 3-303 |
Case & Quality Service Reviews |
| 3-304 |
Satisfaction Surveys |
| 3-305 |
Exit Interviews with Children in a Licensed Out of Home Care Placement |
| 3-306 |
Protection of Rights & Ethical Obligations |
| 3-307 |
Research Protections for Human Subjects |
| 3-308 |
Prevention, Reporting and Service to Missing Children |
| 3-309 |
Ethical Practice for Stakeholders |
| 3-500 |
Contract Documents |
| 3-501 |
Contract Invoicing |
| 3-502 |
Contract Monitoring |
| 3-503 |
Contract Procurement |
| 3-504 |
Written Authorizations |
| 3-505 |
Notification of Circuit 10 Group Home Placement Holds |
| 3-506 |
Contracts for Research and Evaluation |
| 3-507 |
Client Fees and Sliding Fee Scale
|
| 5-007 |
Human Trafficking |
P & P: Quality & Performance - Information Systems Management
To request a copy of the following policies & procedures, email info@heartlandforchildren.org.
| POLICY # |
POLICY NAME |
| 3-200 |
HIPAA Compliance-Client Records & Client Privacy |
| 3-201 |
Closed Record Retention and Retrieval |
| 3-202 |
Data System Integrity |
| 3-203 |
Management of Client Files |
| 3-204 |
Client Background Screening |
| 3-205 |
Maintenance and Support of IT Equipment |
| 3-206 |
Virus Prevention, Control, Reporting and Recovery |
| 3-207 |
Disposal of Information Technology Equipment |
| 3-208 |
Data Security – Access |
| 3-209 |
Network Security |
| 3-210 |
Computer Software |
| 3-211 |
Internet/E-mail Usage and E-mail Maintenance |
| 3-212 |
Cell Phone Usage |
| 3-213 |
Use of Portable Media Storage Devices |
| 3-214 |
Information System Access Authorization & Password Policy |
| 3-215 |
Computer Network Disaster Recovery |
| 3-216 |
Confidentiality of Client Information
|
| 3-217 |
Data & Network Security - Audit Controls |
P & P: Quality & Performance - Quality & Contract Management - Facilities
To request a copy of the following policies & procedures, email info@heartlandforchildren.org.
| POLICY # |
POLICY NAME |
| 3-600 |
Workplace Health and Safety |
| 3-601 |
Operation and Maintenance of Agency Vehicles |
| 3-602 |
Clean and Safe Working Environment |
| 3-603 |
Disater Preparedness-Emergency Management Plan |
| 3-604 |
Environmental Protection and Conservation |
| 3-605 |
Issuance Maintenace of Facility Keys |
P&P: Quality & Performance - Front End Operations/Independent Living
To request a copy of the following policies & procedures, email info@heartlandforchildren.org.
| POLICY # |
POLICY NAME |
| 5-006 |
Independent Living Transitional Services |
| 5-300 |
Diligent Search |
| 5-301 |
Out of County Services/Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children |
| 5-302 |
Family Team Conferencing |
P & P: Community Relations and Systems Integration
To request a copy of the following policies & procedures, email info@heartlandforchildren.org.
| POLICY # |
POLICY NAME |
| 4-100 |
Fund Development |
| 4-101 |
Public Information and Media |
| 4-102 |
Logo Communications & Guidelines |
| 4-200 |
Screening and Intake |
| 4-201 |
Case Maintenance and Documentation |
| 4-202 |
Management of Resource and Support Services |
| 4-203 |
School Communication |
| 4-300 |
Recruitment of Foster Homes |
| 4-301 |
Initial Licensing of Foster Homes |
| 4-302 |
License Transfer Procedure |
| 4-303 |
Foster Parent Support |
| 4-304 |
Foster Parent Retention |
| 4-305 |
Employees as Foster and Adoptive Parents |
| 4-306 |
Foster Care Referrals |
| 4-307 |
Relicensing of Family Foster Homes |
| 4-308 |
Family Foster Home Waivers |
| 4-309 |
State Institutional Claims for Damages Caused by Shelter or Foster Children |
| 4-310 |
Behavior Support and Management |
P & P: Operations
To request a copy of the following policies & procedures, email info@heartlandforchildren.org.
| POLICY # |
POLICY NAME |
| 5-000 |
Placement of Children |
| 5-002 |
The Prevention and Placement of Child Victims and Aggressors Involved in Child on Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, Seduction or Exploitation |
| 5-003 |
Sharing Records with Children |
| 5-008 |
Child Placement Agreements (formally policy 5-002) |
| 5-009 |
Medicaid Care Coordination & Responsibilities
|
| 5-100 |
Behavior Support and Management |
| 5-101 |
Caregiver Support |
| 5-102 |
Guardian Assistance Program |
| 5-103 |
Initial Licensing |
| 5-104 |
Licensing Transfer Procedure |
| 5-105 |
Relicensing |
| 5-200 |
Adoption Supports and Services |
| 5-201 |
Recruitment and Evaluation of Adoptive Applicants |
Honors & Awards
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
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
Heartland Thanks
This is where Heartland can recognize all the organizations that have donated to, sponsored, or provided grants for Heartland programs.
United Way of Central Florida
Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation
HOBBS Foundation
George Jenkins Foundation
George W. Jenkins Foundation within the GiveWell Community Foundation
Embrace Families Foundation
LOBO Ranch
Echo Ministries
Foster Flock
Florida 111 Project
Caring Hearts Charities
Christmas Angels
Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial
Florida Southern-Kappa Delta’s
Nextran Truck Centers
Website Privacy Policy
Download our Website Privacty Policy here.
Important Forms
Provider Input Form
Compliance Documents
Budget and Compensation
Heartland for Children’s current FY Budget and Executive Compensation Report as required by 409.988 F.S. are listed below:
- Compensation Report
- Budget
Caseload, Turnover, Home Visits, Placement, Recruitment, Services, and Conversions
In accordance with Chapter 409.988 (1)(k) Florida Statutes, 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:
Customer Service Training Resources
- Customer Service Training PowerPoint