Veterans Asked To Step In As Florida Child Protective Investigators

TAMPA, FL — As the state faces a shortage of child protective investigators to handle the mounting caseload of children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis is appealing to military veterans to step in.

The state has scheduled the first in a series of recruitment exercises to encourage military veterans to take jobs as child protective investigators to relieve the shortage being experienced across Florida by the Department of Children and Families.

The first recruitment event will take place Thursday, July 14 at DCF headquarters, 2415 N Monroe St., Suite 400, Tallahassee, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Other recruitment events are scheduled for July 28 at the Pensacola Florida Career Source followed by two events in Okaloosa, another in Tallahassee and others yet to be scheduled in central and south Florida.

The program is also open to military spouses and former police officers.

DCF has some 12,000 child protective investigators across the state, but DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris admitted that it's a high-stress job with a high burnout rate, and it's been a challenge for the DCF to retain investigators.

“We know that working in this field can be a rewarding-yet-demanding career path,” said Harris during the launch of the Continue the Mission initiative June 22 at Eglin Air Force Base in Pensacola. “By recruiting candidates and mentors who have already succeeded in high-stress positions, we can build resiliency within our existing workforce, increase job retention and enhance the caliber of services provided to the children and families of Florida.”

"We brought in the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Children and Families to join together because Florida is the No. 1 destination for veterans. So, we got to thinking, why don't we ask our great veterans to sign up to continue their service?" Casey DeSantis said, sharing the announcement of the launch with Harris.

“Our veterans, military spouses and former law enforcement officers are a group of men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving our country and keeping our communities safe,” said DeSantis.

She said it's a win-win for both veterans and children.

“I am excited there is a new pathway for these heroes to ‘Continue the Mission’ through rewarding career and mentorship opportunities protecting Florida’s children," she said. "We are not only helping children across the state, but also helping veterans and retired law enforcement with their mental and emotional well-being, who may feel as though they’ve lost their purpose once they’ve left active duty or have retired.”

That lack of a sense of purpose is partly responsible for the high rate of depression among veterans, said Army Special Forces veteran Cliff Richardson.

“It’s difficult for so many veterans to find a place where they fit,” he said. “Programs like this are so important because they serve two things. One, they protect what I consider our most valuable asset in the state, which is our children and families. When a child and family are exploited, there’s an opportunity cost associated with that. You potentially lose the next general, the next first lady, the next secretary, and you don’t get those back. But by providing veterans the opportunity to use their skills and reducing the barrier that they have to entry into a program like this, you create a win-win situation.”

Together, the DCF and FDVA with other state partners, local veterans’ organizations and community groups, will actively recruit veterans, military spouses and former law enforcement officers. They will also identify candidates to serve as mentors for children in need and case managers.

“'Continue the Mission' is an extraordinary opportunity for our former military members and their spouses to serve with pride again,” said Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James S. “Hammer” Hartsell, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

“Serving our most vulnerable neighbors to assist them finding a pathway to prosperity is a noble undertaking. Making a difference in the lives of children and families is not only professionally and personally rewarding, but it’s the right thing to do," Hartsell said. "We thank First Lady Casey DeSantis and the Department of Children and Families for recognizing our veterans and their spouses as ideal candidates for serving our state’s children and families.”

For information on the initiative, click here.

For information on applying to become a child protective investigator, click here.