Children’s Board Executive Director, Kelley Parris Discusses Safe Sleep and Choosing a Safe Caregiver on the “Morning Blend”


In the Tampa Bay area alone, 32 children have lost their lives due to accidental drowning in the past four years. In an effort to eradicate tragedies like these from happening, the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and community partners joined together as a Mobile Water Safety team that will bring free swim lessons to…
By: Erik Waxler ABC Action News TAMPA, Fla. — Baby Bellamy is ready for Halloween. She’s 11 months old, and Melissa Garitta said she is loving every bit of being a first-time mom. “Just watching those milestones. Seeing her grow from that first smile to those giggles, eating for the first time solid food to now…
ABC Action News | WFTS Tampa Bay HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — It’s an issue that happens more than some may think—students facing homelessness while trying to balance school. However, a new prevention program aims to help be the solution to the problem. Odalis Castellano has a full house, with three children in Hillsborough County Schools….
Philip Morgann – Wednesday, May 22, 2024 May is National Water Safety Month, but it’s important for parents to keep this in mind every day of every month: it can take less than a minute for a child to drown. “I don’t think people really realize that drowning actually is silent,’’ says Sharon Finotti, director…
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Community Partners,
January provided valuable opportunities to engage with stakeholders and community members and highlight our funded programs. Paula Scott and I traveled to Tallahassee to collaborate with our statewide alliance, meet with legislators, and participate in Hillsborough Day. We advocated on behalf of children and families in our County and proudly shared materials regarding our collective impact.
Locally, the CBHC team continued outreach efforts, including participation in the Martin Luther King Day parade which reflected the strong sense of community we are proud to support.
At the January board meeting, Maria Negron presented key demographic and outcome data from the 2025 contract year. Children’s Board–funded programs served more than 56,000 participants, with an aggregate service reach exceeding 166,000, which includes program and conference center guests. Overall, 78% of measured outcomes met or exceeded benchmark targets, and 12 new programs were implemented for a total of 92.
Highlights from 2025 include:
· Healthy and Safe: 96% of families experienced safer housing
· Developmentally on Track: 90% of children demonstrated improved social-emotional competence
· Ready to Learn and Succeed: 94% of children and youth reported increased educational aspirations
· Family Support: 95% of parents and caregivers were involved in their child’s development, education, and school.
We look forward to sharing full details in our 2025 annual report. I extend my sincere appreciation to our Program, Fiscal, and Research teams for their partnership with funded agencies, as well as to our funded partners whose dedication to high-quality, engaging, and compassionate services makes these outcomes possible.
Rebecca
