DCF ends West Palm Beach foster care contract

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - State child welfare officials have abruptly ended their contract with a nonprofit agency that handles foster care in West Palm Beach.

The Department of Children and Families said Wednesday's decision comes after months of reviewing Child and Family Connections' performance, leadership changes and staff turnover. In June, state officials required the nonprofit to begin a corrective action plan to address poor performance and other serious concerns.

DCF Secretary David Wilkins said his agency had been working with Child and Family Connections for several months to address child safety issues and said the improvement has not come quickly enough.

ChildNet, a Broward County foster care agency, will take over the contract. ChildNet has run foster care in Broward since 2003.