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


Bob Simon | Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Each year in the United States, 3,400 babies die suddenly while sleeping, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. The cause can be suffocation from a pillow or blankets, co-sleeping with a parent or another adult caregiver or getting wedged between a mattress and the side of a crib….
In a Special Board meeting on Friday, April 12, 2013, the Governing Board of the Children’s Board selected the following five (5) finalists for consideration as the next Executive Director: Felicia DeHaney CEO, National Black Child Development Institute Washington, DC Carl Harness Assistant County Administrator, Pinellas County Clearwater, FL Melody (Mel) Jurado President, The Profitable…
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…
The Kiwanis Club of Tampa has once again expanded its StoryWalk Project, now adding the page-by-page sign installation at Carrollwood Village Park By MIKE CAMUNAS, Tampa Beacon CARROLLWOOD — The park is the perfect place to relax and read a book. Now, visitors to Carrollwood Village Park don’t even need to bring one if they…
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
