UPDATE November 4: Our partner, the Tampa Bay Times, reports that the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department has launched an investigation into Eckerd Connects. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says children in Eckerd's care slept in unlicensed offices in "disgusting and deplorable" conditions. He also says several children have been injured or found themselves in other dangerous situations while in their care.

ORIGINAL STORY: 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Eckerd Connects will no longer provide child welfare services in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties once its current contracts end.

According to our partners at the Tampa Bay Times, Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris decided not to renew the state's $80 million contract with the Clearwater nonprofit, which expires at the end of the year. 

However, officials with Eckerd claim the company lacks the financial resources from the state government to adequately serve the thousands of children in need across the three counties.

“We have repeatedly expressed concerns to state officials and legislators about the mismatch between inadequate funding levels and the growing needs in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area." V. Raymond Ferrara, the board chair of Eckerd Connects, said. "We regret that it has come to this, but we simply cannot continue under the current circumstances.” 

According to Harris, the nonprofit had a history of placing children in unlicensed settings and had "jeopardized the health safety and welfare of dependent children" under the care of Eckerd Connects. 

Tampa Bay Times reported that the secretary’s decision was backed by Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, who said they’ve long been frustrated by the performance of Eckerd Connects. The nonprofit has faced criticism for a handful of high-profile deaths of children under its watch and struggled to find long-term placements for teenagers in care. In some cases, children ended up sleeping on air mattresses in offices.

However, officials with Eckerd Connects maintain that they have not received more funding for the 40% increase of children being removed from their homes by law enforcement within the three counties they serve. 

Eckerd Connects released a statement Monday saying its board of directors had already decided to discontinue providing child welfare and foster care services in Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough counties on Oct. 26, before the state ended their contract, but had not yet sent a letter informing the state of their decision. 

Simpson said the agency’s performance did not measure up when compared to other lead foster agencies across the state, however, the nonprofit group plans to work with the Florida Department of Children and Families to help a new social services provider take over the role.