The owner of a Northwest Jacksonville daycare center is at an impasse with her landlord after the Department of Children and Families abruptly closed the center due to air conditioning issues.

Four adults were accused of extreme child abuse, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Florida’s child welfare agency has sent a letter to a newspaper telling it to “cease and desist” its reporting on foster families for a story about a nonprofit associated with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ wife.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) launched on Monday a new and improved website to help potential families interested in adoption.

The mother of a 4-year-old girl was arrested Monday and accused of aggravated child neglect after the child accidentally shot herself last week.

The Department of Children and Families has introduced a new dashboard that tracks The Baker Act to help get a better idea of how many people need mental health treatment in Florida.

A Florida bill fighting to save children from hot car deaths is one signature away from becoming law.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that a school crossing guard who had been under investigation was fired after being charged with child abuse.

Six months after 10-month-old Ariya Paige died from being left in a hot vehicle in late July, her family is pushing lawmakers to create legislation that can protect and save other children from the heartbreaking tragedy they endured.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says a child has died at the hospital after drowning in a pond.

A couple whose young children were taken by social workers and police in the middle of the night are suing, arguing they were unconstitutionally removed without a warrant or court order.

A Putnam County woman was arrested twice in the past six days on battery and child abuse charges, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

In a harsh email sent this past May, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office found the staff at the Northeast Florida State Hospital, or NEFSH, reported crimes late and destroyed or altered evidence in criminal investigations.

A Satsuma man was arrested Wednesday and is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

A Bradford County day care had its license suspended Friday after an ongoing investigation by the Starke Police Department, which has been working with the Department of Children and Families.

Local first responders and their families will receive greater access to behavioral health services.

First resonders across Florida will have access to peer-to-peer counseling.

It’s some last-minute hope for renters who are facing eviction.

Time is up for renters relying on a federal eviction moratorium.

The state of Florida has distributed only 2% of the $870 million in federal funds it has received so far to keep renters in their homes during the pandemic by paying their landlords.

Police pulled the body of 4-year-old Gavin Douyon out of a neighborhood retention pond on the Northside of Jacksonville on Monday night. Municipal records, Department of Children and Families reports and previous news reports show a pattern of children drowning in the wastewater structures across Florida.

Harris has been serving as interim secretary at the Agency for Health Care Administration, where she has held a series of posts since 2005. Former Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Secretary Mary Mayhew resigned in October to head the Florida Hospital Association. An attorney, Marstiller once worked as the Agency for Health Care Administration’s chief appellate counsel, according to the governor’s office. Jeb Bush, who appointed her interim secretary of the state Department of Management Services in 2002 and as secretary of the Department Business and Professional Regulation in 2005. In a prepared statement Friday, Marstiller said she looks forward to her new position at the Agency for Health Care Administration.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Detectives are investigating what led to a 3-year-old girl being shot Wednesday night on McMillan Street, just off Kings Road. According to Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Lt. Damone, officers were called to McMillan Street at about 6 p.m. in reference to a shooting. They found the young girl suffering from one gunshot wound to her leg and she was taken to a hospital for treatment. “My heart was sad about the 3-year-old that got shot. We got to get out in the streets and walk the streets and make a difference.”AdThe young girl was said to be in stable condition.

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The Marion County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert Saturday for a 4-month-old boy who was believed to be missing and endangered. Just after 1 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office said the boy was found safe. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the boy was reported missing after he was last seen on Nov. 24. He was believed to be with his mother, Jennifer Rottmann. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) issued a pick-up order for the young boy, but were not able to locate him until Saturday, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The department generally reviews Medicaid beneficiaries’ eligibility each year. The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has indicated it will issue guidance in the coming weeks about how state Medicaid officials should proceed with the annual reviews. Florida’s Medicaid program, which provides services to poor, elderly and disabled beneficiaries, had 4.417 million people enrolled as of Oct. 30, according to Agency for Health Care Administration data. AHCA runs much of the Medicaid program, but the Department of Children and Families handles issues such as eligibility determinations. They also are applying for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, which provides financial assistance to unemployed families, and a federal food-assistance program.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Loved ones of a 6-year-old girl -- who died after Jacksonville police said she was found stabbed in an Arlington home -- have identified her as Atarah. Someone who wrote that Atarah was a bright young girl with a contagious smile and a huge heart, created a GoFundMe account to raise money to help the family with funeral costs, which as of Thursday had raised over $7,000. Originally, police reported the child was stabbed with a kitchen knife by a woman, who was hospitalized after she then stabbed herself. DCF reported that the mothers parental rights were previously terminated and that she was visiting the childs home. A total of six people were in the home at the time, police said.

State education leaders are working to make sure mental healthcare is accessible to students and families this upcoming school year. This week, the states Department of Education and the Department of Children and Families presented a framework for how school districts can develop their mental health plans. Mental health is more important than ever as we battle a pandemic, and that care needs to be accessible to everyone. It also includes $5.5 million for youth mental health first aid. State law required that school districts should submit their approved plans to the education commissioner by Aug. 1.

INTERLACHEN, Fla. - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has announced the arrest of an Interlachen woman on charges of organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, illegally placing a child for adoption and perjury. A couple from Ohio visited Scee to meet a disabled boy and were told the boy was available for adoption. While the boy was in Ohio, investigators said Scee received SNAP benefits and daycare assistance for the child totaling nearly $4,000. According to investigators, Scee ordered the boy back to Florida on Oct. 31, 2017, for her final adoption hearing, and at the hearing, Scee was granted the adoption. Scee received no money from the Ohio couple, investigators said.

INTERLACHEN, Fla. - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has announced the arrest of an Interlachen woman on charges of organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, illegally placing a child for adoption and perjury. A couple from Ohio visited Scee to meet a disabled boy and were told the boy was available for adoption. While the boy was in Ohio, Scee received SNAP benefits and day care assistance for the child totaling nearly $4,000. Scee ordered the boy back to Florida on Oct. 31, 2017, for her final adoption hearing, and at the hearing, Scee was granted the adoption. Scee received no money from the Ohio couple.

The state Department of Children and Families, which administers the Refugee Cash Assistance program examined in the audit, attributed the errors to improperly trained workers. The program includes limits, such as preventing people from receiving cash assistance through other programs while also getting the Refugee Cash Assistance payments. Florida has the largest refugee program in the nation. Extrapolating those findings, auditors estimated the state made $114,504 in erroneous payments during the period. DCF said that during the audit period, the state had hired additional, non-specialized staff to assist with processing the large caseload.

MACCLENNY, Fla. – The family of a woman being treated at a local mental hospital says she’s being abused and needs help. That’s why her family and others protested outside the facility where Ben Aharon has been since July, after spending time at another mental health facility in Central Florida. But the spokesperson did say the hospital and all state mental health treatment facilities take the care of their residents extremely seriously. DCF officials said any allegations of abuse reported to the Florida Abuse Hotline, even at a state facility like Northeast Florida State Hospital, are thoroughly investigated. Ben Aharon's family, though, said it plans to keep fighting.