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The Department of Children and Families was created by section 20.19, Florida Statutes, in the 1996 legislative session. The head of the department is the Secretary who is appointed by the Governor. The mission of the department is to work inpartnership with local communities to help people become self-sufficient and live in stable families and communities. The purposes of the department are to deliver, or provide for the delivery of, all family services offered by the state through the department to its citizens. The Florida Crippled Children's Commission was created in 1929 with the enactment of Chapter 13620, Florida Statutes 391. This legislation outlined the duties of the agency, limited its services to the medically indigent, provided for funding and defined the term "crippled children" as "Any person of normal mentality under the age of 21 years whose physical functions or movements are impaired by accident, disease, or congenital deformity".
The agency was responsible for locating these children, diagnosis, treatment and follow up care. The commission was a tax-supported agency. Private agencies and individuals provided some special services. Funds for the programs came from biennial appropriations of the State Legislature and federal funds available under the Social Security Act, administered by the Children's Bureau. In addition, refunds from insurance coverage carried by parents were accepted for deposit by the State Treasurer and were budgeted with other funds.
The five members of the Commission were appointed by the Governor for terms of four years each and served without pay. The purpose of the Commission was to formulate policies, approve financial expenditures, review program data, and delegate administrative authority to the medical director. The medical director was assisted by specialists in nursing, pediatrics and social services and supervised a group of district surgeons. The surgeons exercised administrative and medical supervision within their districts.
Originally, the state was divided into three districts in North, Central and South Florida. By 1962 there were ten districts located in St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Pensacola, Miami, West Palm Beach, Gainesville, Lakeland, Orlando, Sarasota and Tallahassee. With Executive Reorganization in 1969 (Ch. 69-106), the Commission was placed under the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. The title was changed to the Bureau of Crippled Children. By 1975 the duties of the Commission as prescribed by Florida Statute 391 were placed under the Division of Children's Medical Services and finally in 1996 under the Department of Children and Families.
Summary:
This series contains records of annual expenses incurred by the Florida Crippled Children's Commission for the years 1930 to 1938 and 1960 to 1963. The series consists of ledger records that document expenditures on medical supplies, medical equipment, travel expenses and salaries. The ledgers also include documentation of expenditures by early commission members Dr. Frank L. Fort, Dr. Prescott Le Breton, Dr. Arthur H. Weiland and Judge Walter S. Criswell.
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Fort, Frank L., Dr. Le Breton, Prescott, Dr. Weiland, Arthur H., Dr. Criswell, Walter S., Judge
Child welfare Florida Youth Florida Medical care Florida Physicians Florida Medical supplies Children with disabilities. Physically handicapped children
Added Entries
Florida. Dept. of Health and Rehabilitative Services.
Florida. Dept. of Children and Families
for detailed listing.