Florida Department of Children and Families Corporate Office & Headquarters

I am 6 months pregnant work full time and depend on stamps to eat because after bills i have no extra money. I did my recertification in June and returned my documents on june my recertification wasnt due until July so i did my part in advanced. In July i got a letter stating my benefits would remain the same and my next recertification is due December 31st 2012. So when August 8 2012 came I went grocery shopping to get told I had 0.00 on my ebt card I. Immediately begin vomitting because I was already so hungry. I been calling dcf from 8am to 5pm as much as I can during my work hours all week long and got on line to wait then was just hung up on. Im spending my light bill what I really can't replace to buy groceries but im starving and can't depend on DCF whom feeds the hungry to help my unborn and I. DISGUSTED!

I am absolutely outraged & disgusted w this system! I am a single mother of three children. I have returned to school to better my life & my children's lives. I recently reported a change of income. My unemployment benefits were exhausted. After submitting the change they only decreased my Medically Needy share of cost by $100 to $493 $ there was no increase to my food stamps. I am personally aware of a couple that receive $1400 in SSI ( one parents children's father passed 2 years ago) & the husband works, & receives $ from a trust & hand-outs from his well-off father, & they both drive NEW cars (2012 model & 2006 model), own a boat, flat screen T.V.'s, very expensive High END furniture throughout the house, & pay a mortgage of $1,000.00 in a very EXPENSIVE area of town. I would like to know who is responsible for doing the mathematical equations that decides who is eligible for what & how much is dispersed to individual families??!!! I am grateful for my assistance but I am wondering how many wealthy people with many assets are receiving benefits that should truly NOT BE. This makes it more difficult for families that are in dire need. Who checks things @ this office & whi is doing the math? Also, why is it NOONE seems to be able to get thru to the number provided. I have called continuously for 2 & 1/2 weeks w no success @ getting thru!!!!

DCF needs to get it together. 1st Starting w/ the system in which they send paperwork...for example; they sent me a letter last month saying that I was approved for medicaid for the month of October 2010 (really?) I have also been sent letters saying that I need an interview like the next day and do not receive the letters for a few days after the fact. I send all my info as requested neatly and efficiently organized w/ a cover letter and fax it to them and either they say they do not receive all the faxes (even though I have a confirmation that says it went through just fine) or when they get it it goes in the wrong file, or the info they input is completely wrong (recently this caused my medicaid for my children to be terminated). I still have not received my food stamps (for JULY) and they are passed the supposed "10 day authorization/filing time" I am not working, my husband is out of work and recovering from emergency back surgery, and we have no income coming in....what the in the world do they do over there. Every time I call and finally get a hold of someone, each person has a different explanation or excuse as to why things are not done accordingly, sometimes I barely get any info at all wrong or not. As far as calling, you have to start right at 8am and as soon as you get that annoying "all agents are busy please try your call again later, goodbye" crap, hang up and dial again, and keep doing it till you get a hold of someone. I sometimes use 2 phones at once. The supervisors either need to step up their game and their employees games, fire people, or hire some more. I lost my job for reasons out of my control, yet incompetence at DCF seems to go w/ correction, how is that fair (yeah I know , life isn't fair , but come on lets be realistic here for a sec). I honestly cannot wait till things improve for my family and we do not need to rely on food stamps or medicaid anymore. There is only one person in that entire place that I can say is trying very hard to do her job (she was the first one to catch the errors on my file and fix them so that my family could acquire their medicaid again, she couldn't do much about my foodstamps because that is in the supervisors hands (which he/she is obviously not doing his/her job) Laquanda at DCF was a gem and should be given a raise...maybe she should be the one to train everyone else so things can actually get done around there. Laqaunda if you happen to read this, keep up the good work honey, and I will send a letter of recommendation to your supervisor. I will be contacting my mayor, a higher up contact that I think I may be able to reach in DCF, Governor Rick Scott, as well as the powers that be that govern DCF. I am through waiting, I have to do something for my family. The little bit of money we had saved for rent is now paying for food, and I am now unable to pay my rent for August, I am soooooooooooooo mad!!!! I will post when I receive information pertaining to the higher up contacts so I can help out anyone who needs it.

Worst ever. I have two children, and we rely on this for our food. Without it we will starve. I have called them every single day from the minute they open, to the minute they close. No one ever answers, and we are never placed on hold we are just told to call back. I have never gotten a hold of a human. I was suppose to have a phone interview with someone, JILL ROWLEY and she NEVER answered the phone between the hours of 3-5, and her voice mail box is STILL full. I call every day, and by the end of this month we will have no money for food, or medicaid for my children. This is a very serious problem. If anyone knows where I can complain, please inform me. I am scared for my children because of the horrible job these people are doing.

This current system of operations within DCF is not working! What is the problem with getting the Department of Children and Families to comply with the standards and process's that those being served must abide by? Every time Im up for review and log in to complete it, the link will not allow me to complete the review. I cannot get through to speak to a human being ever and when I do they want to transfer me to their tech support. Once transfered from the human being I've been trying to get to for months in this department, I am terrified at the notion of taking this person off the line to speak with tech support; who by the way, has yet to resolve this glitch with the online system. To make matters worse I call and call to order this review through the mail and it never comes. So every 6 months I have to reapply again and let the whole dysfunctional process start over again. How is it that we live in one of the wealthiest county's and this is a problem? Im quite sure there are no politicians in local government who have had an experience of this type, otherwise they would do more to make the system function better. As it is currently set up, it feels like a punishment just to be in need of assistance, as if that wasn't bad enough. This system is highly flawed and needs to be addressed immediately. The disproportion amount of wealth in this area, no doubt, creates other political priorities and from what I can tell getting the operations of DCF to be more functional and effective does not seem to be important at all to those running it and who are in charge. If we truly live in a democracy and this nations is so worthy of the praise demanded by its leaders, then treat everyone diplomatically. Help those who you claim you will help and do it fairly, then expedite that process effectively, or change your link to : "MYFLORIDA/UNACCESSABLE", because from my own personal experiences with this department, use of the word "access" in reference here is just insulting. 0 stars (I put one because I have obviously been denied expressing my true feeling by the lack of this site providing "0 stars" as an option)

There really should be something done about the DCF. With all the complaints and mishaps they've had, I don't blame DCF. I blame the people we've elected to oversee our welfare as country of people who give a percent of our own hard work, sweat and blood to this country in return for a much better service than DCF has been providing it's main funders. I've been calling there 888 numbers for over a month now, 5 times I was lucky enough to be put on hold just to wait 45 minutes to be hung up on. With this system in place it increases tension, hostility and just plane out ruins your day! So my review of the DCF service is -5 stars! There should be no way this is acceptable service. This are the people who are the ones suppose to be protecting our children and our health and yet they don even have a working phone number. Florida and our country should be ashamed.

My 1 year old sons doctor is saying he doesn't haven't Medicaid anymore which is impossible because we just renewed everything....I've been trying since yesterday to call but keep getting told all operators are busy. This is all the time and you guys need to get your shit together. Hire more people since you guys know a lot of people need your service. I am extremely aggravated

medicaid has recently screwed my papaer work up to the point where i am deadlocked without coverage for my kids. they first did not enroll my new born in medicaid. only gave me prenatal coverage for the last week of my pregnancy. never enrolled me in family planning after my last child AND I CANT AFFORD BIRTH CONTROLL. GO FIGURE I GOT PREGNANT AGAIN. THEY KEEP SAYING I AM MAKING OVER 3000 A MONTH. YEA FAT CHANCE I WISH. SO NOW I HAVE A 3 WEEK OLD WITH FULL COVERAGE. A ONE YEAR OLD WHO IS ELIGIABLE FOR FLORIDAKIDCARE AND A 3 YEAR OLD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WHO HAS NEITHER AND CANT GET FLORIDA KIDCARE UNTIL MEDICAID DESIDES TO FINISH THEIR PAPERWORK. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE I STARTED BATTLING WITH THEM ABOUT HOW MUCH I MAKE AND ACCORDING TO THE POSTED ELIGABILITY GUIDES I SHOULD QUALIFY FOR EVERYTHING. i DONT WANT EVERYTHING. JUST FOR MY KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE DAMN DOCTOR. THESE PEOPLE NEED TO GET OFF THEIR ASS OR GET NEW JOBS. HOW CAN YOU MAKE ONE CHILD ELIGABLE, ONE NOT AND ONE HALF ELIGABLE? THEY ALL COME FROM THE SAME HOUSEHOLD. THIS IS SO STUPID AND FRUSTRATING I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO AND I SIT AND CRY FOR HOURS BECUASE OF ALL THE SCREWED UP CRAP. AND OF COURSE I CAN NOT GET THROUGH TO THE CALL CENTER. THE ONE TIME I DID HE FLAT OUT SAID HE COULDNT HELP ME. THE MEDICAID LIASON NEVER CALLS ME BACK...........WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH 2 BABIES AND A SPECIAL NEEDS TODDLER WITH NO HEALTH COVERAGE?

If I could give 0 stars, I would. I can count the number of things they'e done right - none. Wrong? It's a huge list. From day 1 nothing they did was right. They entered info from my app incorrectly, dang near everything but names & addresses. I have found that the easiest way to make them do their job is to create a letter, convert it to a pdf (there are tons of sites that do it online), take that pdf & use an online free fax service to send the 1-page fax over. My next step is contacting the Governor's office with the list of everything they've screwed up. The Governor's office is ultimately responsible for this "new stream-lined approach for better service", and needs to know that it's failing in an EPIC manner!

i went to the key west offilce to see if i was eligible for any assistance. using their computer, which only has access to the dept of children and families web site, i was accused of looking to comfortable, and surfing the internet. i was kicked out of the office before i could find any information. i think the people that work in that office need some additional training as to what the purpose of the office is intended for. i read the mission statement for the fla dept of children and familes, and the people that work in that office didn't reflect that at all.

I am disgusted with DCF's system. My daughter had an appointment because she has been shaking, and the doctors office called me to inform me she did not have insurance. It states on the MyAccess website that she has insurance but Medicaid and Medicaid Options tell me that she doesnt. She is turning 1 this weekend and she also needs her shots, and I cannot afford to pay for her visits. I am not working, and I did receive my foodstamps, but my babys health is extremely important as well. If I did not take my daughter to the doctors when she is sick or for her shots it would be considered negilgence..so what is it considered when DCF does not do their job? I was able to get through on Thursday for them to tell me someone had made a mistake and it would be corrected within 24 hours, and surprise surprise...same problem. She still has no insurance. I tried calling Friday and today and have had no luck trying to get through to customer service. I called the number on this website, and they told me she does have insurance, and I told them she did not and everyone I have called, and they told me they are only a call center and they can only give me numbers to call. All of the numbers they gave me are the same ones I have called. This is ridiculous!!! I swear if something happens to my daughter because of their imcompetence, they will pay. Something needs to be done about this system, because many people that are in need are not getting the services they are entitled to. My heart goes out to everyone that can't get through to customer service and that is going through a hard time. There has to be something we can do....maybe we should get together and start doing a petition...any ideas? We should not just lay back and wait and wait for them to get up off their asses and start doing their job...if anyone is interested in trying to get together and not take their shit sitting down, feel free to email me...our voices must be heard!! My email is mariannielind@yahoo.com.

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This system is completely RIDICULOUS!!! I have a 3 week old son and I tried to take him to see his doctor when he was a week old and they told me his medicaid has not been activated...not knowing this DCF was suppose to activate my baby's medicaid when he was born, I have tried that same number (1-866-762-2237) over and over and all I get is " Due to high call volume, all of our agents are currently busy, please try your call at a later time. goodbye." Like really, its been 2 more weeks and my child still has not seen a doctor nor have I gotten through to anybody, where is the justice nowadays? Arent children especially babies suppose to come before anything??? DCF is really making life for the ones who are struggling tougher!

Absolutely disgusting treatment from Children and Families they should be ashamed. How does anyone get to talk to anyone there, the phone numbers they provide are a waste of time, they are always busy during calling hours if you send an email you get no response, if you fax anything to the numbers provided you get nothing... Someone please tell me how do you get any answers.... Shame on them for treating people this way.

I have called the dcf number everyday for the last 3 weeks in a row. The 1-866-762-2237. I know there hours are 8-5. So I try from 7:30am in the morning until 5:01pm This is when they close. I can't leave a message or email. We have to pay taxes on time, but dcf can get away with everything and anything. Just please fix your system DCF!

Don't feel bad, they have a very long history of dumping foster children in homes where they are abused daily dating back to their HRS days, Floridians need to rise up and let them know their track record shows that their way of doing things leads to scarred children and families.

Calling DCF EVERYDAY for the past 2 weeks.... sent all the papers and still waiting. I have a 1 week old baby and my husband has been laid off.. is this America??? we work so hard the one time we need your help this is what we get. You are a bunch of incompetent people and will pray day and night that you all go through what we are going through... We made us run around for 10 days requesting all kinds of paper work, and we got you everything... now no one responds. I wish you all go without food for few days so that you feel what I am going through.

Well I dont even know if writting anything here will get me anywhere with DCF.Ive applied for medicaid so i can get the treatment i so desperately need for multiple sclerosis. This is a very debilitating condition and the treatments are very expensive. The people in the medicaid office really seems like they dont know whats going on there. I called for the interview they said i wasnt suppose to cxall there, ydt that the number on the letter. can some one please have some concern to address this problem. I really really need medicaid.

This infmroatoin is off the hizool!

Ya learn something new erveyday. It's true I guess!