Safe Children Coalition Announces Organizational Promotions

April 12, 2023 – Sarasota

Each year, child welfare organization Safe Children Coalition (SCC) works to ensure the care and safety of thousands of children in Florida’s Circuit 12 (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties) who are in crisis. By providing needed programs and services – such as adoption and foster care, youth prevention and diversion services, a Youth Shelter for displaced teens who are on their own, and more – the organization serves as a much-needed safety net for thousands of children and families throughout the region.

In recent years – particularly given challenges due to the pandemic, the resulting economic fallout, and Hurricane Ian – the number of children coming into care has grown significantly. SCC has responded to the increased need by adding several case managers, increasing case manager salaries, and through a program department reorganization, recently promoting several team members to leadership roles  that has allowed them to reduce caseloads and better divide the workload.

Robin Jensen, who has dedicated her career to protecting children, was hired by SCC six months ago as a vice president of child welfare case management; she has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Stacey Schaeffer has 19 years’ experience in the field of mental health and child welfare prevention services and has worked with SCC since 2011; she was promoted from senior director of prevention and diversion services to vice president of prevention and diversion services. Tonia Hutchinson has been helping children and families for her entire career and has worked at SCC since 1997 – earning the milestone award “Champion for Children” in 2022; she was promoted from program director of case management to vice president, case management. Jill Steiner has been working in child welfare for 26 years and at SCC since 2012; she was promoted from senior director of SCC’s out of home care to vice president, out of home care. 

“With more than 300 employees, the strategic division of labor is imperative to ensure we are providing the best possible service to children in our care,” said SCC president and CEO Brena Slater. “Last year, we served nearly 9,300 children through prevention and protective services; this year, we are on pace to serve 12,000. Robin, Stacey, Tonia, and Jill have devoted their entire careers to protecting children and their advancement will significantly benefit the families in Circuit 12 as well as strengthen our organization.”

For more information, visit sccfl.org.