Today, Governor Ron DeSantis issued the following statement upon learning of the findings of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) report regarding the tragic case of Jordan Belliveau, Jr.
Governor Ron DeSantis said, “The death of Jordan Belliveau is a tragedy. I appreciate Secretary Poppell for taking swift action to address the findings of the report in his first week on the job. Secretary Poppell has my full support to immediately conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Pinellas County child welfare system. Those responsible will be held accountable.”
DCF Secretary Chad Poppell said, “Reviewing the events that led up to Jordan’s death is incredibly saddening. Despite multiple opportunities, no one changed his circumstances. DCF policies were not followed, communication throughout the process was poor, and several clear warning signs were missed. There were even specific concerns raised that were not acted upon. This report should be a call to action for the entire child welfare system, and I intend to treat it as one.”
State Rep. Chris Latvala of Pinellas County said, “Jordan’s story is particularly devastating and I appreciate Governor DeSantis’ leadership to address the breakdowns that led to his death. We must all work together and do anything we can to prevent another tragedy like this from happening.”
For additional information on the report, please contact the DCF communications office (850) 717-4450.
