Amy Simpson Named Chair of FCC Foundation

At Boys Town, being an employee means much more than just performing the daily duties of your job. It’s about living the Boys Town mission and being an advocate for children and families. Nobody understands this better than Amy Simpson, Executive Director of Boys Town South Florida.

Not only does Simpson expertly serve Boys Town South Florida in her role, but she has been on the board of the Florida Coalition for Children (FCC) since 2006. Recently, she was elected for a two-year term as the chair of the FCC Foundation.

“I am honored to serve as the chair of the Foundation,” said Simpson. “I have been involved with the FCC for several years and have held various board leadership positions, treasurer and vice chair/secretary, prior to this. It will be a very busy two-year term!”

While the FCC and its Foundation have the same overall goal, each performs its own function. The FCC focuses on advocacy and lobbying, and the Foundation compiles research to support the FCC, and trains the organizations and individuals that work on its behalf.

Simpson has much to do in her new role. According to the FCC website, the primary research interests of the Foundation include workforce development and performance measurement in the Child Welfare System. Currently, the Foundation is working with the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Casey Foundation, Chapin Hall and the Center for Social Services Research at the University of California-Berkley to do just that.

Each year, the Foundation takes that research and publishes The Florida Fact Book, which puts Florida child welfare performance in context with other states in the region, the nation and the five largest states by population and child welfare population, according to the FCC website.

The Foundation also hosts an annual conference that will be held in August this year. As it states on the FCC website, the primary educational activity of the Foundation is the FCC Annual Conference, which is the premier child welfare professional development event in Florida.

Not only does the FCC stand for a good cause, but it benefits Boys Town at a state and national level. “The FCC provides a forum where Boys Town can identify issues that can or will affect or impact its ability to serve children and families,” said Simpson. “Or, if legislative or policy changes are needed, Boys Town is advocating with the whole system, rather than as a single agency. The FCC also gives Boys Town great information on the activities and initiatives of the Governor's office, the legislature, and the Department of Children and Families, including budget, forecasting, priorities and more, as well as being a great forum for networking with the 20 lead agencies and other providers and leaders in child welfare.”

Simpson is optimistic about what she can accomplish in her new role, saying, “I hope to help the Foundation continue the research and training efforts that have contributed to the success of Community Based Care in Florida.”