By Sherri Ackerman, Tampa Tribune, Fla. Oct. 29--TAMPA -- Bob Butterworth recently stood before more than two dozen child welfare leaders and told them the experiment that put private agencies in charge of Florida's social services system is a success.

By The Miami Herald May 11--Last year it seemed impossible for the Department of Children & Families to reduce the growing number of mentally ill inmates waiting months for court-ordered treatment. Today the wait list has vanished.

By Stephen Thompson, Tampa Tribune, Fla. May 10--CLEARWATER -- The Department of Children & Families placed nearly 300 mentally ill jail inmates in state treatment facilities and did it two months earlier than promised, DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth said Wednesday in a Pinellas County courtroom.

By Kevin Begos, Tampa Tribune, Fla. Apr. 5--TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis on Wednesday appointed a special adviser to help address the plight of the mentally ill in Florida's legal and criminal system.

By PHIL DAVIS CLEARWATER, Fla. - The former head of Florida's Department of Children & Families was cleared of contempt charges Wednesday after the agency's new boss outlined a plan to get more than 200 mentally ill inmates out of jail and into treatment facilities.