David Wilkins, Gov. Rick Scott's longest serving agency head, resigned as secretary of Floridas Department of Children and Families Thursday. Scott quickly named Esther Jacobo as interim secretary.
In recent weeks, Wilkins has been under fire for DCFs handling of a number of cases including those where DCF failed to prevent the deaths of four children.
The secretary had been serving double-duty for the governor since March 2012, when Scott appointed him as his chief operating officer for government operations. I have asked David to serve in a chief operating officer role for the state, taking an enterprise-wide approach to improving agency productivity and reducing government bureaucracy, Scott said in announcing Wilkins' dual role.
David is uniquely qualified for this new role and I have asked him to replicate many of the operations, improvements and cost-cutting initiatives he has implemented as secretary of DCF. While Wilkins will serve as the lead, I have also asked all agencies and agency heads to actively participate in this state productivity and efficiency initiative.
Wilkins, who had been a member of Scotts transition team, came to the office in 2011 with extensive experience in the private sector, including almost three decades with Accenture. Before leaving Accenture in 2010, he had been in charge of global sales for that companys health and public service business unit. Wilkins had been active in charities, serving on the boards of both the United Way and the Florida Baptist Children's Homes and helping launch an international child care charity.
On Thursday, Scotts team noted that Wilkins was looking to return to the private sector and continue his foundations work. Scott had kind words for him.
David did a great job in leading the states top child protection agency and his service is deeply appreciated, he said in a statement. His letter made no mention of Wilkins' service as COO for government operations, or how much splitting his attention between the two jobs might have affected his DCF secretary.
In sharp contrast to Wilkins' years in the private sector, Jacobos experience has mainly been in government in South Florida, which was home to three of the four children under the age of 5 who died in recent weeks, despite DCF's knowledge of their dangerous situations.
Jacobo served as regional managing director for the department covering Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Her background also includes being an assistant state attorney in Miami-Dade and being DCFs deputy director of Childrens Legal Services (CLS) and serving in the state attorneys office as division chief of the Domestic Crimes Unit.
I have no doubt that Esther will increase accountability in the Department and enhance child protective services in order to protect the most vulnerable among us, Scott said on Thursday.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at 904-521-3722. Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423.
