Children's Home Society of Florida's (CHS) South Coastal Division is under new leadership with the recent selection of Stephen F. Bardy as Executive Director. Bardy has spent the past 12 years at CHS in fundraising, marketing, and program development and oversight.

Prior to joining CHS, Bardy held positions with the Departments of Juvenile Justice and Health & Rehabilitative Services with responsibilities for grant writing, contract management, training, and health education development. He is a certified peer reviewer for the Council on Accreditation (COA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and has provided consulting services in the areas of health and human services, children and families and mental health substance abuse for many years.

The 43-year-old earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Florida and a Masters of Public Administration degree from Florida Atlantic University. He is active in a number of professional and community organizations. In accepting the position, Bardy stated, "One of my life goals has been to serve as an executive director of a non-profit organization, and no other organization is closer to my heart than CHS.

Children's Home Society of Florida (CHS)-whose mission is Embracing Children.Inspiring Lives-is the oldest and largest statewide provider of services to children and families. Its South Coastal Division is one of 14 statewide divisions featuring programs including adoptions, foster care, child abuse prevention, emergency shelter, parent education and counseling. One of CHS' South Coastal Division's major events, the Gold Coast Guild " For the Love of Children" 5K Run/Walk, is a premier fundraiser held each February in Jupiter's Carlin Park.

For more information about CHS, please call 561-868-4300.