Florida ARF Announces Retirement of President & CEO

Tallahassee, FL (January 4, 2021) It is with sadness that the Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (Florida ARF) announces the January 31, 2021, retirement of President & CEO Suzanne Sewell. Over the last 12 years, Sewell worked diligently to ensure the success of the Association, its membership, and Florida’s state set-aside program known as RESPECT of Florida which creates job opportunities for individuals with disabilities. During her tenure, Sewell consistently worked with providers and stakeholders to achieve the Association’s mission of promoting the interests of individuals with disabilities by acting as a public policy change agent and promoting and serving the interests of community human service provider organizations. As one member responded, “You have guided and advocated for agencies and the needs of those in their care so they can live safe and meaningful lives. Your efforts will never be construed as short-lived as you will have left behind a promising future for people with disabilities.” Suzanne has a 45+ year history in human services management and has worked at the Association since July 2003.

According to Suzanne, “I consider it a blessing and privilege to have served as the Florida ARF President & CEO. I leave humbled and in awe of the great work so many providers demonstrate daily. Floridians with disabilities are fortunate to have so many caring, committed providers who work tirelessly to meet their needs. Please know that I leave the Association with nothing but best wishes and appreciation for the Board of Directors, member agencies, RESPECT of Florida partners, staff, and others involved with the Association. In many ways, I would love to continue the work that is being done but it is now time for me to focus on other matters and “pass the baton” to someone else.

Suzanne plans to travel with her husband Jim (post COVID) and to actively volunteer with a faith-based program that serves homeless individuals. As she says, “Once a Social Worker, always a Social Worker.”

Florida ARF Reflects on Accomplishments During National Apprenticeship Week

Tallahassee, FL (November 9, 2020) November 8-14, 2020, is National Apprenticeship Week, a nationwide celebration established by the U.S. Department of Labor to bring together leading business, labor, education, and other critical partners to showcase how apprenticeship programs are closing the skills gap in the American workforce. As part of the celebration, Florida ARF is honored to recognize the first graduating class of Direct Support Professional (DSP) Apprentices. The Association is a sponsoring agency with the Department of Education’s apprenticeship initiative which provided a statewide opportunity for our member agencies to be approved as apprenticeship Employers. The graduating DSP Apprentices have completed intensive instruction and worked a prescribed number of hours to gain on-the-job experience as well as learning needed competencies over the enrollment year. We commend the 34 apprentices that have completed the DSP Apprenticeship and celebrate their success during National Apprenticeship Week. According to President & CEO Suzanne Sewell: “The DSP Apprenticeship experience allows DSPs to enhance their professional skills, obtain a certificate of completion, and realize wage increases based on demonstrated competencies. We are very pleased with the success that has been achieved in spite of the COVID-19 challenges, and thank the six Employers who joined with us for this groundbreaking initiative. We are pleased to celebrate their success.” The Employer agencies who participated in the DSP Apprenticeship initiative are: Arc Broward, MACtown, MacDonald Training Center, Pine Castle, Sunrise Community, and The WOW Center.