Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) has named Lauren Fuentes its new regional executive director serving Broward and Palm Beach counties as well as the Suncoast, Fort Myers area. In her new role, Fuentes will lead operations and business development, focusing on CHS’ core solutions in early childhood, behavioral health, child-welfare and community solutions including Community Partnership Schools.

CHS is the driver of child well-being in Florida – working to keep more families safe, strong and together. Throughout the region, CHS provides early childhood and in-home solutions that stabilize and strengthen families, counseling including CINS/FINS and telehealth, adoptions services including post-adoption support, mentoring and teen outreach, family visitation, Palm Beach’s only shelter serving homeless and runaway youth – Safe Harbor Emergency Shelter and independent living and life skills for youth that have aged-out of the foster care system.

Fuentes previously served as the organization’s director of program operations for Palm Beach County. She has more than two decades of experience working in child welfare including working on the frontline as well as rising to leadership positions. Prior to Children’s Home Society of Florida, Fuentes served the School District of Indian River County as a social worker and the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Fuentes holds her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island and a Masters in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University.