Clearwater foster care nonprofit lays off 176 additional employees

Just a few months after the state of Florida decided not to renew its contract, Eckerd Connects, which provides child and foster care services, is closing its Tampa facility and laying off 176 employees.

The layoffs will be effective June 30, according to a letter sent to the state and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. The letter was sent to meet federally mandated Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification (WARN) Act requirements.

The shuttering of Eckerd’s Tampa facility is the Clearwater nonprofit's latest closure after the Florida Department of Children and Families said it would not extend its agreement with Eckerd, in part, due to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office announcement in November that it was investigating the organization.