Niceville, FL (January 23, 2023)…The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) announced that Debra “Debi” Riley-Broadnax join their team as the non-profit’s new CARES Program Manager.

The position is brand-new to the non-profit and will create, manage and sustain the Community, Awareness, Resources and Support (CARES) Program.

ECCAC established the CARES program due to the need to elevate ECCAC’s community abuse prevention education in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

The non-profit’s successful Prevention and Safety Matters programs, already in the Okaloosa County Schools and Walton County Schools, will also be overseen by the CARES Program Manager.

Riley-Broadnax is a native of Fort Walton Beach and a product of the Okaloosa County Schools.

She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Troy University, and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of West Florida. Riley-Broadnax has extensive experience working with children in need and non-profits.

She began her career working at the Fort Walton Beach Public Housing Authority under the umbrella of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); worked in behavioral health at Bridgeway Center; was the Director of Healthy Start with the Okaloosa County Health Department; and was the Executive Director of Okaloosa County Head Start.

She worked aggressively speaking for the voiceless in the Greater Sylvania Heights area, a small community in Fort Walton Beach just North of Lovejoy Road with about 1,000 residents. 

Riley-Broadnax has worked diligently in the local community advocating for families with educational, social, economic, health and welfare, and affordable housing issues.

ECCAC’s newest employee is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers, and was one of the founding members of the Emerald Coast Local Black Social Workers Chapter.

Riley-Broadnax three children, and five grandchildren.

“We are thrilled to welcome Debi to our team,” Said ECCAC’s Chief Executive Officer, Solange Arnett, “She has a strong proven track record of community engagement and we are excited for where her expertise can take CARES.”

ECCAC’s two Centers in Niceville and DeFuniak Springs house representatives from the Florida Department of Children and Families, Child Protection Team, State Attorney’s Office, local law enforcement, licensed mental health counselors, and ECCAC’s staff and volunteers. In the past 23+ years, ECCAC has provided more than 170,000 services at no cost to over 15,000 children who have been abused, neglected or assaulted.

For further information about the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, visit www.eccac.org or call 850-892-0280. If abuse is suspected, call the anonymous Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE.

Woman smiling at camera
Debi Riley-Broadnax will serve abused and neglected children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties as the CARES Program Manager for the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC). Her billet focuses on abuse prevention in the two county area.

“[Riley-Broadnax] has a strong proven track record of community engagement and we are excited for where her expertise can take CARES.”
Woman smiling
Solange Arnett
Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center

Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center Logo
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center works with abused and neglected children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.


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