Karen Black Yatchum

Karen Black Yatchum has over 20 years of experience in the administration of social services. Karen started her career in 2001 providing Child Protective Services to children and families who were at risk of experiencing abuse, abandonment or neglect. She continued to expand her knowledge and expertise in child welfare and progressively moved into management roles in placement services, operations and ultimately the Director role for the entire child welfare program. In 2014, she was promoted to Chief Operating Officer for a community behavioral health center overseeing children and adult outpatient services, child welfare and family preservation services, homeless rapid rehousing and prevention services along with child abuse prevention services. Karen moved into the Health Care Administrator position with Pinellas County Government in 2018, directing the Pinellas County Health Program, behavioral health services and Age Friendly Services for Pinellas County. Three years later, Karen was promoted to Human Services Director and now oversees more than 70 million dollars in social services including health care, behavioral health care, justice, consumer protection as well as Veterans Services.