Jody Grutza

Jody is the CEO of the GPS Consulting Group. With Jody at the helm, GPS is leading strategic growth for non-profits BAYS and AMIkids as they diversify their unique business model and expand juvenile justice and child welfare services in Florida and beyond.

Jody is also a subject matter expert consultant for the Child Welfare Capacity Building Center for States.  She was deployed to Arizona to provide support for the Administration for Children’s Services partnerships with foster families and residential group care.  In addition, she provides support to Hawaii and Washington state through communications and stakeholder engagement related to Family First Prevention Services Act implementation. Jody has also supported projects in Florida and Oklahoma related to communications and stakeholder engagement with the federal CFSR through the Center. Jody continues to support strategic communications efforts related to the roll out of the Florida Academy for Child Protection and Family Resiliency as well.

Jody recently closed out projects in Louisiana supporting communications for FFPSA and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families in the development and expansion of their service array provided for children and families in child welfare.

Jody provided support for the Oregon Department of Human Services in communications and stakeholder engagement related to their Vision for Transformation in child welfare.

Jody also led the GPS team in the UMA EAGLE Thrive initiative, supporting a Steering Committee of national Methodist providers in children’s services and aging adults as they update their accreditation manual.

Jody partnered with Kali Scolnick to lead strategic planning for the Virginia Department of Social Services along with the writing of their federal reports to include the Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP) and Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR).  GPS has more recently been contracted to support Virginia’s kinship reform efforts.

Prior to founding the GPS Consulting Group, Jody spearheaded the administration, strategic planning, and execution of a county-wide Community-Based Care contract responsible for the safety and well-being of over 4000 children as the Executive Director of Eckerd Connects - Hillsborough. In this leadership role, she oversaw a $70M+ contract with the Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF) and maximized service capabilities for at-risk children by guiding staff and community partners in supporting families in high-risk foster care cases. Jody also held additional C-Suite positions at Eckerd Connects to include Chief Strategy Officer and Chief External Relations Officer for the corporate office, serving children and families nationally with an annual budget of $200M.

Previously, as the Deputy Director of Strategic Planning and Innovation at the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), Jody steered the strategic roadmap to overhaul the DCFS system.  This plan, partially in response to the 26-year standing Federal BH Consent Decree in Illinois, received unprecedented support of and coordination with the Plaintiff’s Council and Court Appointed Experts.  She also assisted with the Governor’s Health and Human Services Transformation.

Jody’s national experience also includes strategic planning, technical assistance and facilitation with the National Governors Organization (NGA) as a Senior Policy Analyst supporting Governors offices and their teams in high level systems change to improve child and family services.

Jody began her career as a foster care social worker in Detroit, Michigan and continually relies on that experience as she partners with jurisdictions and nonprofits, always remembering what it was like to work on the front line.

Jody is proud to lead a woman owned small business headquartered in Safety Harbor, Florida that consists of a team of partners that support work related to the GPS Consulting wheelhouse.  GPS believes that it is critical to engage a team of subject matter experts relative to the specific work being performed.  Working with GPS allows clients seamless access to a team of experts through the GPS Consulting Group without the challenge of contracting with multiple parties.

Jody is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  This commitment is highlighted through the team associated with projects. Jody also recently completed the University of South Florida Muma College of Business Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace curriculum and certificate.  GPS engages not only subject matter experts, but representatives that have or could be impacted by the consultation project. In an effort towards inclusivity, GPS considers cultural diversity, sexual orientation, and lived experience.