A Legacy of Care, A New Chapter for Transition Services
Honoring Anthony Scott as he enters retirement, celebrating Jaime Kershaw’s new leadership, and welcoming Michaela Rollins to IPF
At the Innocence Project of Florida, freedom has never ended at the prison gate. Walking free after years or decades of wrongful incarceration is an extraordinary moment, but it is also the beginning of a new journey. As Anthony Scott, LCSW, prepares to retire after nearly two decades with IPF, we celebrate the extraordinary legacy of care he leaves behind and look ahead to the next chapter of our Transition Services Department.
Honoring Anthony Scott’s Legacy
Anthony joined IPF in 2006 as the first full-time social worker based at an innocence organization in the nation. Since then, he has been a lifeline for our clients and their families, providing critical support before and after release.
From helping clients navigate the emotional challenges of post-conviction litigation to securing housing, healthcare, identification, transportation, employment, education, and other necessities after release, Anthony has touched nearly every part of our clients’ journeys toward stability in freedom.
But his impact has always extended far beyond services.
“He was my lifeline.”
“He didn’t just come to help my dad, but he helped the whole family.”
These words from clients and their loved ones capture what Anthony has meant to IPF and the people we serve.
That impact is also deeply personal for those who have worked alongside him throughout his time at IPF.
“Anthony and I started at IPF on the same day in 2006, and I’ve had the pleasure of working side-by-side with him for two decades as he helped nearly all of our clients navigate the often-difficult transition from wrongful incarceration to free society. He has always brought deep care and compassion to this work, making our clients feel like part of the IPF family. We congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement!”
— Seth Miller, Executive Director
As Anthony begins his well-deserved retirement, we honor not only his extraordinary years of service, but the foundation he helped build. His compassion, expertise, and steadfast commitment helped establish a principle that remains at the heart of IPF: our responsibility does not end when someone walks free. We remain alongside them as they reclaim their lives.
Continuing the Legacy, Building the Future: Congratulations, Jaime!
As we celebrate Anthony’s tremendous impact, we are equally excited about the future of Transition Services under the leadership of Jaime Kershaw, IPF’s new Director of Transition Services. Jaime first joined IPF as an intake intern in 2021 and returned in March 2025 as a Clinical Social Worker. She brings experience in trauma-informed reentry care, community outreach and education, and supporting individuals and families navigating complex challenges.
A graduate of Florida State University with degrees in Criminology and Social Work, Jaime will build upon the strong foundation Anthony established while continuing to strengthen IPF’s compassionate, individualized support for clients before and after release.
That next chapter is already taking shape. Since returning to IPF, Jaime has begun implementing new approaches within the department that strengthen how we coordinate care, document client needs, and provide consistent, trauma-informed support. As Director, she plans to build on Anthony’s legacy by continuing to refine these systems, incorporate evolving best practices, deepen community partnerships, and ensure Transition Services continues growing alongside the needs of our clients.
Her leadership represents an exciting opportunity to preserve the deeply personal, relationship-centered approach that has long defined IPF’s Transition Services while strengthening the department and preparing it to serve our clients for years to come.
Welcoming Michaela Rollins to IPF
We are equally excited to welcome Michaela Rollins, RCSWI, as our new Transition Services Specialist.
Michaela brings experience in clinical social work, case management, crisis intervention, discharge planning, and substance use treatment and recovery support. Her work has included helping individuals and families navigate mental health needs, transportation, healthcare, financial barriers, and connections to critical community resources.
Michaela earned her Master of Social Work from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida. Her experience in trauma-informed care and commitment to compassionate, individualized support will be invaluable as she helps clients navigate the challenges of reentry and rebuild their lives after wrongful incarceration.
Carrying the Work Forward
This moment marks both a heartfelt goodbye and an exciting new beginning. We thank Anthony for nearly two decades of extraordinary service, congratulate Jaime as she takes the reins and leads Transition Services into its next chapter, and welcome Michaela as she joins this vital work.
Together, Jaime and Michaela will carry forward the foundation Anthony spent years building, honoring the compassion and deeply individualized care that have defined Transition Services while continuing to strengthen and evolve the department for the future.
Freedom is only the beginning. Our commitment is to make sure our clients never have to navigate what comes next alone.
