In a lengthy resignation letter given to Gov. Charlie Crist, Butterworth reprised some of the themes he sounded during an at-times bitter Legislative session that saw many of Butterworth's long-term goals and projects derailed by dire economic news and shrinking government coffers.

``For people who are in crisis during these economic times, for children who suffer abuse or neglect, for adults slipping into the frailties of old age or suffering from mental illness or substance disorders, the 13,000-plus people of DCF and our community partners often are their last hope.''

He added: 'It is time to pass the torch to a new secretary. It's not that all the problems are solved. . . . We can only look at the accomplishments of these past 19 months and say, `Keep it going.' ''

Crist said it was ''with mixed emotions'' that he accepted Butterworth's resignation. Butterworth is one of three Democrats holding agency secretary jobs in Crist's administration. Crist said Butterworth told him he would serve for 18 months when he took the job and Crist said, ``I squeezed another month out of him.''

''This department has never had better leadership,'' Crist said, as Butterworth stood at his side at a morning news conference.

He described Butterworth as ''the longest serving attorney general'' in Florida history and someone whose commitment to public service was unwavering. ``It's probably the toughest job in government. It's probably why some people think I appointed a Democrat. . . . General Butterworth cares deeply about the people.''

Crist said he has no plans yet for a replacement, though a Miami Herald source said Butterworth is recommending the governor choose a new agency chief from in-house, possibly including longtime Deputy Secretary Don Winstead, who already is being considered to head the state disabilities agency, or Assistant Secretary George Sheldon, a longtime Butterworth confidant.

Butterworth said at the news conference that he intends to return to private law practice, something he has not done in decades.

He called his nearly two-year term at DCF ``one of the great adventures of my life.''

Alan Abramowitz, who heads DCF's Miami-Dade operations and had been dubbed Butterworth's ''Mr. Fixit'' for his ability to parachute into department crises and patch together coalitions to resolve them, said Butterworth is leaving behind a solid foundation for the next secretary to build upon.

'When [Butterworth] came here, I remember him talking about this being an `action agency' and being transparent,'' Abramowitz said. ``That's the foundation of what we do. He has done what he said he would do.''

Abramowitz also credited Butterworth with adjusting the state's child welfare policies to reflect the wishes of the teenage foster children with whom he came into constant contact. Butterworth met regularly with aged-out or older adolescent foster kids who told him the department often made decisions contrary to their needs and goals.

''He actually listened to the children,'' said Abramowitz. ``Everyone in leadership roles met the children who were really impacted by how we make decisions. He says a lot that they have to have a seat at the table because it will be their table.''

In recent months, however, the lifelong Democrat voiced displeasure with the budget produced by the Republican-led Legislature back in August, calling it the ''meanest'' he's ever seen, and suggesting deep cuts to social welfare programs were misguided at a time when vulnerable Floridians most needed a safety net.

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