Justice for Kids Partner Stacie Schmerling was recently interviewed by WESH 2 News in Orlando regarding Florida’s Department of Children and Family Services enacting changes, including one major statewide change after Palm Bay’s police chief sounded the alarm on the state’s child welfare system.
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Author ArchiveThe Inextricable Link Between Child Welfare and Human TraffickingIn February 2022, a married couple in New York City was accused of operating an extensive sex trafficking ring that involved over 6 young women and went on for many years. Most appalling is the fact that two of the sex trafficking victims were placed in the wife’s foster care. She was the one who was supposed to provide stability and safety for these children; now she and her husband—a registered sex offender from previous offenses (which the foster agencies failed to notice)—have now been indicted on multiple felony charges including sex trafficking and third-degree promoting of prostitution. DCF Removes Four Children from Palm Beach County Couple After An Investigation Reveals They Physically Abused a 13-Year-old Adopted son.The Palm Beach County couple was arrested for child abuse by the police after discovery of the abusive, deplorable conditions the boy suffered in. Kelley Kronenberg Attorney Julianna Walo Selected for Inclusion as Rising Star in 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers MagazineKelley Kronenberg, a multi-practice business law firm, and its Justice for Kids Division are pleased to announce Attorney Julianna Walo has been selected for inclusion as a Rising Star in the 2022 issue of Illinois Super Lawyers magazine. Julianna has been included in the publication since 2020. National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthThe following letter to the editor was authored by Justice for Kids Partner Justin Grosz:
Human Trafficking is an incredibly important issue that demands our attention. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month; and as it comes to a close, we must continue to bring our awareness to this issue and how we can each do our part to prevent human trafficking. There are many misconceptions when it comes to human trafficking. While most think these events mostly take place abroad, this is a grave domestic issue. In fact, Florida ranks 3rd in the nation in terms of the number of calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, the vast majority of which involve the commercial sexual exploitation of minors. The average age that a trafficked victim is first used for commercial sex is between just 12-14 years old. These children are vulnerable and often lured into terrifying situations which they lack the resources to extricate themselves from. Miami Herald: ‘This is like a divorce.’ Shelters housing migrant kids caught between DeSantis, BidenAs reported by the Miami Herald, Florida shelters that house migrant children on behalf of the federal government say they’re increasingly worried that a feud between Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and President Joe Biden over his immigration policies will force them to relocate hundreds of children outside the state. WVLA: La. Department of Children and Family Services responds to lawsuit alleging “years of alleged sexual abuse”As reported by WVLA NBC Local 33, a human trafficking case has been filed regarding allegations of sexual abuse involving the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. Sadly, this is yet another example of sexual assault cases in our foster care system. 3rd Annual Youth Anti-Human Trafficking Summit in Broward County on Jan 8After Rilya Wilson, a foster child, disappeared in 2001, we knew there were 400 children missing from our child protection system on any given day. DCF used to post the names, dob, number and was required to take specific actions. Does anyone know how many children are missing from Florida’s Child Protection system today? Thank you to our Children’s Services Council of Broward County for shedding a light on this critical issue! Tampa Bay Times: Pinellas sheriff blasted foster agency, but his investigators removed children at a higher rate than any other countyAs reported by the Tampa Bay Times, Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri in November announced a criminal investigation into Eckerd Connects after a child was injured and another overdosed at an unlicensed Largo office where foster children that the agency could not place slept in “deplorable conditions.” Florida Today: Police investigation: DCF alerted at least 6 times before mother charged with manslaughter of infant sonAs reported by Florida Today, a police investigation revealed the state Department of Children and Family Services had been called at least six times regarding abuse allegations in the case of a mother who now faces a charge of manslaughter in connection to the death of her infant son. Nearly 1,000 foster care kids missing in Missouri according to reportAccording to Missouri TV station KY3, a case study by the U.S. Inspector General’s Office shows that nearly 1,000 foster kids went missing from the foster care system in 2019 from that state. The inspector’s report noted that foster children are at a higher risk of being reported missing. What’s even more sad is that of these missing foster children cases, sex trafficking plays a large role. WTSP: Pinellas sheriff will announce criminal investigation of lead child welfare agencyPinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri will announce a criminal investigation Thursday into Eckerd Connects Community Alternatives. |
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