What is FCA?

Child Advocacy Blog

Search

Author Archive

Ninth Vulnerable Child Dies Under Watch of Hillsborough Kids

February 3rd, 2012   No Comments   Abuse, Advocacy

In January, child advocates, guardians, child welfare attorneys and others watched as the Florida Department of Children and Families pulled its $65.5 million contract from community based care provider Hillsboro Kids, in part because eight children had died under its supervision in two years. Add one more to the list.

Young child Gabrielle Crawford, born with multiple birth defects, died in December while under the care of his mother – who’d already had four children taken from her. Though he was never expected to live past 2 – he was was 8 months old at the time of his death – Gabrielle had broken bones and a bruise on his face.

“On Thursday, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office called Gabrielle a homicide victim,” wrote the Tampa Bay Times. “The state Department of Children and Families called his death another example of the failure of Hillsborough child protectors to avert a tragedy unfolding before their eyes.

“No other region in the state has a child death rate as high,” the Times wrote. The nine deaths, said Mike Carroll, DCF’s Suncoast regional director, ‘were the driving force to change lead agencies.’ He said DCF and (new CBC) Eckerd would immediately began reviewing ‘every single child’ under supervision in Hillsborough County, about 2,500 children.”

Child Welfare Judge Likens Naked, Emaciated Boy, 9, to Concentration Camp Survivor

January 31st, 2012   No Comments   Abuse, Court Cases

It was a horror to see – even to any veteran child advocate, childen’s rights lawyer, foster care professional or Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman – all people accustomed to seeing the abuse, personal injury and the scars of mistreated children. When the 9-year-old boy showed up in her courtroom, the judge likened the emaciated child to a concentration camp survivor.

His uncle said he was unaware of the boy’s condition. A photograph revealed a child so emaciated that his eyes bulged and his bones protruded from his skin. According to the Sun-Sentinel, the boy was “found wandering his North Miami Beach neighborhood Saturday — beaten, naked and starving.

“His parents, Marsee Strong, 34, and Edward Bailey, 40, remain at the Miami-Dade County Jail on charges of aggravated child abuse and neglect on $65,000 bail.” Read the entire story here.

Fort Lauderdale Youth Pastor Arrested For 10-Year Sexual Molestation

January 30th, 2012   No Comments   Abuse

In an warning of how parents and children – from those in good households to vulnerable foster children – must be cautious and aware of potential threats, a youth pastor was arrested last week after an 18-year-old man accused the pastor of sexually abusing him for a decade.

Youth pastor Jeffery London was arrested last week after a man, 18, said London sexually molested him for 10 years while he was under the older man’s care, the Miami Herald reports.

The pastor was arrested at home Wednesday night in Lauderdale Lakes. He had just returned Bible study he conducted at the Bible Church of God in Fort Lauderdale, according to the Broward Sheriffs Office.

The BSO Special Victims Unit is urging anyone who has been a victim of or has information about London to contact Detective Julie Bower at 954-321-4240 or Broward Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 954-493-8477 or www.browardcrimestoppers.org.

Panama City Child Welfare Agency Ranks Tops in Florida

January 23rd, 2012   No Comments   Advocacy, Department of Children & Families (DCF)

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has tagged a Panama City- and Bay Country-area lead agency for child welfare services at No. 1 in the state by a new system of measurements, wrote the Panama City News Herald. The organization, The Big Bend Community Based Care, earned the top spot in the inaugural report.

The rankings are tallied by various information and measures, including administrative costs, ratio of children receiving preventive services, and the percentage of children enrolled in school. The rankings are part of the new DCF and the Florida Coalition for Children monthly “scorecard” that measures success with the 20 community-based care organizations across the state.

“We were very consistent across the board,” said Mike Watkins, CEO of Big Bend. “We got good marks for safety and controlling administrative costs.” Read the entire story here.

Advocates, Child Welfare Attorneys: Child-Welfare System Fixes Might Worsen Situation

January 21st, 2012   No Comments   Abuse, Advocacy, Department of Children & Families (DCF)

Advocates and child welfare attorneys have long said Florida’s child welfare system needs fixing, strengthening and correcting in order to correct foster child and vulnerable children’s abuse, deaths and personal injury. Yet critics say several bills being reviewed by lawmakers and named for Nubia Barahona – the 10-year-old girl allegedly killed by her adoptive parents last February – could have little positive effect.

“Indeed, some of the bills’ provisions will give the agency greater discretion to ignore calls to the state’s abuse hotline, or to cease an investigation at any time when an investigator believes the report is false,” writes the Miami Herald.

A bill in the state Senate would eliminate state standards designed to lower caseloads for Department of Children & Families investigators, though it is an article of faith among trade groups that lower caseloads lead to better outcomes for children.

Read the entire story here.

Children’s Rights, Foster Youth Attorney TV Segment Supports Florida Child Advocate

January 19th, 2012   No Comments   Advocacy, News & Events

Howard Talenfeld, President of Florida’s Children First, and David Gagne, Florida Youth Shine Secretary, went on NBC’s Live Miami to speak about the mission and goals of Florida’s Children First. The non-profit organization founded by child advocate attorneys from around the state speaks on behalf of children at risk. The two called for viewers to visit the organizations’ websites to support their ongoing work


 

War Against Child Abuse, Deaths an Up, Down Battle in Florida, Counties

January 17th, 2012   No Comments   Abuse, Department of Children & Families (DCF)

Depending on where in Florida you are, child abuse deaths rose – and declined – in 2010. Deaths were down statewide, but up in Palm Beach County over the past two years. Florida Department of Children and Families officials, advocates and child welfare attorneys are watching the numbers closely.

Abuse or neglect that led to child deaths in Palm Beach County hit 14 in 2010, up from 10 the year prior, according to data from a State Child Abuse Death Review Committee report, as reported by the Palm Beach Post. In 2008, nine children died from child abuse or neglect in Palm Beach County.

As written previously in this blog, the death of any child in state care — whether DCF, a foster household, an adoptive home or while under the guidance of a community based care organization charged with ensuring the child’s welfare — is one too many. We must work harder to ensure oversight is improved and children get the care they need to survive and thrive.

Read the entire article here.

NYTimes: $68 Million Damages Settlement Proposed in Florida, NY Adoption Abuse Case

December 30th, 2011   No Comments   Abuse, Adoption, Court Cases

A damage award settlement is being discussed in a case that’s shaken the Florida and New York social services arena for foster, adoptive and disabled children.

In “one of the most disturbing child welfare fraud cases in New York City in recent years,” Judith Leekin “used four aliases to adopt the children, who had physical or developmental disabilities, including autism and retardation, and later moved them to Florida. The children were caged, restrained with plastic ties and handcuffs, beaten with sticks and hangers, and kept out of school, according to court papers. An 11th child disappeared while in Ms. Leekin’s care and is presumed dead,” according to the New York Times.

Florida children’s rights attorney Howard Talenfeld is handling the case.

Hollywood Director Tyler Perry to Alleged Penn State Sex Abuse Victim: ‘You’re a Survivor’

December 14th, 2011   No Comments   Abuse, News & Events

From South Florida to State College to around the world, child advocates and others have been transfixed and disgusted by allegations of sexual abuse against Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. One such person is Hollywood’s Tyler Perry, who recently wrote a letter in Newsweek magazine to a young boy involved in the scandal. In his letter, Perry revealed his own story, and told the boy he isn’t a victim – but a survivor. Read Perry’s letter here.

Tyler Perry

In response, a therapist from Minnesota wrote a letter of thanks to Perry. In the letter, the therapist wrote, “…As a therapist, I’ve seen shame and self-blame experienced by abuse victims who become survivors by acknowledging the abuse. Such disclosures are momentous acts of bravery and the first step in healing. I hope Perry’s words encourage more people to disclose their abuse and help decrease the stigmatization of survivors.”

Florida Foster Care, Child Advocacy Attorney Named ‘Most Effective Lawyer’

December 10th, 2011   No Comments   Advocacy, News & Events

Howard Talenfeld, a partner in the foster care / disabled persons practice with Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate P.A., in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, recently was named a Pro Bono Finalist in the Most Effective Lawyers 2011 by the Daily Business Review.

The publication reviewed the case of Markus Kim, a former New York City foster child who was swindled by his adoptive parents out of $400,000.

“It was the only money he had in the world and he was now destitute,” said a lawyer from New York Legal Aid. Read the Daily Business Review story here.

(more…)

Advocacy Group Florida’s Children First Honors Community Heroes at Palm Beach Foster Children Event

December 2nd, 2011   No Comments   Advocacy, Fundraising & Support

Florida’s Children First, a statewide organization dedicated to protecting foster children and other at-risk youth, recognized Palm Beach County individuals for their tireless work to advocate for the state’s most vulnerable citizens at its annual Palm Beach Fundraising and Awards Reception at Boca Raton’s Bridge Hotel November 29.

Jim Sackett, FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas, Richard Slawson

Emcee Jim Sackett, FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas and Richard Slawson

More than 50 of the area’s prominent business and community leaders, as well as individuals and families concerned about Florida’s foster care youth were in attendance to support the organization and its cause, including recently retired WPTV News Channel 5 Anchor Jim Sackett.

Sackett served as Emcee for the evening’s award ceremony, including a special award he presented to a former foster child, Earle James, who he once profiled in a “Thursday’s Child” segment 10 years ago. Earle overcame a difficult background of abuse and loss to become an advocate for children, speaking at parent and youth workshops. His father, Michael, who adopted Earle after seeing the “Thursday’s Child segment” accepted the “Youth Honoree of the Year” award on Earle’s behalf.

(more…)

Penn State Sex Abuse Claims Highlight Need for ‘Moral’ and Legal Obligations to Report Crimes

November 16th, 2011   No Comments   Abuse

When graduate assistant Mike McQueary told Penn State head coach Joe Paterno about the alleged sexual child abuse he said took place by assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on a minor in the school’s showers, some believe he adhered to his legal responsibility. But legal scholars, children’s rights attorneys and lawmakers wonder: Did he rise to his moral responsibility to see his allegations through?

According to USAToday, “Lawmakers and university officials across the USA are moving quickly to tighten up rules on who must report sexual abuse on campus in the wake of the Penn State scandal…A key issue likely to be debated in state legislatures is whether reports should go straight to police, and whether new laws are needed to shore up vague guidelines and polices about child safety on campus.”

Read the entire story here.

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »