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Sen. Nancy Detert Testifies Before U.S. Congress About Florida’s ‘Normalcy’ Law for Foster Kids

May 8th, 2013   No Comments   Advocacy, Foster Care, News & Events

Florida Sen. Nancy Detert

Florida Senator Nancy Detert testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means about the new law in Florida to allow children in foster care to live more normal lives. Florida HB 215, is called the “normalcy” bill because it gives foster parents more power and less liability in approving normal activities for their foster kids. It was signed into law last month by Gov. Rick Scott.

Detert also testified about SB 1036. This bill will extend care for foster children until age 21 for those young adults who choose to remain in the system. The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature, and will be presented to Gov. Scott for signing. Read Detert’s full testimony here.

With only 5 minutes to speak, in part here’s what Detert said:

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Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary and Legal Needs of Children Commission Among Honorees at Florida’s Children First Miami Event June 12

May 2nd, 2013   No Comments   Advocacy, News & Events

Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, will recognize and honor Miami-Dade child advocates at an awards reception and fundraising event. The event will be held Wednesday, June 12, 2013, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the law offices of Carlton Fields in Miami.

FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas, along with FCF President and South Florida children’s rights attorney Howard Talenfeld, will lead the event, which is expected to draw child advocates, elected officials, judges and community and business leaders.

The Miami event will also serve as the official venue for FCF and the Law Offices of Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez to introduce the Crossover to Justice Project and EJW fellow Hasti Barahmand, Esq. Sponsored by The Florida Bar Foundation and Greenberg Traurig, the Crossover to Justice Project will assist crossover youth with legal representation in dependency matters as well as unmet civil legal needs with an emphasis on educational services. This project aims to empower and foster the voice of crossover youth, to create and sustain a working network of resources and advocates who provide support and accountability to crossover youth, and to promote a child’s access to counsel in dependency proceedings.

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Advocates, Attorneys and Foster Child Lawyers Support National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April 20th, 2013   No Comments   Abuse, Advocacy

It’s important that we all know that April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. People need to be made aware of the plight of Florida’s and America’s abused and neglected children, including foster care kids or just those at-risk. The unsettling point, though, is that we need such a month to stop these despicable and preventable acts.

Thousands of children throughout Florida are abused – and some are killed – at the hands of adults. It’s our responsibility to be the community that helps care for and protect these children.

It’s not just the right thing to do. It’s every Floridian’s responsibility to protect our children from abuse and harm. If you witness or suspect child abuse, it’s your legal obligation to stop it or report it to authorities.Florida law requires that any individual who suspects that a child has been abused by any person to report that to the Florida Abuse Hotline.

The Florida Department of Children and Families investigates all allegations of abuse or neglect of a child by a caregiver. Allegations of child abuse by someone other than a caregiver that are reported to the hotline will be immediately electronically transferred to the appropriate local law enforcement agency where the child lives.

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Child Advocates Beam as Florida Gov. Rick Scott Signs Foster Care ‘Normalcy’ Bill

April 12th, 2013   No Comments   Advocacy

In a move a long time in the making, on Thursday morning, Gov. Rick Scott signed the “Normalcy” Bill (SB 164/HB 215) at the official bill signing ceremony. He was joined by 25 members of Florida Youth SHINE (FYS), a youth advocacy organization comprised of children and young adults in foster care or who have aged out of Florida’s foster care system. Florida’s Children First (FCF ) Executive Director Christina Spudeas also was in attendance.

The “Normalcy” bill will help eliminate some restrictions and reporting requirements that prevent foster children from enjoying normal activities like other kids, such as playing school sports, traveling with a youth group, or sleepovers with friends without fingerprinting and background checks.

Read the Miami Herald article on the “Normalcy” bill signing.

Guest Column: Florida Foster Kids Just Want ‘Normalcy’

April 5th, 2013   No Comments   Advocacy

Gloria Fletcher is an advocate and lawyer representing the state’s foster children and at-risk kids. So she – like so many other child advocacy attorneys and advocates – was keenly interested in the new laws passed by the Florida legislature. Read her Letter to the Editor of the Miami Herald here.

Normal. For Florida kids in foster care — and the foster parents, guardians and attorneys who advocate for their lives and futures — the word “normal” was not in their vocabulary.

They have little access to normal healthcare channels, like other kids do. They often get shuttled from one school to the next when they change foster homes. School field trips, play dates and sleepovers require approval from case managers at best or, at worst, fingerprints and background checks.

Read the rest of the letter here.

Longtime Broward Child Advocate Litigator Anne Alper Joins Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate & Webb Children’s Rights Division

March 15th, 2013   No Comments   Advocacy, News & Events

Attorney Anne V. Alper, who has dedicated her 25-year career to protecting the rights of vulnerable individuals, joined the Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate & Webb Children’s Rights and Foster Care/Disabled Persons Damages Division as an Associate in January 2013.

With her, Ms. Alper brings extensive experience in children’s rights litigation and litigation management, and will continue to handle similar cases on behalf of the Firm.

In private practice for 15 years, she handled family law-related cases involving child advocacy, and was frequently called upon to serve as a Guardian Ad Litem and special magistrate. During that time, she incorporated into her firm the practice of insurance defense litigation, and also performed legal work involving administrative law, employment disputes and contractual obligations.

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Foster Child Attorneys, At-Risk Advocates at Florida’s Children First Raise Record-Breaking $130,000; Largest Amount Raised at a Single Event in FCF’s 11-Year History

March 2nd, 2013   No Comments   Advocacy

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Through the generosity of its local supporters, Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, broke its own fundraising records by raising more than $130,000 at its February 28 Broward awards reception in Fort Lauderdale. This money will be used toward the many programs and services the organization offers to vulnerable children around the state.

More than 250 Broward County child advocates, elected officials, judges and community and business leaders were in attendance. FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas, along with FCF President and Fort Lauderdale children’s rights attorney Howard Talenfeld, led the event, with WPLG Local 10 Anchor Kristi Krueger serving as mistress of ceremonies.

Children’ issues reporter Carol Marbin Miller received the “Media Advocate of the Year” award. Carol has been a dedicated reporter for the Miami Herald for more than 12 years, working to expose neglect and failures within Florida’s social services. She has uncovered numerous abuses of power whose victims were among the state’s most vulnerable – our children.

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Op-Ed: Disability Rights: More Must Be Done for At-Risk Children and Their Parents

February 19th, 2013   No Comments   Advocacy, Damage Claims, Department of Children & Families (DCF)

A letter by Florida child advocacy attorney Howard Talenfeld was published today in the Daily Business Review’s Practice Focus section. Entitled, “Disability Rights: More Must Be Done for At-Risk Children and Their Parents,” the letter noted how advocates can only hope that state leaders learn that cutting budgets at the expense of at-risk children rarely delivers the result one expects – and it could lend to a class action that is certified and a federal court injunction.

Talenfeld, of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate & Webb, wrote that, “To any Florida attorney who fights to protect the rights of and prevent damages to severely disabled children, the past several years have been tough to watch.

“Children with highly complex medical conditions and who had been cared for by their parents or guardians have been wrongly denied skilled, private duty nursing hours to assist in the care. Left little choice, some parents were forced to send the children to institutions, including nursing homes.

“Many children suffered. A few died.”

Read Talenfeld’s entire letter here.

Rilya Wilson Foster Parent Gets ‘Life’ Sentence, But Was Lesson Learned by DCF?

February 12th, 2013   No Comments   Abuse, Advocacy, Court Cases

Child care advocates and attorneys who sue for the rights of foster children abused, harmed and who suffer personal injury and wrongful death at the hands of foster parents or caregivers had some reason to celebrate this week.

In a case that received national attention, Geralyn Graham this week received a 55-year sentence for the kidnapping and child abuse of little Rilya Wilson. Though the child is presumed dead, no body was ever found and the jury deadlocked on the murder charge.

Child advocate and children’s rights attorney Howard Talenfeld penned this opinion piece recently for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. The lingering question remains: Though the lessons seemed clear to the community, and the Florida Department of Children and Families has instituted some changes, has it heard the message? One can only hope.

Save The Date: Florida Foster Child Supporters to Gather to Honor Broward Child Advocates Feb. 28 in Fort Lauderdale

February 4th, 2013   No Comments   Advocacy, News & Events

Save the date for Florida’s Children First’s Broward Awards Event on Feb. 28th at The Tower Club in Fort Lauderdale

Please join Florida’s Children First February 28, 2013, as the organization honors child advocates in the Broward area and raises awareness for child welfare issues.

 

The reception will take place at the Tower Club from 5:30-7:30pm. Business casual attire. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. RSVP HERE. For more information, call 954-796-0860 or email fcf@floridaschildrenfirst.org.

Disabled Child Attorney: In Dramatic Shift, AHCA Changes Rules to Help State’s Kids, Parents

February 4th, 2013   No Comments   Advocacy, Department of Children & Families (DCF), Disability Issues

To any Florida attorney who fights and sues to protect the rights of and prevent damages to disabled, vulnerable or foster children, the past two years have been tough to watch. Over that time, Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration has been attempting to balance its budget on the backs of Florida’s Medically Fragile Children and their parents who want to care for them at home by violating the Federal Medicaid Act and chopping the number of hours that they are willing to reimburse parents for medically necessary private duty nurses.

Through their contracted agent, eQ Health Solutions, Inc, AHCA ignores the medical histories and the number of hours these parents have received and are entitled to in attempt to force the parents, many of whom have full time jobs to care for these children — many of whom are on ventilators, have trach tubes to breath and are fed through G-tubes. AHCA ignores the capacities or lack of capacity of many of the parents to assess emergencies and intervene with life saving procedures.

The ground is shifting. The rules are changing. In the Legislature and AHCA itself, change has come, according to this Miami Herald story.

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At-Risk, Foster Child Attorney: Parents Speak Out about State’s Care of Disabled Children

January 8th, 2013   No Comments   Advocacy, Department of Children & Families (DCF)

As parents this week complained about the care of their disabled children – claiming the state chooses to warehouse these medically fragile youths in senior nursing homes instead of letting them be cared for by family in their own homes – Florida child advocates, attorneys and legal guardians wonder when the state’s practice will stop. The lack of appropriate oversight, as well as the potential physical abuse, mistreatment and neglect of the state’s most medically and at-risk disabled children, leaves this vulnerable populations crying for better care.

In one case, lawmakers heard about Christian Perez. Twice in the past year, state health administrators ignored the boy’s pediatrician’s prescribed care regimen and reduced how many hours caregivers assisted the severely disabled boy at his Miami-area home.

Parents at the meeting rebuked state agency leaders who said private vendors contracted to administer care and oversight huddled with children’s primary care physicians before making decisions regarding care.

Read the entire story here.

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