What is FCA?

Advocacy, Department of Children & Families (DCF)

Following a scathing federal report that revealed that the Florida Department of Children and Families had forced foster children and other vulnerable kids from their families and into state-contracted nursing homes – possibly as a cost-cutting measure, the DCF has voiced denial of the activity.

“Everyone, including this fragile population, deserves to be cared for with the least restricted means,” Liz Dudek, the secretary of the state Agency for Health Care Administration, or AHCA, said to reporters at a news conference this week. “That’s where we want children to be.”

The report from the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division was scathing. It accused Florida healthcare agencies of “warehousing” sick, disabled and other at-risk children in adult nursing homes. In response, Dudek’s agency claimed it was in “full compliance” with federal laws that require governments to house and treat disabled people in community settings, whenever possible, the Miami Herald reported.

Read the full story here.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Orders Agencies to Check on Disabled Children

September 11th, 2012

A Federal Department of Justice investigation that found children suffering physical and mental physical disabilities being housed in Florida nursing homes alongside seniors has Florida child advocate attorneys and lawyers representing foster and abused children alarmed.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, saying he wasn’t aware of the situation until recently, ordered the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Children and Families to investigate.

The Justice Department noted that children in such situations often lack access to fundamental services, like education. They’re also limited from socializing with peers. This is a denial of their civil rights, DOJ found.

Contract Yanked by DCF From Palm Beach County Provider – Foster Child Advocates, Attorneys, Guardians Hope Move Proves Good for Kids

August 30th, 2012

Advocacy, Department of Children & Families (DCF)

With all the horror stories of children who are victims of neglect, physical and sexual abuse and other crimes and personal injury against minors at private foster service agencies, it’s both disturbing and rewarding to hear that this week the Florida Department of Children and Families pulled one such contract.

DCF reportedly terminated its 10-year contract with Child and Family Connections, a Palm Beach County community-based agency hired to provide services to the county’s foster children. According to news reports, DCF cited “poor performance and ‘serious concerns’ by local judiciary officials.”

The review lasted several months and followed news of leadership changes at the organization, including the resignation in June of CEO Judith Karim. Reports also cited staff turnover and poor performance, the Palm Beach Post reported.

Florida Foster Child Advocate Attorney: State Agency Plan to Add 1,200 Foster Parents Could Harm Kids

July 13th, 2012

Adoption, Advocacy, Department of Children & Families (DCF)

Although the Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary’s initiative to recruit 1,200 more foster parents is admirable, the plan to eliminate the rules could prove disastrous for some children. In repealing these rrules, Florida needs to remember the death of children like Nubia Barahona and Latiana Hamilton where foster and adoptive parents were directly responsible for the deaths of these children. The negligence of DCF and employees of private agencies were directly responsible for the deaths of these foster children.

According to a story in the Tallahassee Demograt, “On Thursday, Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins announced an initiative to help families care for kids temporarily taken from their families. The initiative, Fostering Florida’s Future, is a marketing campaign to recruit 1,200 new foster families and promote less-restrictive parenting rules that did little to protect children and much to discourage participation by foster parents.”

Florida had some 4,317 foster families in Florida in June, a 14 percent decline from the year before, the paper reported. “The department recruited 1,000 families last year, but more left for a variety of reasons. Some adopted the kids they fostered. Others chose not to continue as foster parents as they aged, Wilkins said.”

Read more…

Lessons From Jerry Sandusky Child Sex Abuse

June 27th, 2012

Abuse, Advocacy

From South Florida to across the nation, child advocates and foster child attorneys are taking some time to consider and address fall-out from the Jerry Sandusky guilty verdict. As the former assistant coach at Penn State University awaits sentencing on his conviction for 45 counts of child sexual abuse, the rest of us have our own lessons to learn. The simple lessons are to listen, act and change the way we view others.

Listen. When a child discusses or even hints at sexual abuse – or that something’s not right with someone in their lives, listen. Try to gently get details. Encourage open conversation.

Act. We must act on what we learn. Discuss the matter with the authorities or law enforcement.

And finally, place no one – or any organization – beyond reproach or suspicion. As with learned, Sandusky – a respected coach and founder of an organization for foster kids – abused his position and power to prey on innocent boys. Don’t be rash or quick to judge. Just be prepared to dig deeper.

As the Sun-Sentinel wrote, “Sexual abuse will still occur in our society, often being perpetrated by supposedly respected people like Jerry Sandusky. And there will often be powerful institutions — like Penn State — that will be more interested in protecting themselves than the victims of abuse.

“But since the Sandusky case became public last fall, and more and more tales of abuse became known, people have hopefully learned that having the courage to come forward — whether as a witness to possible abuse or as a victim — is crucial.”

Child Advocate Attorney: Jerry Sandusky and Silence in the Face of Monsters

June 25th, 2012

Abuse, Advocacy, News & Events

By Gloria Fletcher, a Gainesville, Florida, child advocate attorney and criminal defense lawyer

The verdict is in: Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is guilty of 45 of 48 counts of felonies and misdemeanors stemming from his years of child sexual assault. Now in his 60s, and facing a sentence of some 400 or more years, it’s likely Sandusky will die in prison.

But what about the rest of us? What verdict should be found and sentence be imposed upon a society that habitually looks the other way when children – our most vulnerable citizens – are assaulted, abused, corrupted, endangered or otherwise neglected?

The victims – 10 in the indictment, but apparently more in reality – are left to spend the rest of their lives dealing with the sordid aftermath of the hell Sandusky wrought upon them. To be sure, some may find a sense of salvation, vindication – if not closure – with the verdict. But this remains their own life sentence.

It should be ours, too.

Broward’s Heart Gallery Leads Family to Adopt Teen Brothers

June 12th, 2012

Read the entire story here.

Adoption, Advocacy

The photo exhibit called The Heart Gallery of Broward County showcases foster children searching for permanent homes. Created in 2008, the exhibit travels the county – from churches to hospital and malls – revealing the lives of foster kids.

For brothers Tyler and Kyle, one poignant photograph of the blue-eyed brothers brought them to their new family, the Miami Herald reported.

“Since becoming wards of the state’s welfare system five years ago, Tyler and Kyle have each lived in four foster homes. Twice they were separated,” the paper reported.

“’I saw things no kid should see,” 14-year-old Kyle said Monday, as he and Tyler, 16, became the 100th and 101st adoptions made possible by the Heart Gallery of Broward County. “Now I’m going to be with an actual family.”

Florida Earns “F” for Protecting Legal Rights of Neglected, Abused Kids

May 24th, 2012

Read the article here.

Abuse, Advocacy

If this were a child earning the grade, authorities and parents would be enraged. Instead, the national study from national child advocacy organizations First Star and the Children’s Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law gave Florida a failing grade for the legal rights Florida provides for affords abused and neglected children.

According to the News Service of Florida, national study – A Child’s Right to Counsel: A National Report Card on Legal Representation for Abused and Neglected Children – graded each state and the District of Columbia on how well they protect the legal rights of abused and neglected children in dependency court.

Children’s Rights: Advocates Debate Florida’s Representation, Rights of Abused, Neglected Kids

May 21st, 2012

Read the entire story here.

A report released recently by two national child welfare advocacy organizations has created debate about the legal rights Florida provides for affords abused and neglected children.

Florida was among the ten states that failed. The study was conducted by national child advocacy organizations, First Star and the Children’s Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law.

Florida failed, among other reasons, because of its discretionary – not mandatory – appointment of attorneys for children in dependency cases, the media reported. Advocates and the statewide Guardian ad Litem program dispute the findings.

Advocates: Children-Friendly Moves by Florida Gov. Rick Scott Help Kids, Need Follow-Up

May 20th, 2012

To Florida child advocates and children’s rights attorneys, Gov. Rick Scott has appeared very child friendly. He named his wife, Ann, to the post of Florida’s chief child advocate. He slotted Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins to oversee the children and youth cabinet. Finally, Scott reappointed some of the state’s chief advocates for child welfare to the group, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

“It was, many felt, a good sign that the governor’s office was committed to working on children’s issues, particularly since he’d given his wife such a high-profile responsibility,” the publication wrote.

“But many child advocates say the state’s children are still struggling to keep from falling through the cracks in the state’s education, health care and public safety systems, and that Florida simply isn’t doing enough.” Read the entire story here.

Panera Owners Serve Up Bagels to Help Florida Foster Kids; Couple Committed to Helping At-Risk Kids

May 7th, 2012

The numbers are staggering. More than 14,000 kids across Florida are in foster care, and thousands more are considered at risk. Yet for advocates, guardians, involved childcare attorneys and citizens, solutions to help abound – if they only look.

Panera Bread franchise owners Gavin and Annette Ford long ago looked for what they could do for foster kids in Florida. Their solution was to open their doors and proceeds. The couple offers mentoring and a summer jobs program. In the past year, through their business they’ve donated almost $400,000 to local charities, including those that help foster children.

Earlier this month, the couple got creative with their philanthropy. According to the Orlando Sentinel, their Panera Bread restaurants in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, Volusia, Martin, Indian River and St. Lucie counties, the Fords sold a ribbon-shaped blueberry bagel pastry custom created for foster kids.