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DCF Secretary George Sheldon Announces New Leadership Academy for Florida’s Foster Youth

April 21st, 2009   No Comments   Foster Care, News & Events

The Myron L. Rolle Foundation, Department of Children and Families and Department of Military Affairs Partner in Week-Long Camp

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – One hundred Florida foster children between the ages of 12 and 14 will have an opportunity to spend a week this summer at the new Myron L. Rolle Wellness and Leadership Academy at Camp Blanding, in Starke, Fla.

Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon announced today at a press conference that the Myron L. Rolle Foundation (Foundation) will host 50 boys and 50 girls from Florida’s Foster Care System at the academy from June 15-19.

The teens will participate in wellness and leadership activities led by Florida State University graduate, Seminole football star and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle, as well as nationally recognized athletes and volunteer mentors. Read the rest of this entry »



Florida Guardian ad Litem Funding Vital to Helping Neglected Kids

April 13th, 2009   No Comments   Guardian ad Litem & Representation

As Florida faces a financial crisis, our Florida Legislature is forced to grapple with ways to balance the budget. I recognize there are no good options for the Legislature, but some cuts create more problems than others.

The Florida Guardian ad Litem Program — whose staff and volunteer counselors and attorneys help the state’s neglected children and foster care youth — is facing severe budget cuts by the Florida Legislature that it cannot sustain. The Florida Senate has proposed an 8% cut in GAL funding and the Florida House proposal would cut 23% – or $7.6 million.

These cuts would result in a potential loss of 152 employees, or more than a third of the staff needed to recruit, screen, train, coach and mentor the nearly 5,700 volunteer child advocates who represent the best interests of abused, abandoned and neglected children caught in our dependency system. Read the rest of this entry »



Doing Good Can Be Good For Foster Children, the Developmentally Disabled & Practice

March 16th, 2009   No Comments   Foster Care, Guardian ad Litem & Representation, News & Events, Rights of Foster Children

Doing Good Can Be Good for Florida’s  Foster Children, the Developmentally Disabled, and Even Your Legal Career — a summary of a presentation to the Jacksonville Bar Association to encourage lawyers to do pro bono representation which occurred on March 19, 2009.*

By Howard Talenfeld

When I attended law school, like many other students, I did not pursue any specialization. After launching my practice as attorney in 1980, I was fortunate and handled significant commercial litigations (and not so important small claims cases), large personal injury claims (and not so important soft tissue injury cases), critical cases behalf of a municipality (and some traffic citations), and appeals in cases affecting thousands of people (and appeals affecting few).

Indeed, by many measures I was successful and even made partner in my present firm, Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, P.A., after one year of practice. However, something important was missing.  In spite of my financial, personal and professional successes, my practice did not give me great personal satisfaction.

In 1988, my law firm began representing the Florida Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services (“HRS). It happened as a fluke because one of its ALF licensees was seeking to hold the Governor Martinez in contempt. This opportunity occurred because our firm had a good reputation for its work as outside counsel hired by the state of Florida Division of Risk Management, and my partner, Joel Fass, was also the “go to” lawyer for Department of Regulation prosecutions. Our immediate success in this case mushroomed in to representing HRS as outside counsel across all of its major program areas: Children & Families, Delinquency, Economic Services, Developmental Disabilities and the Office of Licensing & Certification.

However, it was no accident that this occurred. Read the rest of this entry »



Child Homelessness: A Critical Issue to Florida Families

March 10th, 2009   No Comments   News & Events

Department of Children and Families Working to Reduce Number of Homeless Children in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – A report released today by the National Center on Family Homelessness places Florida in the bottom third of all 50 states among those with the highest rates of homeless children.

The National Center launched a “Campaign to End Child Homelessness” and evaluated all 50 states on four areas specific to homeless children: the extent of child homelessness; child well-being; structural risk factors; and policy planning and efforts.

It is estimated that there are 8,600 homeless children across Florida, with the highest numbers in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties (1,700 and 860 respectively). The Department is working to reduce the numbers of homeless children in Florida through various efforts.

The Family Safety Program works with Community Based Care partners to strengthen families so that children can remain with their parents whenever possible and appropriate. Addressing the root causes of family instability also increases the likelihood of families staying together. Mental illness, substance abuse and domestic violence are all factors that contribute to family instability, which can lead to job loss, extended hospitalizations, loss of the family home, and ultimately child homelessness.

Read the rest of this entry »



Florida Foster Children Must Fight – and Be Protected From – Identity Theft

March 3rd, 2009   No Comments   Foster Care

By Howard Talenfeld

identity theft by d70focus from flickrWhen Todd Davis announces with confidence on national TV how LifeLock will protect subscribers from identity theft, it’s likely he’s not marketing to foster children.

Yet they’re just as vulnerable to identity theft as anyone else. Even more so, by some accounts. As a Florida attorney focused on protecting the rights of the state’s most vulnerable citizens, including those in foster care, I have seen the potential for abuse and identity theft these children face. We need to help them learn how to protect themselves today.

In a recent Newsweek article, “Sabotaged by the System,” writer Jesse Ellison told the story of Tyrome Sams, a 20-year-old former foster child. When he applied for credit cards, Sams was repeatedly refused. He later learned that eight years earlier someone had swiped his identity and accrued hundreds of dollars in utility bills.

“Sams’s case isn’t just an unfortunate fluke,” Ellison wrote in the magazine (https://www.newsweek.com/id/183711). “Identity theft among foster kids is common, and for good reason: they’re easy targets. They move often among various homes and schools, so their personal data pass through dozens of hands.” Read the rest of this entry »



Florida’s Children First Honors Butterworth, Foster Kids & Caregivers

February 23rd, 2009   No Comments   Foster Care, News & Events

Former foster child Mez Pierre addresses attendees at the recent Florida's Children First event.

Former foster child Mez Pierre addresses attendees at the recent Florida's Children First event.

Mez Pierre is a former foster child, a college student and aspiring rap music performer.

Kaydrin Smith is a 8-year-old foster child who spends his day in a wheelchair and surrounded by the love of his foster mother, Georgina Herbert.

The link between these two Florida children — aside from the state’s foster-care system — are the adults who cared for them.

Howard Talenfeld with Kaydrin Smith and foster mother Georgina Herbert.

Howard Talenfeld with Kaydrin Smith and foster mother Georgina Herbert.

Howard Talenfeld and members of S.H.I.N.E. honor Bob Butterworth (center).

Howard Talenfeld and members of Florida Youth S.H.I.N.E. honor Bob Butterworth (center).

One such adult is Robert “Bob” Butterworth.

Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide legal advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk children, especially children in foster care, honored Butterworth and Pierre, and acknowledged Herbert and Smith at the recent Child Advocate Awards and Reception.

FCF’s annual Broward event recognized Butterworth for his work as the former Secretary of Department of Children & Families and Florida Attorney General. He was lauded as “Florida’s Friend of Children” for his decades of public service. These posts in public service also included roles as Broward County Sheriff and a judge.

“Bob’s work has changed the culture of the Florida Department of Children and Families, guiding it to become a more open and transparent agency, inviting all voices to the table,” FCF President Howard Talenfeld told the Sun-Sentinel. “We are privileged to honor his ongoing legacy as a leading child advocate.” Read the rest of this entry »



Abused Florida Foster Children Win Landmark Civil Rights Decision

January 30th, 2009   No Comments   Damage Claims, Foster Care

In a precedent setting decision, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta upheld the right of three Florida foster children to sue for their sexual abuse in foster care.

In H.A.L. v. Foltz,  two adolescent and teenage foster kids known to be sexual predators were left unsupervised with three pre-school-aged foster children in the same home. The youngsters reportedly were repeatedly raped by the older boys. The 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta let stand a civil rights action brought by the younger boys.

“This decision represents a landmark win in the fight to protect foster children from child on child sexual abuse in foster care,” said attorney Howard Talenfeld, Shareholder with Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, & Abate PA.

Shortly after the opinion was released, the case, including the state court action for negligence, settled for $2.925 million for the three children.

Read the rest of this entry »



Auto Tag Drives the Message Home: Florida Kids Deserve Justice

January 15th, 2009   No Comments   Funding

kidsdeservejustice_plateIf you believe in supporting the justice needs of Florida’s kids, drive the message home.

Order the KIDS DESERVE JUSTICE specialty Florida license plate today or at your regular renewal time. The $25 plate cost is a charitable contribution to The Florida Bar Foundation. Every dollar goes to supporting grants for children’s legal services.

The Kids Deserve Justice specialty license plate funds free legal services to low-income children in Florida, helping them reach their full potential. Examples of these services include legal representation for abused and neglected children, legal help for children transitioning out of foster care or legal assistance for children needing special education testing or access to health care.

No administrative costs will be deducted by The Florida Bar Foundation.

For assistance or information, contact Shannon Stankiewicz at KDJ@flabarfndn.org.

Support Florida’s kids by driving the message home today!



Message to Florida Legislators: Protect the Children

January 5th, 2009   No Comments   Funding

This is an editorial from today’s Ft. Myers News Press. As the Florida Legislature begins a special session, the needs of certain residents should be kept far from the chopping block…

Legislators seeking ways to save money should save the children and spare  the most vulnerable residents from cuts.

That’s our mantra as the Florida Legislature begins a challenging two-week special session today to plug a gaping $2.3 billion shortfall in the current  budget.

With the economy blowing holes in the spending plans of every government, business, family and organization in the country, it’s with great reluctance  that we urge any spending program be kept off the cutting table.

But we do so for child protective services, mostly under the Department of Children and Families-and we urge you to contact our leaders in Tallahassee and do the same.

It’s not that education, health, law enforcement, roads, seniors and the environment aren’t essential service areas. They are, but the protection of vulnerable children cannot be diminished or postponed until the economy recovers. It’s a society’s most basic moral responsibility, as we see it. Read the rest of this entry »



Parental Rights Get Boost in Court Rulings

November 30th, 2007   No Comments   Rights of Foster Children

Daily Business Review –– Nov. 30, 2007 — “Parental rights receive boost from recent court rulings” This article highlights recent court rulings regarding increasing the degree of proof needed to prove bad parenting before granting access to children by third parties.

· The National Law Journal –– Nov. 26, 2007 — “Parental rights getting a boost from courts” Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate Shareholder Howard Talenfeld was featured in an article about third-party claims for custody and visitation of children.



Florida Settles DCF Damages Case of Foster Kids’ Abuse for $14 million

September 28th, 2007   No Comments   Damage Claims

· Daily Business Review –– Sept. 28, 2007 — “State settles DCF case for $14 million” The state of Florida settled a high-profile case regarding a lawsuit on behalf of foster children placed by the state Department of Children and Families into care with a woman against whom multiple abuse reports had been filed.

· Sarasota Herald-Tribune –– Sept. 28, 2007 — “State pays $14 million to foster children in abuse case” Florida agreed to pay $14 million to foster children in a high-profile case brought against the state.




State DCF Pays Record $5 million in Damage Case to Six Kids Molested in Foster Care

May 17th, 2002   No Comments   Damage Claims

· The Miami Herald –– May 17, 2002 — “DCF to pay $5 million to six kids in Broward.” This article references a $5 million settlement paid by the state to six Broward County children — the highest amount paid to date, and the role persistent critic and attorney Howard Talenfeld played in the case.

· South Florida Sun-Sentinel –– May 17, 2002 — “DCF to pay $5 million in siblings’ abuse case” Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate Shareholder Howard Talenfeld, who sued the DCF on behalf of the children was featured in this article about the $5 million suit.

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