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Archive for March, 2011
Yesterday we awakened to the news reports of the record breaking quake in Japan and the resulting tsunami in the Pacific Ocean. Our thoughts are with the survivors of these disasters and the overwhelming devastation left behind. But our work is focused on the tsunami of tragedy that has inundated Florida’s child welfare system.
Victor and Nubia in Miami, Jermaine and Ju’tyra in in Delray, Ronderique in Tampa and an unnamed 10-year-old boy in Charlotte County – 4 dead, 2 seriously injured, all discovered since January.
All Floridians should be outraged and saddened when they learn of the details of these cases. They are right to demand reform and accountability. FCF joins in that urgent cry – but we do so with the benefit of the knowledge and experience of our day to day work advocating for children in state care. We cannot let outrage result in bad public policy.
We therefore urge all policy makers – and the public at large to consider five principles as they undertake to debate and reform our child welfare system. If like what you read below, please read the complete position paper.
1. Changing the Structure of The Child Welfare System will not “Fix” It. Just as privatizing child welfare did not cure all ills, neither will returning to a state-run system. Children cannot wait for an entire system change for reform to happen.
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Florida Senator Rhonda Storms was skeptical and blunt in her assessment of the Florida Department of Children and Families’ handing of recent high-profile cases, like that of Nubia and Victor Barahona, and its promises of change: “How will this be different? How many more investigations, how many more death reviews do we have to do?”
The question was posed to David Wilkins, the new head of DCF. But Storms wasn’t through. Tired of excuses, she wanted answers from DCF, and the agencies to which it pays more than $100 million to oversee child services.
Storms wanted nothing of his explanations. She wanted answers and more organizations to be held accountable. That includes Our Kids, the lead agency which is responsible for the overall system. Said one advocate, if Fran Allegra, the CEO, does not admit fault, improvement will not come. More children will slip through the cracks of this dysfunctional, unaccountable system and be harmed.
“How about we start looking at the CBCs (community-based care organizations)? They need to get their fannies up here and explain,” she demanded. “We are still having little broken bodies, and it’s not just because evil people will do evil things. It’s because people – competent, professional people who are paid to do their job – are not doing their jobs.”
The report is in from the panel investigating the death of Nubia Barahona, 10, and critical injuries to her twin brother, Victor (read the report here). An editorial from WPLG Channel 10 in Miami held no punches in calling for a total overhaul of the Florida Department of Children and Families for its inability to prevent abuse to children. The Palm Beach Post questioned the role of private lead agencies serving DCF — and requests by them to provide sovereign immunity protections that will cap personal injury damage claims by lawyers.
WPLG wrote how “…past failures have prompted changes at DCF, just not enough. A broken, bureaucratic system needs to be dismantled and staffed with people held accountable. Children’s lives depend on it.”
At the same time, Gov. Rick Scott is calling for deep cuts to DCF, and Secretary David Wilkins blamed issues on high turnover, during a hearing before state lawmakers.
The take-away is this: Our Kids, the lead agency responsible for the overall system, needs to be held accountable for permitting the adoption of Nubia and Victor Barahona. If CEO Fran Allegra does not admit fault, improvement will not come — and more children will slip through the cracks of this dysfunctional and unaccountable system. And more harm will come.
An editorial in today’s Palm Beach Post raised serious issues regarding calls by private lead agencies serving the Florida Department of Children and Families ( DCF ) to provide sovereign immunity protections that will cap personal injury damage claims by lawyers.
Many attorneys and child welfare and foster care advocates agree: Such protections will save no money. In fact, there will be a total loss of accountability for these providers’ services. More importantly for children harmed or injured while under the care of these companies or agencies, there will be no claims for damages.
Attorneys for children like Victor Barahona, who was critically injured (while his sister, Nubia, was killed), won’t be able to sue these private providers. Damages would be capped. Meanwhile, Victor’s hospital bills will far exceed any coverage limits.
As the Post wrote, “As the secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families acknowledged this week, 10-year-old twins never should have been adopted by Jorge and Carmen Barahona.
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A task force empaneled to study the death of 10-year-old adopted child, Nubia Barahona, and the critical injuries to her twin brother, Victor, could not have been more direct in its assessment. They called the Florida Department of Children and Families’ oversight “a case of fatal ineptitude” and questioned the “quality of the services performed by Our Kids and its subcontractors. Our Kids of MiamiDade / Monroe receives about $100 million per year from DCF to perform contracted services.”
 Nubia Barahona Guardians, advocates, attorneys and others in attendance heard a scathing assessment. From DCF to the investigators it employs, the panel cited “a litany of bumbling by state child welfare workers,” noted the Miami Herald, and a host of “missed red flags” — any one of which should have set off alarms among the agency and its people. Read the entire DCF Report here.
Even Pete Digre, a DCF deputy, in apologizing for the agency’s woeful efforts to protecting the Nubia, said, “Our sorrow is compounded by the realization that there were many missed red flags and many missed opportunities that might have created a better outcome. The performance of our staff and community partners is completely unacceptable. Nubia did not receive the care, and prompt and urgent attention that each of us would have given our own children. As such, we failed miserably.’’
That about sums it up. Read the entire article here.
The horrible tale of two Palm Beach County children and their mother found dead this month points to key issues related to how the Florida Department of Children and Families handles adoptions among at-risk or violent families — and whether the lure of federal money drives state decisions.
In a story, “Rare adoption ends with mom and kids dead,” the Miami Herald revealed how “a mother, stripped of all rights to her oldest child, later was allowed to adopt him. The two and a younger daughter are now dead, raising questions about whether the state should have allowed the adoptions.” Now a boy, Jermaine McNeil, 8, his sister, Ju’tyra, 5, were found stuffed in luggage, and their mother, Felicia Brown, was found in a county landfill. Read the entire story here.
At the same time, a family member has been left to grieve and wonder. In an Associated Press story, “Relative grieves 2 kids found dead in Fla. canal,” the grandmother of Ms. Brown and her children spoke out about their loss. Read the entire story here.
Florida’s Children First (FCF), the state’s leading child advocacy organization for foster, neglected and vulnerable children, held its eighth annual “Broward Awards and Reception” event last month. More than 200 child advocates, elected officials, judges, and community and business leaders attended.
The group gathered at the Tower Club in downtown Fort Lauderdale to recognize former Secretary of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) George Sheldon and other special honorees for their advocacy and contributions for protecting Florida’s youth.
“Having personally worked one-on-one with these individuals, it was such an honor to be able to recognize these amazing people for their tireless work on behalf of Florida’s abused, abandoned and neglected children and youth,” said FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas. “FCF is truly grateful for their support, in addition to the many wonderful sponsors who make these events possible.” Read the entire story here.
Shoddy, lacking and frustrating are just some of the terms that can or have been used to describe the work of state Department of Children and Families child welfare workers in the case of Nubia and Victor Barahona, the Miami twins at the center of a horrific death and abuse case.
“In the immediate aftermath of a Miami girl’s death, state child-welfare workers acknowledged privately that the work of agency investigators left much to be desired,” wrote the Miami Herald. In the meantime, the children’s adoptive mother, Carmen Barahona, has been charged with murder.
“Four days after Nubia Barahona’s decomposed body was found in the flatbed of her adoptive father’s pickup truck, state child-welfare authorities…concluded that a series of abuse investigations lacked ‘a sense of urgency’’ and contained several instances of shoddy case work,” the paper reported. Read the entire story here.
At what has become a rough and enlightening display of dismay by community and empaneled officials, child welfare officials were questioned about what they knew and what decisions they made — and when — regarding the death of Nubia Barahona and critical injuries sustained by her twin brother, Victor.
As written in the Palm Beach Post, panelists challenged “the level of urgency given to a call made to the Florida Abuse Hotline the day before Nubia was killed” and criticized a child abuse investigator for not doing enough to find Nubia and her twin brother, Victor, the day before the young girl died.
“The panel once again said the child welfare system may have missed key
opportunities to keep the 10-year-olds safe,” the paper wrote. Read the entire story here.
By CHRISTINA SPUDEAS
How dare they? As The Post’s Pat Beall reported Friday, Florida’s privatized child welfare companies want to limit their liability and accountability by asking the Legislature to let them off the hook for having to pay for kids who are badly injured while in their care.
These companies should be cringing, knowing that their bill came out in the midst of a public investigation into the Barahona case in Miami-Dade County, one of the most horrific child-abuse cases involving foster care our state has ever seen. This bill should be called the Barahona Child Abuse Enabling Act.
Spudeas is Executive Director of Florida’s Children First, the leading statewide child advocacy group. Read her entire Letter to the Editor here.
Victor Barahona, who’s 10-year-old twin sister, Nubia, was found dead last month, heard their adoptive parent beating her to death one day after a child-welfare worker visited the home, police say Victor told them.
According to the Miami Herald, “Miami-Dade police believe 10-year-old Nubia Barahona was murdered by her adoptive parents the day after a child welfare investigator visited the family’s west Miami-Dade home, according to arrest reports unsealed Monday.”
The paper continued, “Nubia’s twin brother, Victor, told detectives that he heard his adoptive father, Jorge Barahona, beating his sister to death on Friday, Feb. 11, while Victor remained bound and locked in the bathroom of the house. Barahona’s wife, Carmen, later told Victor that his sister “had been sent away,” the police reports say.” Read the entire story here.
The tale of adopted Miami twins Nubia and Victor Barahona grows more distressing with day’s news and revelations. A panel investigating the child-abuse death of Nubia and serious injuries on twin brother Victor learned that the two had told a psychologist of their fears of death or injury.
According to the Miami Herald, in the months before a Miami-Dade judge approved their adoption by longtime foster parents, the 7-year-old twin siblings told a child psychologist they sometimes had thoughts of killing themselves.
Nubia also confided that she wished she had more friends. And that she was “sure that terrible things are going to happen to her,” the Herald reported. Despite their fears, the judge approved their adoption in May 2009.
In time, the children’s worst — and professed — fears came true. Read the entire story here.
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Miami Gardens, FL – August 5, 2025 – CBS News- Miami Gardens mom faces neglect charges after nine children found living in “deplorable conditions,” police say A Miami Gardens mom is facing multiple counts of child neglect after police discovered nine children living in a home in “deplorable conditions,” according to Miami Gardens police.
Riviera Beach, FL – July 7, 2025 – CBS 12 News- DCF won’t comment after 7-year-old girl stomped to death; mom charged with murder It’s the agency with the most important mission in the state: keeping kids safe.
Tallahassee, FL – July 4, 2025 – WCJB- New Florida laws expand access to care for children with disabilities Children with disabilities across Florida will soon see more support, thanks to two new state laws aimed at improving access to care.
Clewiston, FL – May 27, 2025 – Fox 4- Clewiston city director arrested, accused of sending explicit texts to child A City of Clewiston operations director is facing serious charges – accused of sending sexually explicit texts to a 12-year-old girl.
Miami, FL – April 30, 2025 – NBC Miami- ‘Wish you well in hell’: Survivor quotes Cardi B as nurse gets life in adoptive daughter’s murder A Miami-Dade nurse convicted in the 2018 death of her 7-year-old adoptive daughter and the abuse of her other two adopted children was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday.
Orlando, FL – April 29, 2025 – WFTV 9- Records show Florida knew about defects in application portal for DCF benefits For more than a year, Florida’s Department of Children and Families has been telling 9 Investigates there are no problems with the state’s website for SNAP and Medicaid benefits.
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Cook County, IL – March 24, 2025 – WCBU- Illinois’ child welfare agency failed to produce critical reports after child deaths The state agency responsible for keeping Illinois’ most vulnerable children safe has failed to produce legally required public reports after examining what went wrong in hundreds of cases of child deaths and thousands of serious injuries, the Illinois Answers Project reports.
Chicago, IL – March 22, 2025 – ABC 7 Chicago- Illinois child welfare agency’s reporting on abuse and deaths scrutinized The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is now under scrutiny for its lack of proper reporting on child abuse and neglect cases, according to a report from the Illinois Answers Project.
Tallahassee, FL – March 9, 2025 – WFSU- Two Florida state agencies announce new tools for combating human trafficking Two state agencies are working to identify kids vulnerable to sex trafficking before they’re victimized. The Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have announced an enhanced screening tool and new grant funding for law enforcement.
Chicago, IL – January 31, 2025 – NPR Illinois- DCFS launches new app for caseworkers and families The state of Illinois is rolling out a new app to help parents of abused and neglected children better communicate with their Department of Children and Family Services [DCFS] caseworkers and with other service providers.
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Jacksonville, FL – September 20, 2024 – Action News Jax- Duval County teacher under investigation after 8-year-old is injured A Beauclerc Elementary School teacher is being investigated by Duval County Public Schools after a physical incident with an 8-year-old student.
Miami, FL – September 3, 2024 – Miami Herald- Rising costs of care could strain funding for Florida program for brain-damaged kids Facing withering criticism from parents, advocates, lawmakers and insurance regulators, Florida’s compensation program for children born with catastrophic brain injuries opened its bank account three years ago and improved the lives of some of the state’s most disabled children.
Orlando, FL – September 2, 2024 – Orlando Sentinel- Autism drowning deaths prompt push for children’s specialized swim lessons Drowning is the number one cause of death for kids with autism and Florida leads the nation in fatalies.
Aventura, FL – August 5, 2024 – WSVN News 7- Parents arrested after leaving toddler in hot car while they shopped at Target in Aventura, police say A man and woman were arrested on child abuse charges after allegedly leaving their 2-year-old child in a hot car while they shopped at Target in Aventura.
Austin, TX – July 18, 2024 – WPLG Local 10- Largest housing provider for migrant children engaged in pervasive sexual abuse, US says Employees of the largest housing provider for unaccompanied migrant children in the U.S. repeatedly sexually abused and harassed children in their care for at least eight years, the Justice Department said Thursday, alleging a shocking litany of offenses that took place as the company amassed billions of dollars in government contracts.
Daytona Beach, FL – July 9, 2024 – WESH 2- Police: Man arrested in Daytona Beach after dangling, dropping child off second-floor resort balcony A 31-year-old man was arrested on Saturday after allegedly dropping a 4-year-old off the second floor of a Daytona Beach resort, according to an affidavit from the police department.
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Homestead, FL – May 16, 2024 – WPLG Local 10- Homestead couple accused of murdering their 6-month-old baby girl Two 24-year-old parents brought their 6-month-old to Homestead Hospital in cardiac arrest Sunday afternoon; doctors found that the baby had no pulse and signs of severe child abuse, according to police.
Brevard County, FL – May 16, 2024 – WESH 2 Orlando- Family sues Brevard County day care for alleged child abuse and negligence An incident at a Brevard County day care involving a child and teacher has led to more allegations of child abuse and negligence after the Department of Children and Families studied surveillance video.
Chicago, IL – May 7, 2024 – WSIL – TV- Lawsuit alleges pervasive child sexual abuse at Illinois juvenile detention centers for decades A group of 95 people filed a lawsuit in Illinois on Monday alleging they were sexually abused as children in juvenile detention centers across the state for over two decades.
Wildwood, FL – May 4, 2024 – Fox 35 Orlando- Florida DCF worker accused of abusing 11-year-old foster child A Kids Central employee was arrested after he aggressively threw an 11-year-old foster child onto a couch and hurt her, according to an arrest affidavit from the Wildwood Police Department.
Tallahassee, FL – May 3, 2024 – The Tampa Bay Times – Nearly 600,000 Florida kids shed from government health care, study says Nearly 600,000 Florida children lost their government-provided health insurance last year after the federal government ended the national COVID-related health emergency, more than any other state except Texas, according to a newly released report by the Georgetown Center for Children and Families.
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