Rochester, NY – August 14, 2019 – USA Today- Hundreds of child sex abuse claims filed on first day of New York’s Child Victims Act Thousands of New Yorkers who were molested or sexually abused as children have been waiting for years – in many cases, for decades – for their day in court.
New York, NY – August 14, 2019 – CNN- abuse lawsuits The New York State Court system is expecting so many lawsuits as part of a new child sex abuse law that 45 judges have been set aside to deal exclusively with them, spokesman Lucian Chalfen said.
New York, NY – August 13, 2019 – The New York Times- He Says a Priest Abused Him. 50 Years Later, He Can Now Sue. A new law has created a “look-back window,” during which claims that had passed the statute of limitations can be revived.
Los Angeles, CA – August 9, 2019 – The Los Angeles Times- I was born into foster care. A mentor would have made a big difference in my life I was born into foster care. My mother was in prison when she was raped and became pregnant with me. Like many mothers who must surrender their children to foster care because of addiction, disability, mental illness or incarceration, she was not allowed to keep me.
Oakland Park, FL – August 7, 2019 – The Miami Herald- Daycare hit with slew of violations after death of 2-year-old in sweltering van The driver of the daycare van in which 2-year-old Noah Sneed died after being left for five hours in the sweltering heat didn’t follow protocols when she turned off a safety alarm before letting the children out of the vehicle, a recently released report shows.
Hollywood, FL – July 30, 2019 – The Sun-Sentinel- Human trafficker forced sisters into prostitution by beating and raping them, police say A Hollywood man forced two sisters into prostitution, drove them to appointments with dozens of men, beat and raped them and took whatever money they collected, police said.
Gainesville, FL – July 26, 2019 – WCJB- Symposium on how to fight human trafficking held in Gainesville The ongoing fight against human trafficking is picking up steam in North Central Florida. The Suwannee River Area Health Education Center partnered with several organizations in Gainesville to provide human trafficking education and training to health care professionals.
Orlando, FL – July 22, 2019 – Fox 35 Orlando- Orlando police search for person who abandoned newborn on doorstep Orlando police are searching for the person who abandoned a baby at the doorstep of an Orlando apartment.
Miami, FL – July 11, 2019 – The Miami Herald- Juvenile justice guards offered bribes for beatings, witnesses testify at ‘honey-bun’ trial Two witnesses to the attack that killed 17-year-old Elord Revolte at the Miami-Dade juvenile lockup in August 2015 testified that guards ordered beatdowns of kids in detention in exchange for snacks at the state-run detention facility.
Broward County, FL – July 5, 2019 – The Miami Herald- Reports of child neglect piled up. BSO declared the kids safe. Now the boys are dead. In April 2018, state child welfare authorities were told that then-21-year-old Wildline Joseph got stoned regularly, and allowed two of her small children to wander the neighborhood day and night with no supervision.
Tallahassee, FL – June 27, 2019 – Florida Politics- Ron DeSantis signs ‘A Year is a Long Time in the Life of a Child Act’ Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed into law the “A Year is a Long Time in the Life of a Child Act,” a measure designed to reduce the amount of time abused and neglected children spend in foster care.
North Lauderdale, FL – June 21, 2019 – The Miami Herald- A month after unsupervised brothers drowned, DCF is silent on whether it was neglect For several hours, Wildine Joseph allowed her two small sons to play outside unsupervised in her apartment complex, long after the sun had set.
Tampa, FL – June 15, 2019 – Tampa Bay Times- He used to find children ‘not terribly interesting.’ At last count, Tampa man had fostered 17. The phone call came two days before Christmas. Would you be willing to foster a preemie baby born to a drug-addicted mother?
Miami, FL – June 5, 2019 – CBS 4 Miami- Miami Woman Accused Of Leaving Child Home Alone Faces Neglect Charges A Miami woman is facing child-neglect charges after police said an officer found her seven-year-old son home alone.
Miami, FL – June 5, 2019 – Miami New Times- Our Kids to Undergo Mass Layoffs After Losing $500 Million Foster-Care Contract The yearlong battle over a government contract to provide foster-care services in South Florida has come to an end — and so has the current provider.
Homestead, FL – June 5, 2019 – Miami New Times- Trump Administration Cancels Legal Aid, Recreation, English Classes for Homestead Shelter Kids Legal advocates reported Friday that thousands of refugee kids stuck at the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children regularly complain about being depressed, lonely, miserable, and mistreated in the American refugee shelter system.
Bloomington, IN – June 4, 2019 – CNN- A 12-year-old boy who was starved, chained and kept in a dog collar died. His mother never knew he left the state Eduardo Posso was supposed to be living in Florida with his sister, father and stepmother and attending school.
Fort Lauderdale, FL – June 3, 2019 – WPLG Local 10- 3 arrested after foster child beaten for not finishing homework, police say Three people were arrested Friday after beating a foster child with a jump rope, belt, clothes hanger and charging cord for not finishing his or her homework, police said.
Orlando, FL – May 29, 2019 – News 13- Watchdog: Number of Florida Kids Held Under Baker Act on the Rise Labeled a threat and held at a mental health facility against your will — a Spectrum News 13 Watchdog investigation has found this situation happening to thousands of children every year in Florida, including many who are younger than 10.
Fort Lauderdale, FL – May 2, 2019 – WPLG Local 10- Fort Lauderdale man accused of repeatedly beating 3 children at home, gym A Fort Lauderdale man was arrested Wednesday on three counts of aggravated child abuse for repeatedly beating his three young children at his home, inside his car and at his gym, authorities said.
Parkland, FL – April 23, 2019 – The Sun-Sentinel- Therapists may have inflamed Parkland shooter, lawyer claims Therapists supported the use of violent video games by the teen who later killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Broward County, FL – April 18, 2019 – The Miami Herald- Child abuse investigators competed to cut their caseloads. The winner got a pizza party. The Broward Sheriff’s Office’s child welfare unit wanted to lower its caseload as quickly as possible last month, so leaders launched a contest.
South Beach, FL – April 11, 2019 – WPLG Local 10- Florida Department of Children and Families takes tourist’s daughter A 3-year-old girl walked out of a hotel room in South Beach after spending more than four hours alone without access to food or water, according to Miami Beach Police Department officers.
Mendocino County, CA – April 6, 2019 – CNN- Jennifer Hart drove her six children to their deaths as her wife looked up how much they would suffer, a jury says As a drunk Jennifer Hart drove her six adopted children in their family SUV, her wife, Sarah, sat in the passenger seat looking up different ways to end a life.
Haines City, FL – April 2, 2019 – The Ledger- Couple accused of ‘reprehensible’ child neglect Haines City Police arrested a couple for aggravated child neglect with great bodily harm, a second-degree felony, after a 2-year-old child in their custody was found with multiple injuries.
Tallahassee, FL – March 25, 2019 – The Sarasota Herald-Tribune- Foster parent privacy bill passes second Florida House committee A bill backed by the Florida Department of Children and Families that would shield the names of foster parents from the public passed a state House subcommittee Monday after dramatic testimony from several foster parents.
Tallahassee, FL – March 20, 2019 – The Sun-Sentinel- State investigated abuse claims at South Florida migrant shelter for children Florida’s child-welfare agency has investigated six cases of alleged child sexual abuse at a federal migrant shelter in South Florida in less than a year, including allegations involving caregivers.
Tampa, FL – March 19, 2019 – The Tampa Bay Times- State agrees to foster care reforms in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, but what about rest of Florida? The agency that runs foster care in Florida has agreed to no longer place children overnight in hotels or unlicensed offices, to stop squeezing more children into foster homes than they are licensed for and to keep children aged 6 and younger out of group foster homes staffed by shift workers.
Dunnellon, FL – March 14, 2019 – Ocala Star Banner – Mom, grown daughter accused of running unlicensed day care in Dunnellon A mother and daughter were arrested Wednesday and accused of operating a children’s day care without a license.
Tallahassee, FL – March 12, 2019 – Sarasota Herald Tribune – DCF proposes to keep foster parent names secret A bill proposed by the Florida Department of Children & Families that would conceal the names of foster parents from public view will be heard for the first time by a House subcommittee Wednesday.
Miami, FL – March 5, 2019 – Miami New Times – Before Foster Child Naika Venant’s Suicide on Facebook Live, Florida Failed to Help Her Still dressed in her school uniform, Naika Venant went live on Facebook at 6:12 p.m. November 10, 2016.
Rockledge, FL – February 7, 2019 – WFTV 9 – Group home worker arrested years after woman with mental capacity of child gave birth A group home resident with the mental capacity of a small child gave birth in 2015, and an employee at the facility was arrested Tuesday.
Jacksonville, FL – February 4, 2019 – First Coast News WTLV – Foster home on Jacksonville’s Westside closes amidst DCF investigation A foster home on Jacksonville’s Westside has closed its doors amidst a Department of Children and Families investigation that started after the home’s director was accused of covering up child abuse.
Largo, FL – January 17, 2019 – The Tampa Bay Times- The fallout from state review of 2-year-old Jordan Belliveau’s death State Sen. Lauren Book accuses the Florida Department of Children and Families of passing blame in the death of 2-year-old Jordan Belliveau. Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says foster care in his county is not as fractured as a review found.
Live Oak, FL – January 15, 2019 – Fox News- Three children in Florida die after locking themselves inside freezer: police Three children in Live Oak, Florida, died Sunday after they accidentally trapped themselves in a freezer while playing outside, the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office announced early this week.
Advocates Wonder About Another Lost in South Florida Child Protection Maze
Several years ago, Rilya Wilson went missing while under the care of a foster parent – and the apparent watchful eyes of Florida Department of Children and Families case workers. Now, word has emerged that Dontrell Melvin hasn’t been seen by county and regional child protective services since summer 2011.
Another child slipped through the cracks and is lost. The news raises serious questions about the Florida Department of Children and Families, its children hotline and the wisdom of recent budget cuts. To be sure, these two cases are dissimilar. Rilya was in foster care; Dontrell is more a case of investigative woes by the Broward Sheriff’s Office and Child Net’s failure to provide protective services.
Yet, the end result is the same. A child is missing – and no one knows where he or she is. Read the story here.
More to the point, in the case of little Dontrell, no one even looked for about 18 months. Now, Hallandale Beach Police are on the hunt.
Unlike Rilya’s case, where her foster mother, Geralyn Graham is being tried in Rilya’s purported death (as no body ever has been found), one can only hope for a positive outcome. UPDATE: Police on Friday reportedly found human remains in the Melvin yard.
Still, police are asking anyone who knows anything of Dontrell’s whereabouts or details to call 954-457-1400 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.