Kalamazoo, MI – April 2, 2021 – NBC News- Michigan to ban restraints in youth facilities after Cornelius Frederick’s death The death of a 16-year-old foster child who was restrained led Michigan officials to re-evaluate the care children receive in these facilities.
Miami, FL – March 29, 2021 – Local 10 WPLG- Miami-Dade teacher faces judge after arrest on charges of sexually molesting student A South Florida high school teacher is facing several charges for allegedly sexually molesting a student.
Palm Beach, FL – March 29, 2021 – The Miami Herald- Latest indictment says Ghislaine Maxwell groomed girl as young as 14 for Epstein’s abuse Ghislaine Maxwell was indicted Monday on federal sex trafficking charges involving a victim who says she was 14 when she was groomed by Maxwell to be sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein at his Palm Beach mansion.
Hollywood, FL – March 23, 2021 – The Sun-Sentinel- Federal grand jury indicts two for trafficking 16-year-old girl for sex, prosecutors say A federal grand jury has indicted a Hollywood man and a Miami Gardens woman for the alleged sex trafficking of a 16-year-old girl.
Pasco County, FL – March 6, 2021 – The Miami Herald- DCF employee and her husband charged with sexually battering a 13-year-old girl, cops say A Department of Children and Families employee and her husband are accused of repeatedly sexually battering a 13-year-old girl over a period of 10 months, according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.
Clearwater, FL – March 5, 2021 – The New York Post- Florida couple charged with neglecting 3 children, killing 1 A heartless Florida couple is facing a slew of charges for severely neglecting three kids — including one who died last summer, authorities said.
Tallahassee, FL – February 5, 2021 – The Miami Herald- Leadership changes at DCF, AHCA as DeSantis names new heads of key state agencies After just two years at the helm, Chad Poppell has resigned as the head of the Florida Department of Children and Families, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office.
Sunrise, FL – February 2, 2021 – The Miami Herald- Two FBI agents fatally shot, three wounded while serving warrant in Sunrise. Gunman is dead Two agents were shot and killed and three wounded while serving a warrant at a Sunrise home Tuesday morning, the FBI confirmed Tuesday morning.
Tallahassee, FL – January 26, 2021 – The Miami Herald- State’s investigation points to these non-profit executives making too much money A Hialeah mental health center, the lead foster care provider in Tampa and agencies that provide child welfare services in Sarasota and mental health services in Pensacola are among the nine nonprofit organizations spending millions compensating executives above the limits allowed by state law, a preliminary report from the governor’s Office of Inspector General has found.
Plantation, FL – January 24, 2021 – WPLG Local 10- Baby bleeding outside car, mother ‘passed out’ from alcohol inside, according to Plantation police A 27-year-old mother is facing charges of child abuse and other offenses after a 7-month girl was found outside of a car in Plantation bleeding, according to Plantation Police.
Orlando, FL – January 14, 2021 – WESH 2 News- Quick-thinking Orlando waitress credited with saving boy from allegedly abusive parents An Orlando waitress saved a young boy from allegedly abusive parents after she noticed he was bruised and wasn’t being allowed to eat.
Daytona Beach, FL – January 7, 2021 – The Daytona Beach News-Journal- ERAU professor, local pastor arrested on child porn charges had plans to foster children A former Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor and local church pastor arrested Wednesday for possessing child pornography had plans to foster children from the state, Daytona Beach police said.
Ocala, FL – December 22, 2020 – The Miami Herald- Florida’s Lowell prison is cesspool of sexual abuse by staff, feds say in blistering report In a scathing rebuke of Florida’s Department of Corrections, the U.S. Department of Justice has found that officers at Lowell Correctional Institution have repeatedly raped, sodomized, beaten and choked female inmates as part of a pattern of rampant civil rights abuses that go back years.
Orange County, FL – December 15, 2020 – The Miami Herald- Florida dropped its probe of a troubled group home. Then a man died at its sister facility State disability administrators were so concerned for the safety of residents at an Orange County group home that they filed a complaint in March, alleging the home’s staff improperly restrained a resident, and then it lied about what happened.
Broward County, FL – December 10, 2020 – The Sun-Sentinel- Grand jury: Florida’s mental health care system ‘a mess’ Florida’s broken mental health system has “urgent problems” and should be overhauled by a new commission with broad authority to investigate failures, a statewide grand jury says.
Jacksonville, FL – December 4, 2020 – Action News Jax- Caseworkers talk challenges of helping abused and neglected kids virtually Covid-19 has changed the way we live our lives and do our jobs, and there’s growing concern among the child welfare community.
Miami, FL – November 23, 2020 – Florida Today- I’m a former foster child and Florida’s system needs to be overhauled | Opinion The USA TODAY Network’s recent landmark investigation into Florida’s child welfare system reflects both my personal experience in foster care and the ways in which well-meaning state policies often inflict unintentional harm on a community’s most vulnerable population.
Miami, FL – November 30, 2020 – The Miami Herald- She aged out of foster care, but her siblings haven’t. She’s trying to get custody Rodericka Carter, 21, lives in an almost empty apartment high up over Brickell.
Leon County, FL – November 23, 2020 – Tallahassee Reports- Leon County Commission Outlines Next Steps for Children’s Services Council Earlier this month, Leon County voters approved the creation of a Children’s Services Council.
Palm Beach County, FL – November 13, 2020 – The Sun-Sentinel- A mom will explain how her 7-pound girl starved to death. The dad faces the death penalty. By all appearances that night in the emergency room, Tayla Aleman never had a chance.
Sarasota County, FL – November 12, 2020 – 10 Tampa Bay- Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office employee accused of sexually abusing a child A Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office employee was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexual battery of a person under 18.
Flagler County, FL – November 11, 2020 – WESH 2- DCF worker accused keeping abuse of child from law enforcement A Florida Department of Children and Families worker was arrested after the abuse of a child was allegedly kept from law enforcement for weeks.
Tallahassee, FL – November 1, 2020 – WFSU- Florida’s Foster Care System Woes Spark Furious Debate On Fixes A critical newspaper story has roiled Florida’s child welfare system. Lawmakers and advocates are concerned.
Kendall, FL – October 29, 2020 – The Miami Herald- Miami mom accused of drowning autistic son in canal faces death penalty after indictment Patricia Ripley, the West Kendall mother accused of murdering her 9-year-old autistic son by pushing him into a canal, now faces the death penalty.
New York, NY – October 27, 2020 – NBC News- NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere sentenced to 120 years in prison The shadowy group that operated near Albany, New York, has been the subject of the HBO docuseries “The Vow.”
Tallahassee, FL – October 27, 2020 – Florida Trend- Attorney General Moody and FLHSMV Launch Highway Heroes Campaign to Stop Human Trafficking on Florida Roadways Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles today launched a campaign aimed at enlisting half a million commercial truck drivers in the fight to end human trafficking.
New York, NY – October 27, 2020 – The New York Times- Sex Cult Leader, Facing Life Sentence, Regrets Nothing Several victims are expected to testify when Keith Raniere, the founder of Nxivm, is sentenced this week for sex trafficking, extortion and other crimes.
Boca Raton, FL – October 26, 2020 – NBC News- Inside the surveillance software tracking child porn offenders across the globe In December 2016, law enforcement agents seized computers and hard drives from the home of Tay Christopher Cooper, a retired high school history teacher, in Carlsbad, California. On the devices, digital forensic experts found more than 11,600 photos and videos depicting child sexual abuse, according to court documents.
Miami Gardens, FL – October 26, 2020 – Local 10 News- Popular track-and-field youth coach arrested on alleged sexual battery A popular Miami Gardens youth track-and-field coach was arrested Sunday on allegations of sexual battery pertaining to a former teenaged female athlete, according to an arrest warrant.
Daytona Beach, FL – October 25, 2020 – The Daytona Beach News-Journal- USA Today investigation shows that protecting children must be a top priority Florida lawmakers have a bad habit of trying to solve social problems on the cheap. When it comes to the child welfare system, the results have been disastrous.
Miami, FL – October 16, 2020 – WSVN 7 News- Special education teacher at Auburndale Elementary School arrested, fired after child abuse accusations A special education teacher at Auburndale Elementary School has been arrested and fired after some alarming allegations.
Miami, FL – October 16, 2020 – The Daily Business Review- A Warning to Schools: Miami-Dade Child’s Lawsuit Alleges Sex Harassment by Classmates A lawsuit that alleges a middle school student was sexually assaulted by classmates because the School Board of Miami-Dade County ignored repeated reports of harassment could serve as a lesson to all schools on liability under federal civil rights law Title IX.
Broward County, FL – October 12, 2020 – The Sun-Sentinel- These 19- and 21-year-old women trafficked girls for sex, prosecutors say Two young women posted nude photos of underage girls on websites in order to sell the children for sex, and rented Airbnbs almost a dozen times so that clients and victims could meet, prosecutors say.
Tallahassee, FL – October 6, 2020 – Florida Politics- 2020 Human Trafficking Summit kicks off virtually with thousands in attendance Attorney General Ashley Moody on Monday delivered her opening remarks at the 2020 Human Trafficking Summit, which is being held virtually for the first time in the event’s history.
3 Tips to Avoid Abuse by Youth Sports Coaches: See Something, Say Something
The news media recently reported about a youth league baseball coach being arrested – for at least a second time – for molesting children under his supervision. He was identified as a longtime coach with a South Florida Optimist Club. Parents had allowed the coach to have unsupervised sleepovers with a player from his team, “despite the multiple previous arrests involving molestation on his record,” the media reported.
The previous arrests led to no convictions, so background checks the league says it performed came up clean.
That is not good enough. Parents with children in youth sports or cheerleading programs must be vigilant in protecting their children from physical abuse, sexual abuse and the harm from predators.
Every year about this time, parents are signing up their children for youth sports programs. Whether football, soccer, cheerleading, even fall-league baseball, parents will be entrusting their children to the care and authority of coaches and organizations. Yet, how much do we know about those authority figures in whose care we’re placing our children? How do we know these coaches aren’t child molesters or have not been accused of sexual assault, sexual abuse or other crimes against children?
This week, news broke about a youth baseball coach who was accused for a second time of molestation of children in his care. While he was suspected and not charged, the incident brings to light the importance of protecting children – and the role due diligence can play in vetting and choosing the “authority figures” we present to our children.
How can unsuspecting parents protect their sons and daughters from sexual predators – even those who prey on the young under the guise of being a sports coach? Here’s three tips:
– Check records and background checks. It’s not enough to insist that the league conduct a thorough criminal background check of the coaches, assistants and others who will be working with the kids. The league must do this. Leagues, and even parents, also should conduct wider background checks. Even a simple Google search for a coach can help uncover a history worth knowing. On a positive note, it may reveal even past charitable acts or good deeds. Or, it may turn up nothing at all. But you don’t know if you don’t search.
– Be more cautious about leaving kids alone with coaches. Insist that the coach never be left alone with any players, cheerleaders or team members. Rules should state that coaches are not to ask or encourage children to travel with any child without other adults present and the express consent of the parents or guardians. At the very least, parents must instill in their children a sense of caution regarding requests by other adults and authority figures. If an adult asks the child to take a drive, travel, walk to a secluded area or someplace away from the team or park, the child should know to decline and call his or her parents immediately.
– Talk to your child. If you don’t ask, you can’t know. Parents should ask their kids more frequently if all is OK with their team experience, the other kids, the coaches, etc., as a way to encourage open dialogue. With the rise in child-on-child abuse, this could be a way to expose bullying or inappropriate behavior.
In a prepared statement, the Optimist Club said, “The accused individual passed comprehensive background checks, which were conducted by the Optimist Club’s background check vendors.” It also noted that it cannot know of past misdeeds if criminal charges against the accused resulted in acquittal, nolle prossed or dismissal.”
As a parent, that’s not good enough. It’s up to you to protect your children. Talk with them. Tell them to be cautious about strange situations or awkward requests made by the coaches. And most important, if they experience anything that makes them uneasy, the children must be encouraged to talk about it.