Miami Springs, FL – September 18, 2020 – WPLG Local 10- City shuts down Miami Springs hotel over drugs, human trafficking Police and prosecutors said they’ve had enough of a Miami Springs hotel that they have determined is a hot bed for criminal activity.
Miami, FL – September 11, 2020 – University of Miami News@TheU- Lauren Book uses her personal power to prevent sexual abuse From victim to thriving survivor, the Florida senator and alumna educates, protects, and helps children heal.
Buffalo, NY – September 16, 2020 – Genesee Sun- Grand Jury Indicts Buffalo Man For Brutally Beating, Raping, and Sex Trafficking Four Victims U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Michael McDonald, a/k/a George Jackson, a/k/a Rabbit, 41, of Buffalo, NY, with four counts of sex trafficking.
Arkansas – September 3, 2020 – Fox 16 News- A CLOSER LOOK: Former Fort Smith Boy Scout files sexual abuse lawsuit Nude photos and oral sex are just some of the improprieties a former Boy Scout said happened between the years of 1999 and 2001 by a Troop 16 Assistant Scoutmaster in Fort Smith, according to a federal court document filed Monday, August 31, 2020.
New York, NY – September 1, 2020 – AP News- Boy Scouts launch ads on how abuse victims can seek money Under the supervision of a bankruptcy judge, the Boy Scouts of America has launched a nationwide advertising campaign to notify victims of decades-old sex abuse by Scout leaders that they have until Nov. 16 to seek compensation from a proposed fund.
Orange County, FL – September 3, 2020 – Orlando Sentinel- Couple arrested after videos of child abuse surfaced on Facebook, deputies say An Orange County husband and wife face felony charges after videos surfaced on social media that showed them abusing a child, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Orange County, FL – September 3, 2020 – WKMG News 6- Facebook video showing child abuse leads to Orange County couple’s arrest An Orange County couple was arrested after multiple people reported a video posted to Facebook that showed a young girl being slapped and forced to sleep outside without clothing, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Lake City, FL – September 2, 2020 – First Coast News- Lake City couple charged after baby dies, toddler tests positive for drugs A Lake City couple is facing charges after their three-month-old baby died and another toddler tested positive for drugs, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Georgia – August 29, 2020 – CNN- US Marshals find 39 missing children in Georgia during ‘Operation Not Forgotten’ Authorities have found 39 missing children in Georgia during a two-week effort to rescue endangered minors.
Tampa, FL – August 28, 2020 – The Tampa Bay Times- Siblings in foster care should be kept together, Florida says – except when it argues the opposite Longing to be someone’s “mom” and “dad,” the North Carolina couple spent four years on an adoption waiting list.
West Palm Beach, FL – August 7, 2020 – WFLX Fox 29- What are the laws about leaving your children home alone? There’s a difficult conversation in the air these days. Many kids will start school virtually, so they’ll be home, and many parents will be at work. Many parents are worried about what a virtual start means for their jobs and their children’s safety.
National – August 5, 2020 – NBC News- Daisy Coleman, subject of Netflix documentary ‘Audrie & Daisy,’ dies by suicide at 23 Daisy Coleman, one of the subjects of the 2016 Netflix documentary “Audrie & Daisy,” died by suicide on Tuesday, according to her mother, Melinda.
Miami, FL – July 26, 2020 – The Miami Herald- ‘I feel left behind.’ How people with disabilities are coping with the pandemic Giovana Izzo hasn’t seen her son, Antonio, since March.
Brevard County, FL – July 22, 2020 – WFTV News 9- State to pay for burial of 6-month-old baby who died in temporary foster care in Brevard County A 6-month-old baby boy in Brevard County who died more than four months ago in the care of the Department of Children and Families will finally be laid to rest.
Homestead, FL – July 15, 2020 – The Miami Herald- Sex abuse claims revealed at Homestead shelter, where staff was not vetted for child abuse The now-shuttered Homestead detention center for migrant children in Miami-Dade had four child sex-abuse claims that resulted in the firing of one employee and the resignation of two others, according to newly released documents.
Boca Raton, FL – July 3, 2020 – The Palm Beach Post- DCF: Toddler drowned in Boca pool A 21-month-old drowned last month in a Boca Raton pool, newly released documents from the Florida Department of Children and Families show.
Miami Gardens, FL – June 18, 2020 – Miami Herald- 18 test positive for COVID-19 at His House, Florida’s largest foster group home Eleven children and seven staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 in Florida’s largest group home for foster children, the facility’s executive director confirmed to the Miami Herald.
West Palm Beach, FL – May 6, 2020 – CBS 12- Caregivers charged with child abuse of mute, blind quadriplegic girl A man and a woman face aggravated child abuse charges in connection to a mute and blind quadriplegic girl being left unsupervised at a hospital in West Palm Beach.
Sarasota, FL – April 26, 2020 – Sarasota Herald-Tribune- Coronavirus Florida: With schools closed, child abuse reporting declines As students are isolated from the school employees who normally alert authorities of potential abuse or neglect, calls to the state reporting hotline have dropped.
New York, NY – April 23, 2020 – NBC New York – Online Sex Predators Are Targeting Kids During Online Learning, FBI Warns Sex predators are increasingly trying to exploit kids online with so many school children home doing online learning amid the coronavirus crisis, according to the FBI, as agents report a growing number of complaints from parents.
Miami, FL – April 20, 2020 – Miami New Times – During Lockdown, Child Abuse in Miami Could Escalate On a normal day at Kristi House, the phones don’t stop ringing for long.
Tallahassee, FL – April 11, 2020 – CBS 4 Miami – DCF Workers Test Positive For COVID-19, Others Exposed Nine workers with the state Department of Children and Families have tested positive for COVID-19, and 16 others are self-isolating after being exposed to the novel coronavirus, officials confirmed.
National – March 23, 2020 – USA Today- Children more at risk for abuse and neglect amid coronavirus pandemic, experts say Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable U.S. children could face a heightened risk of abuse and neglect as coronavirus-related school closures keep them at home and away from the nation’s biggest group of hotline tipsters: educators.
Tampa Bay, FL – March 10, 2020 – The Tampa Bay Times- Foster care bill increases accountability but still leaves Tampa Bay area short Foster care agencies could face financial penalties for performing badly and lose state contracts for repeated failures under a new law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis.
Melbourne, FL – March 10, 2020 – News Break- 2 employees at behavioral facility accused in Brevard County child abuse case An employee at a behavioral health center in Brevard County is accused of repeatedly hitting a student while three other employees watched.
National – February 18, 2020 – CNN- Boy Scouts of America files for bankruptcy. Hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits are now on hold The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy, according to a court document filed in Delaware bankruptcy court early Tuesday.
Naples, FL – February 10, 2020 – Sun-Sentinel- Lawsuit claims Florida hotels didn’t stop sex trafficking Two Florida women who were victims of sex trafficking have sued almost two dozen hotels where they were forced to have sex, claiming the businesses did nothing to stop the illegal activity.
Jacksonville, FL – February 4, 2020 – Action News Jax- Kid Care Report: Jacksonville day care tagged with violations by DCF A local day care was tagged with two serious violations after a routine visit from the Department of Children and Families. In this week’s Kid Care Report, Action News Jax anchor Letisha Bereola went to the center and asked for a response from the director.
Miami, FL – January 30, 2020 – NBC 6 South Florida- Human Trafficking Victim Shares Story of Survival NBC 6’s Arlene Borenstein has the intimate story and how this woman is hoping to save the next generation from being victims.
Miami, FL – January 28, 2020 – The Center Square- Super Bowl first test of Florida’s new defense against human trafficking The influx of an estimated 200,000 visitors this week to South Florida also will test state agencies and local governments in their implementation of a new human-trafficking law.
Panhandle, FL – January 15, 2020 – NBC News- Florida 14-year-old girl set up camera to prove physical abuse A Florida teen set up hidden cameras in her home to prove her claims of physical abuse, officials said.
Lake Worth, FL – December 30, 2019 – The Palm Beach Post- Lake Worth Beach parents arrested after 10-month-old overdoses Authorities arrested a 10-month-old girl’s parents last week after she nearly died from an overdose, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office arrest reports.
Jacksonville, FL – December 30, 2019 – The Florida Times Union- Jacksonville daycare co-owner arrested in death of 4-month-old left in van It was a local death discussed in front of a congressional committee in Washington as well as in Tallahassee.
Fort Myers, FL – December 19, 2019 – The News Press- Meet Anber, a teen who struggles with mental health. Did the system fail her? Anber is part of a group of foster kids with serious mental and behavioral health needs that the Florida foster care system doesn’t know what to do with.
Texas – December 18, 2019 – The Chronicle of Social Change- Texas Projects a Severe Shortage of Foster Homes for High-Needs Kids Buried within a wonky “needs assessment” report recently released by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is a finding that should raise alarm bells around the state. And perhaps around the country.
A Sad Refrain: Broward’s Privatized Child Abuse System Does Not Protect Abused Children
It’s becoming an all too common refrain in Florida. Gabriel Myers, Tamiya Audain, Antwone Hope and now Ahzia Osceola, each slipped through the cracks of Broward’s Child welfare system and died.
A child dies or suffers serious child abuse, sexual abuse or neglect at the hands of his parents, guardians or caregivers. Once the Department of Children and Families launches its investigation, it’s discovered that the child was known to be at risk by ChildNet, Broward child investigators, and many others, but little to nothing was done to protect the child.
This sad refrain has come true again in the case of 3-year-old Ahziya Osceola. Though abuse investigators with the Broward Sheriff’s Office saw the signs of repeated abuse – bumps, bruises, fingerprints, scratches and abrasions on little Ahziya’s body – they failed to act or even acknowledge the “a pattern of repeat injuries” outlined in a report released this week by the Department of Children and Families.
Experts skilled in spotting child abuse reported twice that Ahziya was being injured, and CHildNet had regular “drive-by” visits with little substance. Yet, the Sheriff’s Office failed to act and left him with the abusers, according to the DCF report.
Ahziya died of his injuries, and his body was hidden in his Hollywood home. Stepmother Analiz Osceola, who had reported the child missing in an attempt to hide his death, remains jailed on charges of aggravated manslaughter.
The true horror of Ahziya’s story is that his tale is nothing new. The first report of abuse came in 2013. The fourth and final report came this year. He was known to be at-risk. He was left vulnerable to his abusers.
Whether at the city, county or state level, all too often those charged with protecting children overlook or ignore signs of abuse. Children die or are injured. Then officials who descend upon the case to “investigate” find signs of abuse overlooked.
The media covers the story. Those involved promise to fix the problems, whether specific to the individual case or the larger failings that seem to permeate child protective services statewide.
At the state level, new funding was found to hire more child investigators and create the child abuse hotline. DCF created a special unit to investigate these cases. Officials praise their own efforts.
Yet, Ahziya Osceola is gone having been yet another child who has slipped through the cracks of our privatized child welfare system.
When will the day come that this sad refrain will cease to happen, when at-risk children will be placed in safer surroundings, and we no longer will read about investigations botched or signs ignored? For now, we can only hope – and worry when the next case of abuse of an at-risk child will come.