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Archive for the ‘Adoption’ Category
More than 150 local attorneys and officials were in attendance this week to celebrate the awarding of the University of Miami Law Alumni Association’s Alumni Achievement Award to Howard M. Talenfeld. A leading Florida foster care abuse attorney and life-long advocate for children’s rights, Talenfeld was recognized for his tireless efforts on behalf of society’s most vulnerable citizens.
The award was presented by Fort Lauderdale attorney and 2015 award recipient Bruce Lyons, Miami attorney and president of the Law Alumni Association Edward R. Shohat, and University of Miami School of Law Dean Patricia D. White.
“Howard was a natural for this award. We’re very proud of his pioneering work for children’s causes,” said Shohat. “The association represents over 30,000 alumni around the world, and Howard is an excellent ambassador for the school.”
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In its 10 years serving Florida’s at-risk foster children, Florida Youth Shine has helped thousands of current and former foster children find their way – and serve as examples for other kids going through the state child welfare system. One such success story is Janice Goldsberry.
 Now 22 years old, Janice was in foster care for 11 years, from the age of 7 until she “aged out” at 18. She was often separated from her two siblings, had been in 15 homes that she can recall, 11 middle and high schools, and was the victim of the emotional trauma common to foster children.
Though her feelings of emotional neglect and depression continue, Janice still is a success story.
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 As an attorney, Gloria W. Fletcher was the staunchest advocate for her clients. As a champion for the children, she was one of Florida’s great child advocates. Though a formidable, tenacious criminal defense attorney for her clients, including many law enforcement personnel, Gloria arguably had her greatest impact on the lives of children. From the streets of Gainesville, to the federal and state courts of Florida, to the halls of the Florida Legislature and even the governor’s office, she was a force to be reckoned with when arguing on behalf of the state’s neediest children. That was where many knew her best. With her passing this week, that’s where many will miss her most.
Gloria for years served as Vice President and an active board member of Florida’s Children First, a statewide child advocacy organization, where she pressed for foster children to have attorneys. With her relationships in the capital and her unwillingness to take “No” for an answer, she pursued key legislation from sponsors through committees straight to the governor’s desk.
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If making life better for Florida’s abused, abandoned and neglected children is not already on your charitable priority list, consider Florida’s Children First. Thanks to the unwavering support of child advocates and supporters statewide, we’ve been able to help some of the 20,000 children in foster care who depend Florida’s Children First to make improvements in the system of care that make their lives better.
You can read here about our most recent accomplishments. But we need your help to continue our good work. Your donation to Florida’s Children First helps children who have been abused or neglected or abandoned, and your money is used wisely. Instead of asking you for a donation today, we are asking that you plan for the future and put Florida’s Children First in your 2015 Charitable Giving Budget.
There are three things that set us apart from the rest:
1. Our work is informed by the voice of the youth – listening to and promoting our youth advocacy organization, Florida Youth SHINE (current and former foster youth).
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Florida’s Children First, the state’s premier child advocacy organization, will hold its 2014 Broward Child Advocacy Awards & Reception on Thursday, February 27 at 5:30pm at the 110 Tower in Fort Lauderdale (110 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale 33301).
The event will honor:
– Children’s Services Council of Broward County as the Children’s Advocate of the Year
– Taevon Pierre & Aaron Dames as the Youth Honorees of the Year and
– Forever Family Bella’s Group as the Youth Inspiration Award
Master of Ceremonies will be Todd Templin, former WPLG reporter and current Vice President with Boardroom Communications.
Sponsors include Boardroom Communications; Colodny Fass Talenfeld Karlinsky Abate & Webb; Guardian Trust: Coral Gables Trust; Lifestyle Media Group; Daily Business Review; and Paul Palank Memorial Foundation.
For more information, contact: Debby Beck (fcf@floridaschildrenfirst.org or 954-796-0860).
(Scroll Beyond This Introduction to Read the Latest Blog Post)
Thousands of foster children, former foster children, developmentally disabled and medically needy children are part of the Florida child care system. If you’re currently or formerly a child in – or an advocate for or parent of a child in the foster care system, Florida Child Advocate is here to help.
Every year, thousands of foster children, medically needy children, or those physically abused, sexually abused, the victims of personal injury, legal damages, and pain and suffering are left to seek solutions on their own. No child should go through this on his or her own. And for the almost 500 who have died while under state watch, they deserved better.
This site was created by the law firm of Talenfeld Law, which was founded by nationally known Florida child advocate Howard Talenfeld, the preeminent children’s rights attorneys focusing exclusively on protecting the rights of physically and sexually abused children, developmentally disabled children and other at-risk children. Florida Child Advocate is dedicated to protecting children and addressing key issues facing those with foster care, physical abuse, child sexual abuse, social services, dependency, disability or personal injury and damages claims or lawsuits against the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), lead agencies, community based care providers, and other child welfare providers.
We believe that children belong with their own families. However, we also believe that when protective investigations by the Florida DCF and its agencies reveal that children are at high risk of neglect, child sex abuse or physical abuse by their parents, they must be placed with suitable relatives when they are available, and if not, some children must be placed in foster care. Critically, if children are going to be taken into foster care, they should be protected by the Florida Department of Children & Families and their community partners from the risk of physical and sexual abuse and returned home or placed in loving and nurturing adoptive families as quickly as possible. Topics also include the rights of foster Children to be safe from harm in care, their right to medical, psychological care, and disability benefits, their educational rights, and their rights on the road to independence.
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What can you learn from a child or young adult? Listen and you’ll see. Members of Florida Youth Shine, who are current and former foster children, spent their summer speaking to child advocates throughout Florida, and working in the nation’s capital. They shared information about independent living legislation and other issues affecting foster kids.
The “Voice of the Youth” series took the young adults across the state to share their stories.
They spoke at trainings sessions, statewide committee meetings, and to the media that covers child advocacy issues.
In the past weeks, 22 Florida Youth Shine members actively participated in two workshops at The Department of Children and Families Child Dependency Summit in Orlando. There to learn, advocate and learn about leadership building, they also presented at workshops and served on panel discussions.
Among the events in which Florida Youth Shine members participated were:
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The Florida Department of Children and Families finds itself under increasing scrutiny as yet another child suffers serious abuse and apparent personal injury while under its watch. Child advocates and attorneys fear for the child’s future – and that of others like him.
The Sunshine State News Service asked in an article whether a Florida DCF transformation of its old system “cut too many corners” It’s a valid and timely question.
The child most recently injured was first admitted to the hospital with a broken leg his mother claimed resulted from a fall. Workers tasked with overseeing children did not act to investigate the claims. A later cracked rib went uninvestigated. The child was nearly killed in the third incident that severed his liver.
At least one judge has had enough.
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The Daily Business Review in Miami / South Florida reports on the 10 severely disabled adults, including four who are homeless, who will get help under a $9.7 million settlement with New York City for abuse they suffered as children or young adults in an adoption scam perpetrated by Judith Leekin.
Two South Florida law firms – one whose partner is Howard Talenfeld, considered among the top child abuse, personal injury, damage claims and wrongful death attorneys focused on foster child and at-risk populations – negotiated the settlement.
The lawsuit filed in New York federal court in 2009 in collaboration with Children’s Rights Inc., a New York-based nonprofit law firm.
“The partial settlement could not have come at a better time because four of these young adults are homeless and need the settlement immediately just to survive,” said Talenfeld, with Fort Lauderdale firm Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate & Webb said. “We’ve come too close to losing one or two former Leekin children, and we had to act.”
The other attorney, Ted Babbitt of Babbitt, Johnson, Osbourne & Le Clainche in West Palm Beach, said $3 million each would go to two adoptees placed with foster mother Judith Leekin through a city-run adoption office. The city’s liability was higher in those cases because of its direct involvement.
Read the entire story here.
Although the Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary’s initiative to recruit 1,200 more foster parents is admirable, the plan to eliminate the rules could prove disastrous for some children. In repealing these rrules, Florida needs to remember the death of children like Nubia Barahona and Latiana Hamilton where foster and adoptive parents were directly responsible for the deaths of these children. The negligence of DCF and employees of private agencies were directly responsible for the deaths of these foster children.
According to a story in the Tallahassee Demograt, “On Thursday, Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins announced an initiative to help families care for kids temporarily taken from their families. The initiative, Fostering Florida’s Future, is a marketing campaign to recruit 1,200 new foster families and promote less-restrictive parenting rules that did little to protect children and much to discourage participation by foster parents.”
Florida had some 4,317 foster families in Florida in June, a 14 percent decline from the year before, the paper reported. “The department recruited 1,000 families last year, but more left for a variety of reasons. Some adopted the kids they fostered. Others chose not to continue as foster parents as they aged, Wilkins said.”
Read more…
Under the cloud of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case, attorneys, guardians and other child welfare advocates are watching a new law that has the Florida the Department of Children and Families preparing for the prospect of thousands of new calls reporting child abuse. In October, one of the toughest child abuse reporting laws in the nation will debut in the state.
“What we’re saying to the public is – if you suspect a child is being abused or neglected by anybody contact us,” DCF spokesman John Harrell told Action News Jacksonville.
As the news organization reported, Florida law currently requires mandatory reporting of child abuse by parent or a caregiver. The new “Protection of Vulnerable Persons” law will launch DCF involvement regardless who the suspected abuser is.
“Based on our research, with this new law we’re expecting about 30,000 more calls,” Harrell told the news organization. Currently, DCF receives about 40,000 calls a year.
Read the entire story here.
The photo exhibit called The Heart Gallery of Broward County showcases foster children searching for permanent homes. Created in 2008, the exhibit travels the county – from churches to hospital and malls – revealing the lives of foster kids.
For brothers Tyler and Kyle, one poignant photograph of the blue-eyed brothers brought them to their new family, the Miami Herald reported.
“Since becoming wards of the state’s welfare system five years ago, Tyler and Kyle have each lived in four foster homes. Twice they were separated,” the paper reported.
“’I saw things no kid should see,” 14-year-old Kyle said Monday, as he and Tyler, 16, became the 100th and 101st adoptions made possible by the Heart Gallery of Broward County. “Now I’m going to be with an actual family.”
Read the entire story here.
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Hollywood, FL– September 15, 2017 – WPLG Local 10- Lawsuit filed seeking records involving deaths of 8 Hollywood nursing home residents An emergency lawsuit was filed Friday morning, seeking “preservation and production of vital records, documents and surveillance” from the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills.
Hollywood, FL– September 13, 2017 – The Sun-Sentinel- Six dead at Hollywood nursing home where Hurricane Irma knocked out air conditioning Six people died in a Hollywood, Florida, nursing home that had no air conditioning after Hurricane Irma knocked out power.
Miami, FL– September 3, 2017 – The Miami Herald- New foster-care boss gets a laundry list of what needs fixing Our Kids, the organization responsible for the care and safety of foster children in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, has a new leader in place with an impressive resume.
Orlando, FL– August 30, 2017 – WFSU- This Year Marks 20th Anniversary Of Florida’s Child Protection Summit This year marks the 20th anniversary of Florida’s 2017 Child Protection Summit in Orlando. It’s hosted by the Florida Department of Children and Families. JoShonda Guerrier, DCF’s Assistant Secretary for Child Welfare, helped kick off Tuesday’s event.
Pensacola, FL– August 21, 2017 – The Naples Daily News- Florida day care with suspected ‘hot-car death’ has history of violations The Florida day care where a toddler died Friday in a suspected hot-car death has had four violations by the state Department of Children and Families over the last two years.
Orange County, FL– August 10, 2017 – WFTV ABC 9- 9 Investigates: DCF orders suspension of day care where toddler died in hot van Even though the Florida Department of Children and Families investigators noted five incidents of noncompliance at the Little Miracles Day Care within the last six months, 9 Investigates reporter Karla Ray uncovered DCF’s own rules prevented it from shutting the place down.
Jacksonville, FL– August 9, 2017 – The Florida Times Union- Foster Kids, Suicide; System Isn’t Working It is heartbreaking to learn that yet a third child in our state’s foster care system has ended her life by hanging herself within the last year.
Miami, FL– August 4, 2017 – WPLG Local 10- Miami-Dade County School Board sued after teacher accused of molesting students A former student of Miami Palmetto Senior High School has filed a lawsuit against the Miami-Dade County Public School Board, more than a year after her former teacher was arrested on charges of sexual battery on a minor.
West Palm Beach, FL– August 4, 2017 – CBS 12- Report: DCF employees overworked, understaffed An internal review by the Department of Children and Families highlights an overworked agency in need of help.
Miami, FL– August 3, 2017 – The Miami Herald- ‘Jason’s Girls:’ Palmetto High teacher accused of string of sexually charged relationships In 2008, someone e-mailed the principal at Dr. Michael M. Krop High School with a serious allegation: a creative writing teacher was having sex with current and former students.
Boynton Beach, FL– August 3, 2017 – ABC Local 10- 8-year-old girl from Boynton Beach dies months after drinking boiling water An 8-year-old girl from Boynton Beach died shortly after midnight Sunday, months after she drank boiling water after being dared to do so by her cousin, the Palm Beach Post first reported.
Orlando, FL– August 3, 2017 – The Miami Herald- Bullied girl is third Florida foster child to hang herself in year On her last night, Giulianna Ramos Bermudez repeatedly refused to take her prescribed medication and bickered with the mother of her Orlando foster care group home.
Pensacola, FL– August 1, 2017 – WPEC CBS 12- Man gets 30 years in prison for toddler son’s death A Florida man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his toddler son’s death.
West Palm Beach, FL– July 27, 2017 – The Palm Beach Post- Florida’s first responders to child abuse overwhelmed, inexperienced The first people the state dispatches to the homes of potentially abused and neglected children in Palm Beach County are overworked and in some cases cutting corners, data show.
Coral Springs, FL– July 26, 2017 – The Sun-Sentinel- Man, 25, had sex with boy, 14, in Coral Springs library, cops say After meeting the 14-year-old boy for a sexual tryst in a Coral Springs library last spring, the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea man was eager to do it again, police said.
Delray Beach, FL– July 15, 2017 – The Sun-Sentinel- Toddler dies after being trapped in hot car for two hours, police say A 23-month-old boy died Saturday after he was trapped inside a hot car for two hours. The BMW was parked outside a home in Delray Beach, police said.
Port St. Lucie, FL– July 12, 2017 – The Palm Beach Post- St. Lucie corrections deputy accused of raping child A St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office corrections deputy has been arrested on allegations that he sexually assaulted a child.
Tallahassee, FL– July 4, 2017 – WTXL ABC 27- Foster families can now visit Florida state parks for free Families hosting Florida’s nearly 13 thousand foster children can now visit any of the state’s 174 state parks for free, thanks to legislation passed during the 2017 session.
Fort Lauderdale, FL– June 19, 2017 – The Daily Business Review- Job Misfire Leads to Different Legal Career Path for Talenfeld As a salesman in college, Howard Talenfeld got used to getting doors to open and finding opportunities. It taught him tenacity.
Taunton, Mass.– June 16, 2017 – WSVN 7- Woman who sent texts urging suicide guilty of manslaughter A woman who sent her boyfriend a barrage of text messages urging him to kill himself when they were both teenagers was convicted Friday of involuntary manslaughter.
Bradenton, FL – June 15, 2017 – The Miami Herald- 28-year-old Florida woman charged with raping 6-year-old A Bradenton woman was charged with capital sexual battery after officials say she admitted to participating in and watching the rape of a 6-year-old victim.
Palm Beach County, FL – June 9, 2017 – WPTV News Channel 5- DCF sued after Palm Beach children burned with grease by guardian Vivienne Otero is suing the Department of Children and Families, and other agencies, for negligence. Otero claims DCF failed to protect her children, when they put them in the custody of a woman named Debra Galloway.
Jupiter Farms, FL – June 4, 2017 – The Palm Beach Post- 11-month-old boy dies; welfare workers fail, even on the basics Brayden Howard was alive Sept. 20 when a caseworker, alarmed by drug paraphernalia found in his family’s Jupiter Farms home, strapped the 5-month-old in her car and headed south to the home of an “aunt.”
Tampa, FL – May 10, 2017 – The Tampa Bay Times- Child abuse tips silenced for months by DCF computer glitch Hundreds of reports about potential child abuse may have been overlooked for months because of a Florida Department of Children and Families computer glitch.
Miami-Dade County, FL – May 3, 2017 – The Miami Herald- Miami’s foster agency recruiting new leader with long resume in Florida social services As a leader of Florida’s child welfare agency, George Sheldon often had to stand toe-to-toe with administrators of Our Kids, Miami’s privately run foster care agency. Soon, he may be one of them.
Miami-Dade County, FL – April 24, 2017 – Florida Politics- Florence Snyder: Why children die, Part 4 — Clues in the resignation letters In the wake of two suicides of teenage foster children in their “care,” the “leadership team” of Miami’s “community-based care” agency took their marbles and accrued benefits and went home.
Miami-Dade County, FL – April 20, 2017 – The Miami Herald- Foster care agency leaders quit amid teen suicides, other turmoil Beset by turmoil over the recent suicides of two foster children in their care — and persistent complaints that they were overly secretive and unresponsive — three of the top administrators of Miami’s Our Kids child welfare agency have resigned.
Broward County, FL – April 12, 2017 – The Sun-Sentinel- South Florida teens victimized by human trafficking, officials warn Human trafficking that ends with teens in sexual slavery is on the rise in South Florida, experts said Wednesday, warning that every family – regardless of income, education or location – could become a victim.
Florida Keys, FL – April 6, 2017 – The Miami Herald- How a suicidal Florida foster child fell through the cracks When Lauryn Martin-Everett hanged herself at a troubled Tavernier youth shelter, children’s advocates in the small island community began asking questions. The answers, they were told, were hundreds of miles away.
Jacksonville, FL – April 6, 2017 – News4Jax- DCF data shows spike in child deaths in Jacksonville Data from the Department of Children and Families reveals a sudden spike in child fatalities in the first three months of 2017, including one in January, three in February and seven in March.
Miami, FL – March 28, 2017 – Florida Politics- Did Florida DCF create media frenzy after foster child’s suicide to distract from agency errors? Naika Venant’s mother vehemently refutes narratives by the state agency in a March 13 report, including suggestion she ‘allegedly’ commented on Facebook Live thread taunting daughter while watching and did nothing; lawyer says agencies ‘abysmally failed’ Naika.
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Peers Mourn Loss of Florida’s Leading Child Advocate, Foster Child Abuse Attorney
Gloria for years served as Vice President and an active board member of Florida’s Children First, a statewide child advocacy organization, where she pressed for foster children to have attorneys. With her relationships in the capital and her unwillingness to take “No” for an answer, she pursued key legislation from sponsors through committees straight to the governor’s desk.
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