Tallahassee, FL – August 10, 2018 – The Miami Herald- Head of Florida’s long-troubled child welfare agency steps down The head of Florida’s long-troubled child welfare agency is stepping down, the state announced Friday, after a four-year stint that saw him serve longer than the agency’s other recent chiefs.
Boca Raton, FL – August 7, 2018 – The Sun-Sentinel- Protesters target prison-and-detention operator Geo Group in Boca Raton More than 100 people gathered Tuesday at Geo Group’s temporary headquarters in Boca Raton to protest the company’s business in prisons and immigration detention involving children.
Tampa, FL – August 4, 2018 – The Miami Herald- Two days before mom was charged with murdering her daughter, DCF said she was ‘safe’ Two days before police say 4-year-old Je’Hyrah Daniels’ mother dragged the screaming girl into the Hillsborough River and left her to die, child welfare investigators determined the girl was in “no impending danger.”
Tallahassee, FL – July 31, 2018 – WCTV- Tallahassee man charged with child abuse A Tallahassee man has been arrested on child abuse charges after the Department of Children and Families received multiple complaints.
Carrollwood, FL – July 23, 2018 – The Tampa Bay Times- Group homes brace for radical overhaul of federal foster care funding Since the 1940s, abused, abandoned and neglected teens have found refuge at Lake Magdalene, a group foster home run by Hillsborough County.
Walton County, FL – July 14, 2018 – The Miami Herald- As staffer laughed, boy was sexually assaulted at Florida juvenile program, deputies say The Walton Academy for Growth and Change is supposed to provide a “secure residential treatment program for males, ages 13 to 18,” according to law enforcement in the Florida Panhandle town.
Houston, TX – July 12, 2018 – The Washington Post- Abuse, neglect and a system that failed: The tragic lives of the Hart children One day, she thought, the three kids would come back and find her. They would return to Houston and reunite with the woman who fought to keep their family together.
Sunrise, FL – July 13, 2018 – WFLA News Channel 8- Parkland shooting commission uncovers more system failures The Tampa Bay area sheriff overseeing an investigation into the Florida school massacre says the state’s mental health evaluation law would not have prevented suspect Nikolas Cruz from buying guns.
Miami, FL – July 1, 2018 – The Florida Bar News- Panel asked to study pre-trial depositions of child sexual abuse victims Miami-Dade State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle is asking a Florida Bar committee to study a potential ban on the pre-trial deposition of child sexual abuse victims.
Orlando, FL – June 21, 2018 – ABC Action News Tampa Bay- Job postings may shed light on life for unaccompanied migrant children at Homestead shelter What IS life like for migrant children in federal custody without their parents?
Orlando, FL – June 19, 2018 – The Daily Business Review- South Floridians Honored at the 2018 Florida Bar Convention An array of South Florida legal professionals returned from this year’s Florida Bar convention with awards honoring their service.
Bradenton, FL – June 12, 2018 – The Miami Herald- They knew she was a suicide risk. Girl, 15, was still able to hang herself in the lockup. Florida juvenile justice administrators knew that Alleny Carbone was at risk of taking her own life: During at least a dozen stays in state custody, she had been placed on suicide alert.
Tallahassee, FL – May 24, 2018 – WCTV- Make a difference, become a foster parent A staggering statistic: 24,000 children are currently in Florida’s foster care system, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Clearwater, FL – May 5, 2018 – WTSP News 10- Clearwater couple accused of child abuse after baby stops breathing A man and a woman are facing child abuse charges after an 18-month old girl stopped breathing, Clearwater police said.
Tallahassee, FL – April 26, 2018 – WTXL ABC 27- Identifying signs and red flags of child abuse April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. The Tallahassee Memorial Behavioral Health Center says there are signs and red flags of child abuse.
Tallahassee, FL – April 3, 2018 – The Capitol News Service- Ann Scott Leads Ceremony for Child Abuse Awareness Month April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and to spread awareness for the cause First Lady Ann Scott led this year’s Pinwheels for Prevention event with a group of students.
Tallahassee, FL – March 27, 2018 – The Tampa Bay Times- After years of waiting for damages, these people will finally collect In one case, a ladder flew off a state truck, leading to a fatal accident. In another, an infant died after a paperwork error at a county health clinic. In another, a foster child sexually assaulted another boy.
Tallahassee, FL – March 26, 2018 – Florida Trend- Gov. Rick Scott signs 74 bills into law Today, Governor Rick Scott signed the following bills into law: Relief of C.M.H. – This bill directs the Florida Department of Children and Families to provide over $5 million in relief to C.M.H., an individual formerly in the care of the Department.
Tallahassee, FL – March 13, 2018 – The Palm Beach Post- Lawmakers OK $5 million payment by DCF to abused former Wellington boy More than four years after a Palm Beach County jury ordered the Florida Department of Children & Families to pay $5 million to a former Wellington boy who was sexually assaulted by a foster child whom the state department placed in his home, state lawmakers have finally agreed to pay up.
Fort Myers, FL – March 8, 2018 – The Fort Myers News Press- Pass sexual trafficking bills The Florida Legislature now has the ability to pass two bills that will significantly lessen the impact of human trafficking — HB 167 by Rep. Ross Spano and SB 1044 by Sen. Lauren Book.
Clearwater, FL – February 28, 2018 – WFLA News 8- Public blocked from Eckerd Connects board meeting amid Hillsborough foster care crisis The Eckerd Connects Board of Directors, which is now facing a foster care crisis in Hillsborough County, held a closed meeting Wednesday morning in Clearwater despite calls from the governor, DCF and 8 On Your Side attorneys to open the discussion to the public.
Tallahassee, FL – February 26, 2018 – Florida Politics- Calling for ‘heart,’ lobbyist Nikki Fried announces possible run for Governor Lawyer-lobbyist Nicole “Nikki” Fried, who specializes in medical marijuana issues, says she might run for Governor this year after coming to the conclusion the current field of Democratic candidates “need(s) a heart transplant.”
Parkland, FL – February 19, 2018 – WPLG Local 10 News- Judge rules to make DCF records on Nikolas Cruz public A judge ruled Monday for records from Department of Children and Families concerning accused Parkland gunman Nikolas Cruz to be made public.
Parkland, FL – February 15, 2018 – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – Who is Nikolas Cruz, accused gunman in Florida high school attack? Prosecutors have charged Nikolas Cruz with 17 counts of premeditated murder after he allegedly opened fire Wednesday at a Florida high school he was kicked out of last year.
Tampa, FL – February 13, 2018 – The Tampa Bay Times- State dispatches nine experts to probe Hillsborough’s foster care troubles A pattern of leaving teens in foster care unsupervised has already cost a local child welfare agency a $9.2 million contract.
Miami-Dade County, FL – February 6, 2018 – WPLG Local 10- State ignored warnings before boy’s death, grandmother says The mother of a woman accused of killing her 2-year-old son said that she repeatedly warned state authorities that her grandson was in danger, but her calls went unanswered.
Tallahassee, FL – February 1, 2018 – The Tallahassee Democrat- Opinion: Florida’s foster children deserve legal representation This year nearly 30,000 children will live away from their parents because our child welfare system brought them into state care.
Tallahassee, FL – January 26, 2018 – The Chronicle of Social Change- Push to Guarantee Lawyers for Florida Foster Youth Falls Short An attempt to constitutionally guarantee legal counsel to children removed from their parents in Florida fell short this week, leaving proponents to mull other strategies for providing lawyers to kids in foster care.
Fort Lauderdale, FL – January 8, 2018 – The Daily Business Review- Urge the Constitution Revision Commission To Do Right by Foster Children Florida has the opportunity to become an exemplar to the nation by amending its Constitution with Proposal 40, filed by Commissioner Belinda Keiser.
Orlando, FL – December 29, 2017 – The Orlando Sentinel- Legislation targets human trafficking in the hotel industry The men came, one after another, to a hotel room in the heart of Orlando’s tourism district. For $200 an hour, a 16-year-old girl was forced to have sex with the strangers while her pimp kept watch from a car in the hotel parking lot.
Fort Pierce, FL – December 27, 2017 – CBS 12- Man accused of sexual misconduct with mental health patient Police arrested a man who is accused of engaging in sexual misconduct with a mental health patient in Fort Pierce.
Palm Beach County, FL – December 21, 2017 – WPTV News Channel 5- DCF: Protocol not followed in investigations before 8-year-old’s death The Florida Department of Children and Families has made an important admission: DCF says it could have done better in the case of an 8-year-old Palm Beach County girl, who died after drinking boiling water on a dare from her cousin.
Miami, FL – December 13, 2017 – WPLG Local 10- Day care in downtown Miami closes after deaths of 2 children A day care center in downtown Miami closed voluntarily Tuesday after two children died of suspected meningitis this month, according to Florida Department of Health officials.
Boynton Beach, FL – December 7, 2017 – The Palm Beach Post- Kids found in ‘filthy’ conditions at Boynton home; parents arrested A 3-year-old child found wandering alone and living in “filthy” conditions led to the arrests of a Boynton Beach couple Wednesday on child-neglect charges.
Tallahassee, FL – November 15, 2017 – The Florida Bar News- Bill would pay court costs for pro bono lawyers for special needs kids More pro bono attorneys will step up to represent dependent children with special needs if they don’t have to reach into their own pockets to pay court costs.
Pasco County, FL – November 15, 2017 – WFLA News Channel 8- DCF says system breakdown preceded unexplained Pasco baby death A DCF report says a breakdown in communication preceded the July 25 death of a newborn in Pasco County who was found unresponsive while sleeping next to its mother.
Miami, FL – November 12, 2017 – The Miami Herald- We can’t ignore sexual-abuse victims just because they’re not famous Naika Venant. Giulianna Ramos Bermudez. Nubia Barahona. Victor Barahona. Their names just don’t resonate the same way that those of Angelina Jolie, Lupita Nyong’o, Ashley Judd, and Rose McGowan do. But they should.
Brevard County, FL – November 4, 2017 – WFTV Channel 9- Woman accused of beating girl, 14, at behavioral facility in Viera A Brevard County woman entrusted with caring for children with behavioral health issues was fired after being charged with child abuse, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said.
Brevard County, FL – November 3, 2017 – WFTV Channel 9- Woman says behavioral facility didn’t protect daughter from worker accused of sexual battery A woman wants changes to be made at a youth behavioral health facility after she said it failed to protect her daughter from an employee accused of having sexual contact with the girl.
Southwest Miami-Dade, FL – November 6, 2017 – WSVN- Mother confesses to murdering daughter, dumping body in dumpster Police have arrested and charged a woman in the investigation of a dead girl found in a Southwest Miami-Dade dumpster.
Cocoa Beach, FL – November 3, 2017 – WFTV Channel 9- Mother speaks out after treatment facility staffer accused of sexually assaulting her daughter A local mom says a behavioral health facility for teens failed to protect her daughter from one of it’s workers who is now accused of having sexual contact with the girl.
Cocoa Beach, FL – August 2, 2017 – WFTV Channel 9- Devereux employee in Viera fired after allegations of sexual relationship with student 24-year-old employee of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health in Viera was fired this week after being charged with having a sexual relationship with a student from the school.
Washington, DC – November 2, 2017 – The Sun-Sentinel- U.S. passports to identify child sex offenders America’s registered child sex offenders will now have to use passports identifying them for their past crimes when traveling overseas.
Haiti – November 1, 2017 – The Miami Herald- He says he tried to be a ‘dad,’ but these Haitian girls say he sexually abused them As the operator of an orphanage in Haiti’s touristy seaside city of Jacmel, Daniel Pye provided orphaned and underprivileged Haitian children with a roof over their heads, schooling and a view of the outside world through movie night and internet access.
Palm Beach County, FL – October 17, 2017 – The Sun-Sentinel- School district should stop blaming children in sexual abuse cases Victim blaming shouldn’t be a lesson taught by the Palm Beach County School District.
Ohio – October 13, 2017 – CNN- Kids for sale: ‘My mom was tricked’ The 7-year-old girl, dressed in bright pink and holding one of her favorite stuffed animals, sees her mother for the first time in nearly a year. A brilliant smile spreads across Namata’s face, punctuating her excitement.
Daytona Beach, FL– October 9, 2017 – The Orlando Sentinel- Former DCF worker arrested, accused of falsifying records in child-abuse case A former Florida Department of Children and Families worker has been arrested on charges of falsifying records in a case involving a student who came to elementary school with bruises on the face, leg and arm, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Monday.
Manatee, FL– October 5, 2017 – The Bradenton Herald- Death of 1-year-old boy under investigation, but DCF not releasing many details The death of a 1-year-old boy who was found unresponsive while in the care of his mother’s boyfriend in now under investigation.
Largo, FL– September 26, 2017 – The Tampa Bay Times- State investigation cites multiple failures in death of Largo child It was sweltering in the bedroom of the Largo mobile home the day a child welfare case manager visited in July.
Palm Beach County, FL– September 22, 2017 – The Sun-Sentinel- Children with disabilities abused at group home, complaints allege A state-funded group home that is supposed to help South Florida children with disabilities has racked up a history of complaints including child abuse and neglect, police and state records show.
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.
