A former collegiate football player, Trulon Henry, has been accused of sex crimes against children in Illinois DCFS custody. He is charged with three counts of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and predatory criminal sexual assault stemming from crimes he allegedly committed while employed by Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness in Bronzeville.
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WPEC: No prison time for mother who imprisoned adoptive son in 8×8 boxAs reported by WPEC, a South Florida mother accused of keeping her adoptive son locked in an 8×8 box in the garage pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated child abuse, false imprisonment and neglect of a child. She was sentenced to 10 years of probation with one year of house arrest. Oregon Capital Chronicle: Oregon DHS and Disability Rights Oregon settle long-running class-action foster care lawsuitAs reported by the Oregon Capital Chronicle, the Oregon Department of Human Services has agreed to a settlement in a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of the state’s foster children. The agreement, which ends five years of litigation, will hold the state agency more accountable for improving the Oregon child welfare system. Exposing the Hidden Nightmares: Former Inmates Break Silence on Sexual Abuse in Illinois Youth CentersThe once-hidden horrors of the Illinois Youth Centers (IYCs) are now under the glaring spotlight, as numerous former residents bravely speak out about the sexual abuse they ensured while detained, leading to multiple lawsuits for damages and a closer examination of systemic failures within these institutions. The alarming statistics from official reports, coupled with heart-wrenching personal accounts, have highlighted a pervasive issue that demands urgent attention. Justice for Kids Achieves Three Top 50 Florida VerdictsJustice for Kids, a division of Kelley Kronenberg, is pleased to announce the division and several of its attorneys have been recognized on Top Verdict’s list of the top 50 plaintiff’s jury verdicts obtained in Florida in 2023. These include:
Child Welfare Agencies Accused of Keeping Foster Children With Developmental Disabilities at Hospitals Beyond Medical NecessityFailure to discharge a foster child from a psychiatric hospital is actionable as a Civil Rights Claim Invoking 42 USC § 1983. Justice for Kids attorneys filed a civil rights lawsuit by a foster child for damages pursuant to 42 USC § 1983 in federal court in Palm Beach County, FL and for negligence against various Florida Department of Children and Families employees and a private mental health crisis stabilization unit for violating the due process rights of a foster child who was confined for almost one year in a crisis stabilization unit because there were no appropriate placements for discharge. The Plaintiff settled this lawsuit against the private agency for an undisclosed amount and the DCF and its employees for $1.6 million. Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill to Close Support Gap for Foster Youth in Transition to AdulthoodMay 6th, 2024
 No Comments  Florida Youth Shine, Florida's Children First, Foster Care, Legislative & Regulatory IssuesA new Florida law will provide youth in Florida’s foster care system with more support as they become adults. This legislation makes an existing Independent Living support called Aftercare Services available to a population of youth who were placed with relatives, non-relatives, or adopted as a teen. Previously, they were not able to access the vital programs and assistance they needed to thrive when they transitioned to independence at 18. These services include mentoring, tutoring, mental health services, substance abuse counseling, job and career skills training, parenting classes, emergency financial assistance, financial literacy training, and more. Navigating A Path Forward: Steps to Take in Suspected Child Abuse CasesAs Justice for Kids marks Child Abuse Prevention Month, it’s imperative that we shine a spotlight on this critical issue affecting Illinois and the broader nation. Statistics unveiled by the Department for Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the US Department of Health and Human Services paint a stark picture of the magnitude of child abuse and neglect within our communities. With over 231,000 calls to the DCFS hotline last year and an annual victim count reaching over 35,000 in Illinois alone, the urgency for awareness and action has never been more pressing. April: A Month of Awareness and Action for Children’s RightsAs the flowers in spring bloom, we should not forget that April has been designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time when we collectively turn our attention to the silent struggles of countless abused, neglected and catastrophically injured children who face trauma and unimaginable circumstance within what should be the safety of their homes and foster care. At Justice for Kids, our commitment to uphold and protect children’s rights is not just our mission; it’s a promise—a vow to stand in the gap for the voiceless and the vulnerable. Oregon Capital Chronicle: DHS offers record $40 million to settle lawsuit from abused foster childrenAs reported by the Oregon Capital Chronicle, the Oregon Department of Human Services has agreed to pay $40 million to settle a lawsuit filed by four former foster children who were sexually and physically abused in a foster home, court records show. Read more here. Prominent Children’s Rights Attorney Howard Talenfeld Named to Forbes Top 200 American LawyersHoward M. Talenfeld, a leading children’s rights attorney and Business Unit Leader of Justice for Kids, a division of Kelley Kronenberg, has been recognized on Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s Top 200 Lawyers. He is one of only six lawyers on the list nationally selected for Civil Rights Law. According to Forbes, this list highlights the finest practitioners in the profession—lawyers with stellar track records in their specialties, those who have broken barriers to emerge as leaders in their fields, and those most respected by peers and clients. Faith’s Law, a Law Aimed at Eradicating Sexual Misconduct at Illinois’ SchoolsFaith’s Law is a law named after prevention advocate and child sexual abuse survivor Faith Colson, who was sexually abused by a teacher at her high school in Illinois. Years later, during the course of legal proceedings related to the abuse, Faith learned that several adults within her high school suspected that the teacher’s relationship with her was inappropriate but did not take appropriate action to report their concerns. This motivated Faith to push for change to state laws related to educator sexual misconduct in K-12 schools. |
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