Miami, FL – March 16, 2023 – Local 10 WPLG- Man accused of using Instagram to find minors for prostitution in Miami-Dade A 25-year-old man stands accused of using Instagram to prey on minors for prostitution in Miami-Dade County, according to prosecutors with the human trafficking task force.
Miami, FL – March 3, 2023 – Local 10 WPLG- Hollywood man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for attempting to sexually entice minors A federal judge in Miami-Dade County sentenced a Hollywood man to 15 years in prison for attempting to sexually entice two minors, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
Tampa, FL – February 18, 2023 – The Tampa Bay Times- State plans to take over child protective duties in Tampa Bay counties The Florida Department of Children and Families will take over child protective investigative duties from seven local sheriff’s offices, including those in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties, according to a letter dated Friday.
Hialeah, FL – February 15, 2023 – WPLG Local 10- Pair arrested in Hialeah after girl, 15, rescued from sex trafficking, authorities say Investigators with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office arrested two men accused of trafficking a 15-year-old girl for sex after authorities rescued her in Hialeah Monday, according to an arrest report.
Putnam County, FL – February 11, 2023 – News4Jax- Putnam County deputies find children living in home in ‘deplorable condition’ with 2 dead dogs inside, officials say A woman is facing child and animal neglect charges after deputies found children living in a home they called “deplorable,” according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Jacksonville, FL – January 28, 2023 – News4Jax- JSO: Toddler drowns in family pool at home in Jacksonville Heights neighborhood A toddler was found unresponsive in a family pool in the Jacksonville Heights neighborhood Saturday afternoon, The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said at a news briefing.
Brooksville, FL – January 12, 2023 – Fox 13 Tampa Bay- Florida holds roundtable to discuss human trafficking as arrests climb across state roadways Florida law enforcement officers gathered on Thursday to brainstorm ways to detect and stop human trafficking following a slew of arrests along the state’s highways.
Broward County, FL – January 10, 2023 – WPLG Local 10- Man sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for sex trafficking girl in Broward County A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after he was convicted of sex trafficking a teenager in Broward County who had been reported missing, authorities announced Tuesday.
Broward County, FL – January 3, 2023 – WPLG Local 10- BSO: Woman arrested for sex trafficking 13-year-old after leaving Broward foster home Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested an 18-year-old woman Monday who they said forced a 13-year-old girl to have sex with men after the two left a Southwest Ranches foster home.
Marathon, FL – December 21, 2022 – WPLG Local 10- Sheriff: Couple arrested in Keys after toddler found covered in roaches Deputies in the Florida Keys arrested a Fort Myers couple on child abuse and drug charges after they found a 2-year-old boy in “squalid” conditions, authorities said Wednesday.
Pembroke Pines, FL – December 20, 2022 – WPLG Local 10- Teacher’s aide accused of abusing autistic students at Broward school Pembroke Pines police arrested an Exceptional Student Education aide at West Broward High School Tuesday after accusing him of “inappropriately touching” at least two students with mental disabilities.
Tallahassee, FL – December 18, 2022 – The Sun-Sentinel- State leaders vow reforms to crack down on sex trafficking in Florida after Sun Sentinel investigation State officials vowed to implement new measures to fight sex trafficking in hotels, protect victims who cooperate with law enforcement and increase penalties for traffickers after a South Florida Sun Sentinel investigation exposed a broken system that enables the illegal trade to flourish in Florida.
New York, NY – December 8, 2022 – Wall Street Journal- New York Law Offers Chance to Sue Over Decades-Old Sex-Abuse Claims Lawyers promise civil lawsuits after yearlong window opened Thursday.
Gainesville, FL – November 1, 2022 – WGFL News 4- Gainesville parents accused of keeping kids in feces covered home After an investigation from the Florida Department of Children and Families, Gainesville Police accuse 67-year-old Jana Ronan and 60-year-old John Ronan of child neglect.
Marion County, FL – October 29, 2022 – WESH 2 News- Missing Marion County 2-year-old found safe, deputies say The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said a 2-year-old reported missing has been found safe.
Chicago, IL – October 15, 2022 – ABC News- Prominent Chicago priest accused of sexual abuse of minor A Catholic priest who gained national fame as an activist has been asked to step away from his ministry while allegations that he sexually abused a minor decades ago are investigated.
Fort Lauderdale, FL – September 26, 2022 – Local 10- Police locate parent of boy with special needs who was found alone in Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale police have located the parent of a 9-year-old boy with special needs who was found alone Monday morning, authorities said.
National – September 14, 2022 – K12 Dive- More at-risk children and families need voluntary home visits Voluntary home visiting programs for young children and their families yield benefits like school readiness, crime prevention and economic independence for families, but only 9% of the highest-priority families receive services when federal, state and local resources are combined, according to a report released Tuesday.
Broward County, FL – September 2, 2022 – NBC Miami- Long-Time DCF Employee Accused of Giving Away Money, Benefits A 20-year veteran employee of Florida’s Department of Children and Families is accused of giving money, food stamps, Medicaid and other public assistance to people who did not qualify for it, court records show.
Chicago, IL – September 1, 2022 – CBS Chicago- ‘Numbers don’t lie’: After a 10th child on the DCFS radar dies in the last 9 months, lawmakers demand changes CBS 2 has learned another child on the radar of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has died.
Palmetto, FL – August 29, 2022 – ABC Action News- New report finds DCF’s human trafficking screening tool may not identify all victims A screening tool the state uses to help identify child victims of human trafficking is not very reliable, a new report shows, and “may not successfully identify” all kids.
Chicago, IL – August 10, 2022 – CBS News- Family on DCFS radar for 19 years under investigation again after 3-year-old I’Kera Hill died of malnourishment Three-year-old I’Kera Hill’s family was investigated 10 times for close to 20 years. Ten siblings were removed from the home.
Tallahassee, FL – July 21, 2022 – WPLG Local 10- Did you receive a $450 check in the mail from Gov. Ron DeSantis? Don’t throw it away, cash it Floridians have begun receiving $450 checks in the mail from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but a lot of people are wondering if it’s a scam.
Miami, FL – July 18, 2022 – The Miami Herald- Florida insisted mom wasn’t a danger to her children — until the kids were hogtied, strangled For years, state child welfare administrators responded with metronomic regularity to reports of violence and instability in the home of Odette Joassaint.
Homestead, FL – July 18, 2022 – WPLG Local 10- Family seeks answers in death of 10-month-old at Homestead daycare An investigation is ongoing after a 10-month-old baby died on Monday.
Tallahassee, FL – June 23, 2022 – Fox 35 Orlando- Florida Department of Children and Families looks to recruit veterans, former law officers Veterans, military spouses, and former law-enforcement officers are being encouraged to apply for jobs as state child-protective investigators in an initiative backed by Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis.
Fort Lauderdale, FL – June 22, 2022 – CBS News- Former Cerebral employees say company’s practices put patients at risk: “It’s chaotic. It’s confusing. It could be extremely dangerous” Dr. David Mou believes that Cerebral “saves lives.”
Pensacola, FL – June 17, 2022 – WPLG Local 10- DeSantis wants panel to probe trafficking, sanctuary cities Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has asked that a statewide grand jury be set up to examine networks that illegally smuggle people into the state.
Oakland Park, FL – June 15, 2022 – NBC 6 Miami – Parents Arrested After Girl, 3, Overdoses on Fentanyl: BSO An unconscious 3-year-old girl had no pulse and was not breathing when Oakland Park Fire Rescue resuscitated her with Narcan, a treatment for an opioid overdose, authorities said.
‘Transformation’ at Florida Department of Children and Families Ineffective in Protecting State’s At-Risk Youth from Harm, Death
Florida children’s rights attorneys and child advocates who work to protect at-risk children from sexual abuse, physical abuse and wrongful death have recoiled in horror at the deaths of four children in as many months. That the children died at the hands of caregivers or family is sad. What’s worse is that all were known to administrators at Florida Department of Children and Families and their contracted community-based care providers as being in risky situations. All their cases were closed without remedy.
Now, DCF is promising a “transformation” of its practices.
The missing component here is any lack of coherent protective services for the children. There have been no long-term involvement to ensure the children’s ongoing safety or removal from risky situations. All this, even though investigators in every case identified the risks to the children.
One child in Seminole died in a stifling car – left there by a mother officials knew from two prior investigations to be an alcoholic. Other kids were beaten; reports were left on the state’s child abuse hotline.
But in each situation, the cases were closed without action or remedy. What’s worse, state law currently requires investigations be closed after 60 days unless there’s been a dependency filing to bring the children into care.
Without that, no one is empowered to oversee the previously identified risk to the children – or whether it was addressed.
Essentially, the state has habitually declassified risk. Yet, the risks have not disappeared or been addressed. They’ve been hidden away in cases that have been closed – without any true closure or resolution.
Four times in four months, this practice was proved to be a failure.
DCF’s proposed “transformation” of child protective investigations offers no good solutions, only bad recommendations. It will lower scrutiny for highly at-risk kids and will leave practices pretty much unchanged.
What’s worse, questions and comments presented at a hearing to review these changes – and answers to which are required by Florida Administrative Code – went unanswered.
Stifling inquisition and dissent will not make the problems go away. Promising “transformation” and delivering hollow promises will not remove the risk from these children’s lives.
Some people we trust at DCF truly believe that this “transformation” is the best thing to happen in years. Advocates remain skeptical. As Florida’s Children First recently commented, “We are continuing to assert that the transformation needs to be stalled and a thorough look taken at what is being done. We believe that the concept is a very good one, but that the Rule being proposed does not help get this in action, and in fact will be harmful to children.