A 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.
What is FCA? |
Child Advocacy Blog |
Search |
|
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 IssuesNavigating 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. Sexual Abuse and Negligence at an Elgin DaycareA former employee of an Elgin daycare is facing six counts of sexual abuse in connection to the abuse of two children younger than 13 years old over the course of nearly 14 years, according to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office. The Kane County Child Advocacy Center and the Elgin Police Department conducted the investigation, which revealed that the man, Walaitis, allegedly abused two children who were under the age of 13 between December 2008 and July 2022 while working at The Learning Tree, Elgin West. Those investigating said Walaitis was the victims’ teacher and held a position of authority, trust, and supervision over the children at the daycare center. Walaitis is now facing six felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The attorneys at Justice for Kids are able to help victims of such abuse seek justice to remedy the wrongs suffered. DCF Must Pay $15 Million to a Child for Failing to Protect her From Horrific Abuse, a Jury DecidedThe Department of Children and Families (DCF) failed to investigate complaints that the mother was using drugs and endangering her child, who suffered “catastrophic” permanent injuries from severe abuse and neglect. The child, H.H., is now eight years old and completely dependent on others for all aspects of her daily functioning, according to Justice for Kids, which represented her. The award is among the largest in state history for this kind of case. The jury’s verdict speaks to “the sheer magnitude and severity” of the girl’s injuries, attorney Stacie Schmerling said. The Department received a report through its abuse hotline about H.H. and her brother in May 2017, concerning drug activity in the home and poor living conditions. Moreover, the stepfather, who lived in the home and was a caregiver to H.H., had a criminal history that included arrests for violent crimes, the complaint says. Sun-Sentinel: Four relatives face charges in Margate teen’s decade of alleged abuse. Police expect more arrests.As reported by the Sun-Sentinel, “It took one text message to a teacher to uncover years of alleged abuse that a 15-year-old girl said she suffered at the hands of her caregivers.” Family Awarded $13.5 Million for Adoption that Led to Molestation Following a Trial Led by Justice for KidsFollowing a seven-day trial led by the Justice for Kids Team, a jury awarded $13.5 million to a family that suffered harm after the adoption agency Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) failed to warn them about psychological problems that make their adopted son unsafe to be around their daughters, one of whom was later molested. The $13.5 million dollar verdict against JFCS validated claims by the boy’s adoptive parents that the nonprofit failed to convey how risky it would be to place the boy in their home. “They cannot escape accountability,” attorney Justin Grosz told jurors during final arguments for the seven-day trial, which centered on whether Jewish Family staff failed before adoption to alert the couple to behavioral problems that could last a lifetime. WPLG: Relative who worked at child abuse nonprofit is latest arrest in Margate teen torture caseAs reported by WPLG Local 10, authorities arrested a former worker at a child abuse prevention organization in connection with an investigation into an alleged house of torture. This happened in Margate, FL where multiple family members are accused of brutalizing, caging and starving a 15-year-old girl for years. WFTS: Citrus County taking over investigation of foster care abuse allegationsAs reported by ABC Action News, a group of individuals is accusing their former foster parents, Jacklyn and Jerold Logemann, of abuse. After nine kids in foster care were removed from their home, a criminal investigation was launched regarding allegations from former foster kids and the current living conditions at the home, according to police records. |
|