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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.
If this were a child earning the grade, authorities and parents would be enraged. Instead, the national study from national child advocacy organizations First Star and the Children’s Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law gave Florida a failing grade for the legal rights Florida provides for affords abused and neglected children.
According to the News Service of Florida, national study – A Child’s Right to Counsel: A National Report Card on Legal Representation for Abused and Neglected Children – graded each state and the District of Columbia on how well they protect the legal rights of abused and neglected children in dependency court.
Read the article here.
A report released recently by two national child welfare advocacy organizations has created debate about the legal rights Florida provides for affords abused and neglected children.
According to the News Service of Florida, national study – A Child’s Right to Counsel: A National Report Card on Legal Representation for Abused and Neglected Children – graded each state and the District of Columbia on how well they protect the legal rights of abused and neglected children in dependency court.
Florida was among the ten states that failed. The study was conducted by national child advocacy organizations, First Star and the Children’s Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law.
Florida failed, among other reasons, because of its discretionary – not mandatory – appointment of attorneys for children in dependency cases, the media reported. Advocates and the statewide Guardian ad Litem program dispute the findings.
Read the entire story here.
To Florida child advocates and children’s rights attorneys, Gov. Rick Scott has appeared very child friendly. He named his wife, Ann, to the post of Florida’s chief child advocate. He slotted Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins to oversee the children and youth cabinet. Finally, Scott reappointed some of the state’s chief advocates for child welfare to the group, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
“It was, many felt, a good sign that the governor’s office was committed to working on children’s issues, particularly since he’d given his wife such a high-profile responsibility,” the publication wrote.
“But many child advocates say the state’s children are still struggling to keep from falling through the cracks in the state’s education, health care and public safety systems, and that Florida simply isn’t doing enough.” Read the entire story here.
The numbers are staggering. More than 14,000 kids across Florida are in foster care, and thousands more are considered at risk. Yet for advocates, guardians, involved childcare attorneys and citizens, solutions to help abound – if they only look.
Panera Bread franchise owners Gavin and Annette Ford long ago looked for what they could do for foster kids in Florida. Their solution was to open their doors and proceeds. The couple offers mentoring and a summer jobs program. In the past year, through their business they’ve donated almost $400,000 to local charities, including those that help foster children.
Earlier this month, the couple got creative with their philanthropy. According to the Orlando Sentinel, their Panera Bread restaurants in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, Volusia, Martin, Indian River and St. Lucie counties, the Fords sold a ribbon-shaped blueberry bagel pastry custom created for foster kids.
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Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The 10th annual Florida’s Children First (FCF) Broward Awards reception yesterday raised $100,000 and drew more than 250 child advocates, elected officials, judges and community and business leaders in support of the state’s foster, abused and neglected children.
FCF, the statewide legal advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, recognized supporters and groups committed to helping Florida’s most vulnerable children. The event was held on March 22 in Fort Lauderdale.
The event recognized this year’s Broward Child Advocate honorees. They included Broward County Bar Association Past-President Bruce Weihe; Broward County Bar Association President Jordana Goldstein; and Tracey McPharlin Pro Bono Dependency Recruitment Project Director David Bazerman.
“Florida’s Children First Broward Awards honor those who give of their time and expertise in helping children across the county. But it’s so much more than that,” said Howard Talenfeld, FCF President and Fort Lauderdale children’s rights attorney, who hosted the event with FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas. “Each year, the event showcases the change that advocates who are committed to a cause can bring on behalf of those whose voices cannot be heard. Tracey would be proud of the legacy of advocacy that lives on in her honor.”
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Two cases filed in Fort Lauderdale courts this week have Florida child advocates, foster child rights attorneys and others who follow issues regarding disabled children closely interested.
In one case, a 16-year-old girl who cannot talk or walk and needs help breathing part of the day, lives “warehoused” by the state in a Plantation nursing and rehabilitation center, says her attorney, who filed the case in federal court in Fort Lauderdale. She’s one of 250 such disabled or severely sick children Florida pays to keep in nursing homes – when alternatives exist. Their families would prefer them to be at home or in the community.
The lawsuit claims Florida keeps these sick and disabled kids trapped in nursing homes and institutions by denying services, “even when doctors have cleared them to go home with their families,” the Sun-Sentinel reported of the suit.
In a separate suit, a second group of families claim the opposite – fearing 3,300 at-risk children living at home may be forced into institutions or nursing homes if Florida Medicaid denies services.
Lawyers claim the law is on the plaintiffs’ side. The Americans With Disabilities Act and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling require states provide services that keep such individuals in the least restrictive settings possible, the paper reported. Read the entire story here.
Nationwide, from Florida to California, some 400,000 foster kids struggle to find their place in the system, whether it’s the dependency court or life in a group home. This Associated Press story discusses the need for legal help for foster kids. Some states, like Massachusetts, Connecticut, and more than a dozen other states, appointed attorneys are required for foster children. Yet, the story notes that shrinking budgets make compliance sporadic.
On a high note, a Florida pilot program has advocates pushing other states to try. Here, advocates say children with attorneys move through the system faster.
“A pilot program in Palm Beach County showed children with effective counsel in dependency cases found permanent homes at about twice the rate of unrepresented children,” the AP wrote. “The program, which has 14 attorneys with an average caseload of 35 kids, works with about 800 foster children a year, costing taxpayers about $1.7 million. Advocates say that’s less than what the state would pay for extended stays in foster care. Florida spends between $150 to $200 a day to care for each child.”
The AP continued, “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently awarded a $5 million grant to the University of Michigan to study how to better connect foster children with legal help. The American Bar Association recently wrote legislation and is urging lawmakers in several states, including Florida, to require attorneys for all foster children.”
Read the entire story here.
A restraining order, verbal threats of personal injury, physical assaults, an open-and-shut investigation closed too soon by the Florida Department of Children and Families and news her estranged husband was looking to buy a handgun weren’t enough for DCF to protect Natasha Whyte-Dell and her seven children.
Then, in September 2010, the estranged husband, Patrick Dell, kicked in her door and shot dead Whyte-Dell and three of her children and injured a fourth before killing himself.
Now, Michael Barnett, father of the three children, is suing DCF for negligence. Read the entire story here.
Child sex abuse, physical abuse, personal injury and other harm comes to Florida children, according to child advocates, child advocacy attorneys and personal injury lawyers who help foster children and other kids in vulnerable situations. But we all can help by reporting what we see to the Florida Department of Children and Families at 1-800-96-ABUSE.
In the case of a 6-year-old girl, the DCF says she and her sibling are safe now. But her mother had traded the girl for sex to get drugs.
“You know in my seven and a half years with DCF, we’ve never seen a case like this,” DCF spokesman John Harrell told WOKV.
Now, as with all cases of possible sex abuse and child abuse, the DCF owes it to the little girl to do a thorough investigation. Authorities also are giving the girl counseling.
“But we want to make sure that the child does not have to recount what happened to many times,” he says.
Now, adults around these vulnerable children have to speak up. “There’s a lot of child sexual abuse that goes unreported. That’s unacceptable.”
Reporting child abuse and sexual abuse is required by law. If you suspect something is going on, call DCF at 1-800-96-ABUSE.
It’s a puzzling case: The Florida Department of Children and Families is pushing to return to his family a 9-year-old boy found wandering the streets of North Miami Beach naked and hungry. The boy has told doctors he fears his home. A judge, who said in court the boy looked like a concentration camp survivor, ordered the release of hundreds of pages of state documents – and then questioned the state’s intention to return him to his family.
It’s a complicated case. State child welfare administrators describe the parents – Edward Bailey and Marsee Strong – as loving parents who deserve to get their children back after the kids’ brief stay in foster care.
Administrators also urged prosecutors to seek the couple’s release from jail, telling Miami Judge Cindy Lederman that the couple had not harmed their children. Yet, the boy has told his doctors he’s afraid to go home.
There should be no rush to return this boy to his family until the truth comes out. Read the entire story here.
Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide legal advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, will recognize and honor supporters of The Tracey McPharlin Pro Bono Dependency Recruitment Initiative at FCF’s 10th annual Broward awards reception. The event will be held Thursday, March 22, 2012, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Tower Club in Fort Lauderdale.
FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas, along with FCF President and Fort Lauderdale children’s rights attorney Howard Talenfeld, will lead the event. It is expected to draw more than 300 child advocates, elected officials, judges and community and business leaders. Kristi Krueger, WPLG Local 10 Anchor, will serve as mistress of ceremonies.
The evening will recognize and honor supporters of The Tracey McPharlin Pro Bono Dependency Recruitment Initiative, named in honor of the long-time child advocate attorney who passed away in 2010. The event also will recognize this year’s Broward Child Advocate honorees, including Broward County Bar Association past president Bruce Weihe; Broward County Bar Association President Jordana Goldstein; and Tracey McPharlin Pro Bono Dependency Recruitment Project Director David Bazerman.
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Tallahassee, FL – August 27, 2025 – WJHG News Channel 7- New law makes moving easier for Florida foster families Moving is stressful enough, but for foster families in Florida, it’s often meant starting from scratch.
Miami, FL – August 14, 2025 – NBC 6 South Florida- North Miami couple arrested after kids found ‘severely malnourished’: Police A North Miami couple was arrested for child neglect after authorities said their two young children were found “severely malnourished” and one had arm and leg fractures.
Yorkville, IL – August 12, 2025 – Fox 32- Illinois lawmaker, DCFS dispute legality of intern investigators in child abuse cases An Illinois lawmaker is accusing the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) of breaking state law by allowing uncertified interns to conduct child abuse and neglect investigations, while the agency says all investigators meet legal certification requirements.
Miami Gardens, FL – August 5, 2025 – CBS News- Miami Gardens mom faces neglect charges after nine children found living in “deplorable conditions,” police say A Miami Gardens mom is facing multiple counts of child neglect after police discovered nine children living in a home in “deplorable conditions,” according to Miami Gardens police.
Riviera Beach, FL – July 7, 2025 – CBS 12 News- DCF won’t comment after 7-year-old girl stomped to death; mom charged with murder It’s the agency with the most important mission in the state: keeping kids safe.
Tallahassee, FL – July 4, 2025 – WCJB- New Florida laws expand access to care for children with disabilities Children with disabilities across Florida will soon see more support, thanks to two new state laws aimed at improving access to care.
Clewiston, FL – May 27, 2025 – Fox 4- Clewiston city director arrested, accused of sending explicit texts to child A City of Clewiston operations director is facing serious charges – accused of sending sexually explicit texts to a 12-year-old girl.
Miami, FL – April 30, 2025 – NBC Miami- ‘Wish you well in hell’: Survivor quotes Cardi B as nurse gets life in adoptive daughter’s murder A Miami-Dade nurse convicted in the 2018 death of her 7-year-old adoptive daughter and the abuse of her other two adopted children was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday.
Orlando, FL – April 29, 2025 – WFTV 9- Records show Florida knew about defects in application portal for DCF benefits For more than a year, Florida’s Department of Children and Families has been telling 9 Investigates there are no problems with the state’s website for SNAP and Medicaid benefits.
Springfield, IL – April 25, 2025 – Capitol News Illinois- Illinois community-based foster homes face insurance ‘crisis’ Insurance companies are reducing the scope of coverage for some community foster agencies in Illinois, leading to higher costs, diminished coverage and fewer options for agencies who say a continuance of the trend could lead to closures.
Miami, FL – April 1, 2025 – WPLG Local 10- Disgraced ex-NYC councilman caught with child sex abuse videos at Miami airport, feds say A former member of the New York City Council — who left office in disgrace leading up to a federal bribery conviction — is now in the feds’ crosshairs again: this time in South Florida.
Cook County, IL – March 24, 2025 – WCBU- Illinois’ child welfare agency failed to produce critical reports after child deaths The state agency responsible for keeping Illinois’ most vulnerable children safe has failed to produce legally required public reports after examining what went wrong in hundreds of cases of child deaths and thousands of serious injuries, the Illinois Answers Project reports.
Chicago, IL – March 22, 2025 – ABC 7 Chicago- Illinois child welfare agency’s reporting on abuse and deaths scrutinized The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is now under scrutiny for its lack of proper reporting on child abuse and neglect cases, according to a report from the Illinois Answers Project.
Tallahassee, FL – March 9, 2025 – WFSU- Two Florida state agencies announce new tools for combating human trafficking Two state agencies are working to identify kids vulnerable to sex trafficking before they’re victimized. The Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have announced an enhanced screening tool and new grant funding for law enforcement.
Chicago, IL – January 31, 2025 – NPR Illinois- DCFS launches new app for caseworkers and families The state of Illinois is rolling out a new app to help parents of abused and neglected children better communicate with their Department of Children and Family Services [DCFS] caseworkers and with other service providers.
Broward County, FL – January 30, 2025 – The Sun-Sentinel- Broward Sheriff’s Office will stop staffing juvenile detention center in May Blaming staff shortages and an unsafe building to work in, the Broward Sheriff’s Office will no longer send deputies to work at the state’s Department of Justice’s Juvenile Assessment Center.
Vernon, CT – November 19, 2024 – WLBT- Woman left 4 kids home alone in ‘filth’ for days while she took a trip to New York, police say A woman in Connecticut is accused of leaving her four kids alone for days while she took a trip to New York, according to authorities.
Flagler County, FL – November 10, 2024 – CBS 12- Flagler County middle school employee accused of attacking disabled student An employee at Indian Trails Middle School has been accused of child abuse after she was caught on camera striking a disabled student in an unprovoked attack.
Chicago, Il – November 8, 2024 – CBS News Chicago- Troubled teen who escaped DCFS caseworkers was not placed into secure facility after being found A 17-year-old with a violent history escaped from his caseworkers in Chicago last month, and it turns out the foster child in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was not placed in a secure facility recommended to the state after being brought back into custody.
Jacksonville, FL – September 20, 2024 – Action News Jax- Duval County teacher under investigation after 8-year-old is injured A Beauclerc Elementary School teacher is being investigated by Duval County Public Schools after a physical incident with an 8-year-old student.
Miami, FL – September 3, 2024 – Miami Herald- Rising costs of care could strain funding for Florida program for brain-damaged kids Facing withering criticism from parents, advocates, lawmakers and insurance regulators, Florida’s compensation program for children born with catastrophic brain injuries opened its bank account three years ago and improved the lives of some of the state’s most disabled children.
Orlando, FL – September 2, 2024 – Orlando Sentinel- Autism drowning deaths prompt push for children’s specialized swim lessons Drowning is the number one cause of death for kids with autism and Florida leads the nation in fatalies.
Aventura, FL – August 5, 2024 – WSVN News 7- Parents arrested after leaving toddler in hot car while they shopped at Target in Aventura, police say A man and woman were arrested on child abuse charges after allegedly leaving their 2-year-old child in a hot car while they shopped at Target in Aventura.
Austin, TX – July 18, 2024 – WPLG Local 10- Largest housing provider for migrant children engaged in pervasive sexual abuse, US says Employees of the largest housing provider for unaccompanied migrant children in the U.S. repeatedly sexually abused and harassed children in their care for at least eight years, the Justice Department said Thursday, alleging a shocking litany of offenses that took place as the company amassed billions of dollars in government contracts.
Daytona Beach, FL – July 9, 2024 – WESH 2- Police: Man arrested in Daytona Beach after dangling, dropping child off second-floor resort balcony A 31-year-old man was arrested on Saturday after allegedly dropping a 4-year-old off the second floor of a Daytona Beach resort, according to an affidavit from the police department.
Palm Coast, FL – July 7, 2024 – WSVN 7- Florida woman charged with child neglect after good Samaritan finds 2-year-old son wandering near busy road alone A good Samaritan found a 2-year-old boy wandering in a Florida neighborhood all alone, and now the child’s mother is facing charges after she was found fast asleep inside their home.
Homestead, FL – May 16, 2024 – WPLG Local 10- Homestead couple accused of murdering their 6-month-old baby girl Two 24-year-old parents brought their 6-month-old to Homestead Hospital in cardiac arrest Sunday afternoon; doctors found that the baby had no pulse and signs of severe child abuse, according to police.
Brevard County, FL – May 16, 2024 – WESH 2 Orlando- Family sues Brevard County day care for alleged child abuse and negligence An incident at a Brevard County day care involving a child and teacher has led to more allegations of child abuse and negligence after the Department of Children and Families studied surveillance video.
Chicago, IL – May 7, 2024 – WSIL – TV- Lawsuit alleges pervasive child sexual abuse at Illinois juvenile detention centers for decades A group of 95 people filed a lawsuit in Illinois on Monday alleging they were sexually abused as children in juvenile detention centers across the state for over two decades.
Wildwood, FL – May 4, 2024 – Fox 35 Orlando- Florida DCF worker accused of abusing 11-year-old foster child A Kids Central employee was arrested after he aggressively threw an 11-year-old foster child onto a couch and hurt her, according to an arrest affidavit from the Wildwood Police Department.
Tallahassee, FL – May 3, 2024 – The Tampa Bay Times – Nearly 600,000 Florida kids shed from government health care, study says Nearly 600,000 Florida children lost their government-provided health insurance last year after the federal government ended the national COVID-related health emergency, more than any other state except Texas, according to a newly released report by the Georgetown Center for Children and Families.
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