What is FCA? |
Child Advocacy Blog |
Search |
|
Howard Talenfeld Appeared on CNN to Discuss Red Flags Missed by DCFFebruary 21st, 2011
 No Comments  Abuse, Adoption, Court Cases, Department of Children & Families (DCF), Foster Care, News & EventsNews Story: Failed DCF Response to ‘Cry for Help’ Leaves Advocates, Attorneys Angered in Abuse CaseLess than a week after the 7-year-old adoptive sibling’s tale resulted in a call to a Florida Department of Children and Families abuse hotline — which itself resulted in a possible missed chance to save another child’s life — advocates are asking “Why?” “A cry for help that is so significant and so loud that we need answers as to why,” asked Howard Talenfeld, a prominent children’s rights attorney and president of statewide advocacy group Florida’s Children First. Advocates, Attorneys: Red Flags Missed by DCF Amid Alleged Abuse of Adopted Boy Doused in Chemicals, Sister Found DeadThe adopted son was sent to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s burn unit, the sister was dead, the adoptive father in custody and the adoptive mother facing the ire of a dependency judge — all while child welfare advocates questioned how warning signs and calls to the Department of Children and Families were missed or overlooked in the horrifying case of Jorge and Carmen Barahona and their adopted children.CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO OF DCF CHILD CUSTODYHEARING According to WSVN Miami, Jorge Barahona confessed to police he tried to kill himself and his 10-year-old son while the body of the boy’s twin sister lay in his pickup truck’s bed. Two days after the discovery of the chemical-filled truck on Monday, the cause of the girl’s of death remains a mystery. But as tales of abuse — being duct-taped or forced to stand in garbage bins — began to unfold, the opinions of advocates was crystal clear: Red flags and warning signs — and the system in place to act on them — failed to respond quickly and thoroughly enough. “Those are the kinds of allegations that need to be addressed within…hours,” said Howard Talenfeld, the president of Florida’s Children First. Talenfeld said the red flags should have caused DCF to act immediately when first heard on Thursday, not Friday or after the weekend. Read the WSVN story here. Read a story from The Miami Herald here. Florida Child Advocates Shocked as Adopted Twin Found Dead in Pickup Truck, Others Removed by Department of Children & FamiliesShock and horror gripped Florida child advocates Monday following the death of a 10-year-old adopted girl — who only a week before had been the subject of a call to the Department of Children and Families abuse hotline warning of possible abuse of the girl and her twin brother.According to the Miami Herald, DCF took into custody two other children who were adopted by Jorge L. Barahona, the twins’ adoptive father. Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman has asked that the children be placed back into foster care. As of late Tuesday, Barahona was charged with aggravated child abuse. More charges are expected, police spokesman Chase Scott said. Meanwhile, child welfare administrators released scant details. “We are in the preliminary stages of a very tragic and extremely complex investigation,” said Mark Riordan, a DCF spokesman. “We are working side-by-side with law enforcement in two jurisdictions, and protective investigators in two jurisdictions….our primary concern is the safety of these children.” Florida Gov. Scott: Department of Children & Families Does ‘Good Work’; Cuts Still LoomFlorida’s child and foster care advocates, guardians and attorneys who work to prevent abuse of the state’s most vulnerable citizens were concerned when Gov. Rick Scott’s budget included deep cuts to the Department of Children and Families. During a visit to the agency this week, he lauded its work. Advocates remain hopeful for future spending.The Governor visited DCF employees on Valentine’s Day. touring the agency and discussing the “thankless job” they perform. This came a week after he proposed cuts many DCF programs. According to WCTV, Scott spoke with employees – some of whose jobs may be targeted – under a handmade “Welcome Governor Scott” banner. He acknowledged the effort of the people and agency that work with broken homes, abused children, and other social ills — many times which are exacerbated by tough economic times. “Almost every family in this country deals with some of the issues you deal with everyday,” Scott said, according to the news report. “There is almost nobody that is unscathed, whether it’s drug abuse, substance abuse, child abuse.” That said, his mission of cutting state government down to a proper size to get spending under control and create private sector jobs remains, Scott warned. Read the entire story here. Florida DCF Alleges Abuse of Foster, Day Care Kids, Faces Budget CutsThe Florida Department of Children and Families found itself in the news this week. Stories included an investigation of foster child’s serious injuries, the DCF-ordered closure of an illegal day care linked to child sex acts, and concern over Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed deep budget cuts to the agency created to protect the state’s most vulnerable citizens.Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed budget lays off 1,849 Department of Children and Families employees and slices $278 million out of the agency that oversees homelessness and health care; substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health. Read a Tampa Tribune article here. Meanwhile, DCF is investigating the fractured skull of an 11-month-old Fort Lauderdale foster child the same week as the agency ordered the closure of an illegal day care center where a vice president with the center faces two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and showing obscene material to a minor. DCF Forces Florida Man in Molestation Case to Close Day Care; Couple Ran Unlicensed CenterThe Florida Department of Children and Families has ordered a man accused of inappropriately touching a 3-year-old girl and watching pornographic movies with her to shut down his unlicensed day care.According to WKMG TV in Orlando, Royce Broady was arrested Feb. 3 after the girl’s mother and grandmother called Orange County deputies. Deputies said the 3-year-old girl told them her baby sitter’s husband, Broady, touched her before she got into a shower. DCF said Broady and his wife were operating a day care in their Apopka home on Rundleway Court without a valid license or registration. In a letter sent Tuesday, DCF ordered the couple to “cease and desist all childcare operations immediately.” DCF said the couple was caring for at least 13 children at their home. Florida Youth SHINE Meets Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary David WilkinsJust over a week ago, 21 Florida Youth SHINE members had the opportunity to meet with DCF’s newly appointed Secretary – David Wilkins. At a lunch in Tallahassee, Secretary Wilkins and his wife, Tanya, took the time to speak with each member and learn firsthand from some of our state’s current and former foster youth.FYS was honored to be the first group of its kind to meet with the Secretary and look forward to building on this experience throughout Secretary Wilkins tenure. Broward Sheriff Settles Negligence Lawsuit During Trial; Recovery Almost $3 million in Law Suit Against BSO, Florida Department of Children & Family Services (DCF), Department of Health, Other Health Care ProvidersA $1.575 million settlement brought an abrupt end to a Fort Lauderdale trial that questioned the Broward Sheriff’s Office for its management of abuse allegations involving an infant who suffered injuries and brain damage, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.“Sheriff Lamberti did the right thing by resolving the 5-year-old child’s claim as a result of a lawsuit for a negligent protective investigation, which occurred during a prior administration,” said Howard Talenfeld, one of the plaintiff attorney’s trying the case. The newspaper went on to report that the insurance company for the Sheriff’s Office reached the deal Wednesday with attorneys for Jace Manning, now 5, who was left developmentally disabled after his skull was fractured in February 2006. Two months before the boy’s severe injuries, Jace was hospitalized with an unexplained bruise under his chin, and his grandmother implored authorities to remove him from the Coral Springs apartment where he lived with his mother and her boyfriend. Read the entire story here. Sun-Sentinel: New DCF Chief Wilkins has ‘Big Shoes to Fill’From the Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board: Florida’s recently-appointed Secretary of the Department of Children and Families David Wilkins has some big shoes to fill. He is replacing George Sheldon who, along with his predecessor Bob Butterworth, made significant progress in reforming the state’s foster care system. Under the previous two secretaries, Florida greatly reduced the number of children in foster care and made us one of the nation’s leaders in the number of adopted kids. Both Butterworth and Sheldon were guided by the direct voice of experience, the youths in state care. We urge Secretary Wilkins to continue listening to youths, to keep up the momentum in reforming foster care and to pay special attention to the well-being of kids while they’re waiting for a permanent home. The Legislature will have the opportunity to give kids in state care a chance at living more normal lives both while in care and as young adults making their way in the world. The new secretary’s leadership on such issues will be vital. Advocates Laud Sheldon’s DCF Legacy, Hope New Head Continues GainsOutgoing Department of Children and Families head George Sheldon’s announced departure leaves behind a vast legacy. He cut the number of kids in foster care in Florida. He increased the number of adoptions to among the most in the nation. He also installed transparency in government, where people once operated behind a veil of secrecy.With this week’s naming of former business executive David Wilkins to head the DCF, the world of advocates is hopeful these legacies continue. According to the Miami Herald, Florida’s new social services chief will look a lot like the state’s new governor: a corporate executive with conservative social roots. Wilkins, a businessman who helps lead a social service group with strong Christian fundamentalist roots, will replace Sheldon, a former state prosecutor widely regarded as a reformer. Wilkins, a member of the governor’s transition team, is the finance chief of the Florida Baptist Children’s Home, a private agency that allows only “professing Christians” to adopt children in its care. Florida’s Children First to Honor Child Advocacy Award Winners at Annual Event at the Tower ClubFlorida’s Children First (FCF), the state’s preeminent child advocacy organization, will hold its annual Broward Awards Reception on February 24 (5:30 pm) to honor those in our community who advocate for the rights of at-risk and foster children and provide a voice to those who don’t have one. FCF President and children’s rights lawyer Howard Talenfeld will lead the event, along with FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas. Jesse Diner and Howard Talenfeld at FCF event “This year’s awards event will focus on our efforts to build and support Florida Youth Shine, a statewide group of foster children and former foster children who advocate to improve Florida’s foster care system,” said Talenfeld. “This year’s honorees have been instrumental in improving Florida’s foster care system and advocating for the children.” This year George Sheldon, Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families, will be receiving the Children’s Advocate Award. He has been an advocate for youth aging out of foster care, a friend to FCF, and has worked tirelessly to improve the agency. WPLG Local 10 Anchor Kristi Krueger will also receive the Media Advocate Award for her selfless service to FCF and other non-profit organizations. Read the rest of this entry » |
|
