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08/01/19
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Children's Bureau issues guidance on the important of involving youth and parents in case planning and driving systemic change.
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This Information Memorandum demonstrates that family and youth voice are critical to a well-functioning child welfare system. It strongly encourages all public child welfare agencies, dependency courts, and Court Improvement Programs to work together to ensure that family and youth voice are central in child welfare program planning and improvement efforts. You can read the memo
click here.
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06/03/19
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Rigorous research study demonstrates improved outcomes for parents, children and the child welfare system when parents' counsel works with a multidisciplinary team.
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This article reports on a multi-year study that compared representation provided to parents by experienced solo practitioners with that provided by professionals who are part of a multi-disciplinary law office that includes social workers and parent advocates. Key findings include reduced time in care, increased reunifications, kinship placement and guardianships - all with no negative effect on child safety. The research conducted by Casey Family Programs, New York University and Action Research.You can read the memo
click here.
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02/20/19
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New Report Calculates the Return on Investment for Foster Care. (Hint - it's negative)
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Alia Innovations issued its report: The Unseen Costs of Foster Care: A Social Return on Investment Study. When done well (child returned home within 12 months, no re-entry) the cost of foster was negative $3.64 In a typical case (child in care 4 years, change of case managers and placements, ages out at 18) the cost was negative $9.55. You can read the report
click here.
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02/05/19
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DCF launched My Florida Network of Care, a comprehensive online behavioral health resource
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This region-based web portal is designed to provide users with quick, easy and accurate access to behavioral-health information, services and resources. The Network of Care is a public service funded through the Florida Department of Children and Families. myflorida.networkofcare.org
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01/30/19
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Title IV-E federal funds are now available to assist states in providing high quality legal representation to dependent children and their parents.
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Beginning in October of 2019, Florida can claim Title IV-E reimbursement for public funds spent providing counsel to children and parents in the child welfare system. Mark Hardin of the American Bar Association issued a paper to explain the basics of this process. You can read the it
click here.
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11/13/18
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Fostering Youth Transitions: Using Data to Drive Policy and Practice Decisions
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The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Fostering Youth Transitions provides helpful insight to understand your and other states' methods for transitioning young adults from foster care into adulthood.
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10/08/18
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DCF Memorandum: 2018 Legislative Changes Related to Child Welfare
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Two page memorandum from Florida Dep't of Children & Families on the 2018 Legislative Changes Related to Child Welfare with a five page attachment. Addresses the four bills that were passed impacting child welfare and children and families served by the Department.
Click Here to Open the Memo
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10/08/18
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Handouts and source materials from all of this year's Child Protection Summit Workshops, as well as videos of recorded workshops.
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2018 Child Protection Summit Materials
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06/27/18
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A summary of Florida's ranking from the 2018 Kids Count Data Book, published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
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Florida KIDS COUNT is part of a nationwide KIDS COUNT Network, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which annually releases its KIDS COUNT Data Book-State Trends in Child Well-being. Click here to view Florida's profile summary compiled from the
2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book
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06/11/18
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Summary of Florida's Key Child Welfare Legislation
2018 provided by Florida's Children First
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Click here to view the 7 page Summary.
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06/05/18
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The Florida Bar's Special Committee on Child and Parent Representation in dependency proceedings.
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2017-2018 Final Report and Recommendation of Florida Bar Special Committee on Child and Parent Representation in dependency proceedings.
This Summary, prepared by Florida's Children First, provides a quick overview of the Final Report.
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05/05/18
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The Regis Little Guide was created by L. David Shear Children's Law Center to clarify the necessary steps case management must take to comply with the requirements of the law in transitioning youth with disabilities to adulthood.
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This succinct guide provides case management steps to help ensure compliance with the Regis Little Act's requirements for youth with disabilities transitioning to adulthood.
Click here to view the 5 page guide.
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05/03/18
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Florida's Parents' Know Your Rights Guide was issued by the ABA Center on Children and the Law, in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
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This 2 page guide helps parents whose children have been removed know what their rights are including the right to counsel; participation in school, medical and placement decisions; and due process. It's one of the series of "Know Your Rights" guides created for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Click here to see What parents in Florida need to know after a child's removal
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05/01/18
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Child Welfare and Immigration Project, ABA Center on Children and the Law: Case Studies
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Through seven hypothetical case studies, the Child Welfare and Immigration Project provides helpful guidance for attorneys and advocates to best to address their immigrant adult and/or child client needs when interacting with the child welfare system.
To access the "Immigrants in the Child Welfare System: Case Studies" click here
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05/01/18
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Florida's Homeless Youth Handbook: Legal Issues and Options (2018)
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Created by Baker McKenzie, The Walt Disney Company, and Florida's Children First in support of the Homeless Youth Legal Network Pro Bono project of the American Bar Association to provide homeless youth in Florida with comprehensive information about their legal rights. The Homeless Youth Handbook includes detailed guidance on the legal issues affecting homeless youth for those who serve this population.
The Florida Homeless Youth Handbook is available now.
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01/07/18
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Independent Living Services Advisory Council's Annual Report and DCF's Response
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The Independent Living Services Advisory Council released its 2017 Annual Report. In this report, the ILS Advisory Council specified recommendations for extended foster care, postsecondary education and support services, positive pathways, and employment. In a separate document, Department of Children and Families submitted its response to the the Independent Living Services Advisory Council's recommendation in this document.
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12/07/17
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CFOP 170-14 Response to Human Trafficking of Victims Revised to Reflect Statutory Changes
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During the last legislative session, Senate Bill 852 (2017) amended the administrative requirements set forth in F.S. 409.1754 and 39.524 serving child victims of sexual exploitation and reporting requirements. This memorandum outlines the new requirements to CFOP 170-14.
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12/07/17
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New Procedures for Residential Mental Health Treatment
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New child welfare operating procedures regarding the placement of dependent children in residential mental health treatment went into effect on November 15, 2017. This memorandum highlights the changes.
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12/01/17
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Turning18.org is a website to help children and families with disabilities manage the transition to adulthood
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Each year, nearly 58,000 Florida children with developmental disabilities turn 18, at which point their parents can no longer legally make medical, educational and other life decisions for them. That's why attorney Michelle Kenney and her firm, GAPS Legal, partnered with the nonprofit Florida Justice Technology Center (FJTC) to create Turning18.org, a free resource to educate families on their legal options as their children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities reach the legal age of adulthood.
The site directs users to resources such as the local Clerk of Court and the FloridaLawHelp.org Find a Lawyer Page, where they can find local legal aid organizations, The Florida Bar's Lawyer Referral Service, and pro bono legal services options.
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11/01/17
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FDLC November 2017 Newsletter
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To view the November newsletter with case law updates and an article on Master Trusts, please click here
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10/12/17
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FDLC October Newsletter
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This month's newsletter focuses on Florida KIDS COUNT. To view the October newsletter, please click here
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09/25/17
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Florida GAL Foundation will pay the application fee for 8 people to take the Juvenile Law Certification Exam
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The Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation will pay the application fee for 8 people to take the next Juvenile Law Certification Exam.
This opportunity is available to the top 2 applicants each from GAL, DCF, OCCRC/parents attorneys, and those attorneys who accept appointments under section 39.01305 (those on the registry and those serving pro bono).
To be considered, simply write one paragraph on why Board Certification in Juvenile Law can help improve practice in dependency court and send it to the people designated for your organization/group below with the subject line: "GAL Foundation Fee Payment Application." The only restriction on eligibility is that the applicant must be taking the test - those attempting to be grandfathered in are not eligible.
GAL Best Interest Attorneys:
Director of Legal Advocacy Kelly Swartz (kelly.swartz@gal.fl.gov)
General Counsel Dennis Moore (dennis.moore@gal.fl.gov)
Regional Counsel/Parents attorneys:
Regional Conflict Counsel Candice Brower (candice.brower@rc1myflorida.com)
Regional Conflict Counsel Ita M. Neymotin (ineymotin@flrc2.org)
DCF Attorneys:
Director of Legal Services Grainne O'Sullivan
(grainne.osullivan@dcf.state.fl.us)
Director of Appeals Stephanie Zimmerman (stephanie.zimmerman@myflfamilies.com)
Section 39.01305 attorneys:
Robert Latham (rlatham@law.miami.edu)
Meshon Rawls (rawls@law.ufl.edu)
Certification is the Florida Bar's highest level of evaluation of the competency and experience of attorneys by the Supreme Court of Florida, and board certified lawyers are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise, and have demonstrated reputations for ethics and professionalism. Alan Abramowitz believes "all stakeholders in dependency court benefit when we increase expertise in juvenile court, and ultimately this will improve outcomes for children." The GAL Foundation would like to make this high honor a little bit easier to reach!
You can click here for the application.
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09/25/17
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FDLC September Newsletter
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This month's newsletter focuses on the Every Student Succeeds Act. To view the September newsletter, click here.
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09/20/17
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McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act sets forth protections for students displaced by Hurricane Irma
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If your client has been displaced due to Hurricane Irma, or you know of a foster child who has been displaced, please click here to make sure you are aware of the federal protections afforded these students by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act.
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08/29/17
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Pro Bono Matters Act of 2018
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The Pro Bono Matters Act of 2018, filed by Rep. Frank White and Sen. Aaron Bean, would help special needs children in dependency court by providing due-process court costs for pro bono attorneys. To read more about the bill and a radio interview on the bill, please click here.
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08/28/17
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Lady Gaga Offers Trainings on Mental Health
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Lady Gaga's Born this Way Foundation has teamed up with the National Council for Behavioral Health in training 150,000 people in Mental Health First Aid by the end of the year. The Born This Way Foundation and the National Council are offering trainings in every city of Lady Gaga's tour; some are free trainings and others cost $75. For more information, click here.
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08/20/17
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FDLC August Newsletter
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This month's newsletter focuses on the Child Protection Summit, including information about sessions, tips on the conference, and an invitation to a parents' and children's' attorneys meet and greet. To view the August newsletter, click here.
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08/20/17
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Navigating Florida's Online Dependency Law Center Webinars
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Dates have been released for three webinars on "Navigating Florida's Online Dependency Law Center": August 24, Sept. 11, and Sept. 25. These one hour webinars teach you how to effectively and efficiently navigate FDLC. Additionally, you will receive a 1 hour technology CLE credit.
Please click here to register.
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07/13/17
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Open Transfer Rules Benefit Foster Care Children
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In just a few weeks, the 2017-2018 school year will begin. The education bill, HB 7029, signed into law by Governor Scott in April 2016, will become effective amending F.S. 1002.31. This bill allows student athletes to play sports at any school, regardless of where they are zoned. However, a student cannot play the same sport at a different school in the same school year; for example, a student cannot play football at one school and then transfer mid-season to another school to play football. There are exceptions to this rule - one of which is a child in foster care. If a child in foster care is moved mid-season to a new school, that child can continue to play the same sport he or she played at the first school. Please make sure that the foster parents and guardians are aware of this exception so their foster children can play sports if transferred homes. For more information, click here.
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07/01/17
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FDLC July Newsletter
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The July Newsletter contains information about new articles on mental health and trauma affecting dependent youth.
To view the newsletter, click here.
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