Publications & Presentations  (return to Resources)

Title: On Your Own But Not Alone Description: This publication is geared toward young adults who recently aged out of state care. It provides information and resources on a variety of topics that will empower youth to become successful adults. Published by the American Bar Association with the assistance of Florida's Children First.
Transition: A Guide for Foster Youth with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood

 

Description: This publication, co-authored with the Advocacy Center for Persons With Disabilities, describes the services and supports that are available to youth with disabilities as they are preparing for adulthood. It is a must-read for anyone working with youth with disabilities who are in state care and provides numerous resources to help them start out on a path to success.
FCF Recommendations for Inter-Agency Actions to Improve Educational Opportunities for Florida’s Foster Youth Description: This white paper outlines Florida's Children First's recommendations for actions that the school system and the child welfare system should undertake to improve educational outcomes for children in state care.
Hearing Your Voice: A Guide to Your Dependency Court Case Description: This publication by the ABA Bar Youth Empowerment Project with Florida's Children First is intended to help youth understand the dependency court system. It answers youth's most common questions about being placed into state care, describes all of the pertinent players, defines key terms and discusses the types of hearings that take place in dependency court.
Fostering Success: Strategies to Empower Youth to Succeed as Adults, Report of Proceedings Description: This report summarizes the recommendations and findings of the numerous experts who presented at FCF's day long forum addressing strategies to help youth in state care succeed as adults through education and employment with a special section on youth with disabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions for Foster Youth Transitioning to Adulthood

Description: This FCF publication answers the most commonly asked questions asked by teens as they figure out their transition to adulthood. 

Remarks prepared for the Inaugural Meeting of the Children and Youth Cabinet October 1, 2007
  • Summary of Recommendations to the Children and Youth Cabinet
      -
    October 2007 - On October 1st Executive Director Andrea Moore addressed the members of the Children and Youth Cabinet at their inaugural meeting. She provided information on key components of their charge, interagency coordination, preparing a children's budget, and preparing child impact statements. 
Description: Remarks of Andrea Moore, FCF's Executive Director to the Children and Youth Cabinet as they commence their work. It includes specific recommendations concerning the future work of the Cabinet.
Remarks prepared for the Child Protection Task Force. September 20, 2007 Description: Remarks of Andrea Moore, FCF's Executive Director to the Department of Children & Families Task Force for Child Protection which is studying and recommending improvements to Florida's juvenile justice system. The remarks include specific recommendations for systemic improvement.
  • September 2007 - On September 20th FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore addressed the Task Force for Child Protection to offer FCF's recommendations for improving services to youth in the child welfare system. 

 

Summary of Recommendations to the Blueprint Commission

    
    
Description: This Summary provides detailed recommendations on actions that the State can take to enhance services to youth in the juvenile justice system.
    

Description: Remarks of Andrea Moore, FCF's Executive Director to the Blueprint Commission studying and recommending improvements to Florida's juvenile justice system.

 

Children's Mental Health Overview and Recommendations Description: This document looks at how the child welfare and juvenile justice systems deliver mental and behavioral health services to youth. Each section includes specific recommendations for reform.
  • August 2007 - FCF issued its Children's Mental Health Overview and Recommendations. This document provides a comprehensive look at how the child welfare and juvenile justice systems deliver mental and behavioral health services to youth. Each section includes specific recommendations for reform. 
Interagency Agreements: Improving Educational Outcomes for Florida's Children in Foster Care

 

Description: Florida's Children First and the University of Miami Children and Youth Law Clinic report on the creation and implementation of local agreements between foster care agencies and school boards.
  • July 2007 - FCF and its partner the University of Miami Children and Youth Law Clinic released a report examining the creation and implementation of local agreements between foster care agencies and school boards. This report highlights issues with implementation around the state. It is a good guide for educators and child welfare professionals who are concerned about educating youth in foster care. 

 

Children's Mental Health Briefing Book Description: The Briefing Book is a web-based "notebook" which contains a collection of recommendations, articles, reports and public records concerning children's mental health needs. 
(Note: be sure the window on your computer screen is open as wide as possible to navigate through the book)
  • May 2007 - FCF worked with the Florida Bar Standing Committee on the Legal Needs of Children to present a workshop on children's mental health for Judge Liefman, the Special Advisor to the Chief Justice on Criminal Justice and Mental Health. FCF gathered recommendations, reports, articles, and public records from presenters and interested agencies to prepare a Mental Health Briefing Book for Judge Liefman. A link to the Briefing Book, a "web-based notebook" is available on the publications page. A cd version of the briefing book can be requested by emailing fcf@floridaschildrenfirst.org.
  
Foster Care DCF publication "Rights of Youth in Foster Care". 
Credit: Florida Youth Shine for idea and the Department of Children & Families for publishing.
Mental Health FCF's Children's Mental Health Overview and Recommendations
Education Advocacy Independent Living
Foster Care DCF Management
      
Mental Health Representation of Children
Immigration Delinquency

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