(4)  2008 News

December 12 - FCF's Executive Director Andrea Moore and Transitioning Youth Coordinator Mike Dunlavy attend the Ft. Lauderdale meeting of the Task Force on Child Protection. December 12- As the result of advocacy by FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore along with Florida Legal Services Deputy Director Anne Swerlick and attorney Amy Guinan - DCF issued a new directive concerning the obligation of case management organizations to relative and non-relative caregivers to obtain Medicaid for children placed in their care. This directive also ensures continuity of enrollment when children change placements.

December 5 - FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore participated in the Subcommittee Children's Legal Services of Task Force on Child Protection December 5 - FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore along with Doug Halsey, an attorney with White and Case, acting pro bono, met with DCF and AHCA to discuss the problem of children being improperly disenrolled from the Child Welfare Pre-Paid Mental Health Program. Both agencies agree to begin work immediately to reinstate coverage and to fix the computer data problems that caused disenrollment and interruption of much needed services to eligible children.

December 5 - FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore along with Doug Halsey, an attorney with White and Case, and Howard Talenfeld an attorney with Colodny Fass Karlinsky talendfeld and Abate, both acting pro bono, met with the Agency for Persons with Disabilties to discuss the unmet developmental services needs of youth in foster care who are on the waiting list for APD waiver services. APD agreed to immediately assess those children and then to work with DCF, DOE and DJJ to hold staffings in order to locate appropriate services for each child on the waiting list.

December 3-5 - Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg attended the final national meeting of the National Governor's Association Public Policy Academy on Safely Reducing the Number of Children in Foster Care.

November 19 - 20 FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore attended a series of meeting with the heads of child serving agencies to discuss urgent issues with regard to the education of youth in foster care and access to needed medical, mental health, and developmental services. All agreed the Interagency Agreement on Education of Children and Youth in Care needs to be updated and implemented and APD will join this year.

November 18 - FCF issues its white paper entitled "FCF Recommendations for Inter-Agency Actions to Improve Educational Opportunities for Florida’s Foster Youth"

November 13 - FCF hosted its Palm Beach County awards reception at the law firm of Gunster Yoakley. Honorees were Dr. Ann Faraone and former foster youth Calida Johnson and Tanya Normil.

November  13 - FCF conducted two trainings on Involving Youth in their Court Proceedings at the Palm Beach Children’s Services Council offices in Boynton Beach.

November  6  - FCF helped train the DCF Children’s Legal Services Regional Attorneys on the details of Master Trust issues for children in state care.

November - FCF was invited to participate in the Core Advisory Group on 2009 Performance Improvement Plan for DCF and CBCs in response to the Federal Child and Family Service Review. Much work is needed to improve the system of care and the outcomes for children and their families.FCF continued its advocacy to improve education outcomes for youth in foster care by issuing a White Paper on strategies and actions to better implement the Interagency Agreement between DOE and DCF, by meeting with Education Commissioner Smith and DCF Secretary Sheldon and by agreeing to serve on the DCF Workgroup tasked with better implementation.

November - November was a great month for Youth SHINE. WFSU featured the youth advocates and their work in a five part series called “Ready for Independence at 18?” that has been met with both interest and acclaim. Also in November, Mike Dunlavy moved from a part time to a full time position as FCF’s Transitioning Youth Coordinator. Mike was selected by Foster Care Alumni of America to attend its annual Alumni Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C. (He was one of 18 from throughout the country)

October 28 - FCF along with the Disabilities Workgroup of Florida Bar Foundation Children’s Legal Services grantees issued its Developmental Disabilities Checklist, a tool to assist front line workers, lawyers, judges and guardians ad litem in identifying youth with developmental disabilities who are not receiving appropriate services.

October 22 - Robin Rosenberg participated in the statewide meeting of Legal Services grantees. She spoke on the current status of child welfare in Florida.

October 17 - Florida Youth SHINE members Robin Singleton and Derrick Riggins assisted Judge Nicki Clark and DCF is presenting a training on Judge Clark's new Independent Living Court.

October 15 - Florida Youth SHINE member Justin Taylor represented youth in a training for Guardians ad Litem along with FCF partner Andrea Khoury on Involving Youth in Court.

October 10 - FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore, Youth Organizer Mike Dunlavy and Tammy Workman, now of DCF, presented to the Board of Directors of the United Way of Florida at their meeting in†Orlando.  The presentation was on the challenges, successes, and needs of youth transitioning from foster care to successful adulthood.

October 10 - FCF Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg and new Youth SHINE member Michelle Rivera participated in the "home team" meeting for the National Governor's Association Policy Academy on Safely Reducing the Number of Children in Foster Care.

September 27 - Florida Youth SHINE convened its first meeting of youth interested in forming a Palm Beach Chapter.  Chelsea Hall and Ricco Grier led the meeting with support from Andrea Moore and other volunteers.

September 26 - FCF held a training on Involving Youth in their Court Proceedings in Jacksonville. Next time we need a bigger training room as over 40 lawyers and child welfare workers attended.

September 25 - FCF hosted its Northeast Florida† Awards Reception at the Haskell Building in Jacksonville.  Honorees were retired Judge  Dorothy Pate, Dr. Michael Solloway, 1000 Small Smiles Across Jacksonville and former foster youth, Lateria Whitted, Laketeria Burks, and Justin Taylor.

September 20-21- Florida Youth SHINE held a statewide conference in Coral Springs to which brought in new members from around the state to work with returning members to learn how to start a chapter in their own communities.

September 18 - Florida Youth SHINE Youth Organizer Mike Dunlavy and member Robin Singleton participated in their second meeting as members of the DCF Task Force for Child Protection, held in Tallahassee.

September 4 - Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg participated in a panel addressing the legal needs of relative caregivers for the 10th† Annual statewide Kinship conference sponsored by the USF Kinship Center

August 27-29 -  FCF and Florida Youth SHINE participate in the Dependency Court Summit.  Youth SHINE members took center stage in†the plenary sessions where they are recognized both by outgoing Secretary Butterworth and incoming Secretary Sheldon for their invaluable assistance in helping DCF improve how it serves children.  Youth SHINE members featured prominently in two training sessions, Involving Youth in their Court Proceedings, and a Panel on Youth Voices.  Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg co-facilitated a training on Transition for Youth with Disabilities with the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities.

August 22 - South Florida Society kicked off the fall season with a fundraising fashion show benefiting Florida's Children First.

August 15 - Governor Crist appoints George Sheldon as Interim Secretary of DCF. Both outgoing DCF Secretary Butterworth and Interim DCF Secretary Sheldon meet with Florida Youth SHINE to express their continued commitment to listen to youth.

August 8 - FCF bids farewell to Transitioning Youth Coordinator, Tammy Workman who accepted a position with the Secretary of the Dept. of Children and Families as a policy advisor for transitioning youth issues and to our Summer Fellow Giselle Velez who returns to law school at Nova Southeastern University

August 8 -Andrea Moore, Executive Director appeared on WPBT Channel 2's "Issues" program as part of a round table discussion on Florida's child welfare system - the success and challenges facing the Depart of Children and Families.

August: FCF and Florida Legal Services begin the Counsel for Kids Program by locating attorneys for youth in state care whose unmet legal needs were identified by counsel for the Dept. of Children and Families. Legal Services and private attorneys will represent the children.

August 4 - Executive Director Andrea Moore, Board Members Melissa Lader Barnhardt and Denise Manning and Transitioning Youth Coordinator Tammy Workman appeared on NBC 6's "South Florida Today" to discuss the work of FCF and the community sponsors who planned the Dazzles fashion fundraiser.

August 3-5 - Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg attended the National Governor's Association Public Policy Academy on Safely Reducing the Number of Children in Foster Care with a core team from the Department of Children and Families and others.

August - Members of Florida Youth SHINE meet with the Governor's executive office to discuss their views concerning the selection of a new Secretary for DCF. Youth SHINE prepare a letter describing the necessary attributes of an effective Secretary for DCF. FCF Board Members Brian Cabrey and Carlos Martinez have Op-Ed pieces published urging that the Governor select a new secretary who would continue the reforms made under Secretary Butterworth.

July 31 - Northeast Chapter of Florida Youth SHINE meets at Jacksonville law office of Holland & Knight under the leadership of youth organizer Mike Dunlavy.

July 29 - DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth resigns

July 17 - Mike Dunlavy, youth organizer and Robin Singleton, Youth SHINE member attend their first meeting as members of Florida's Child Protection Task Force in Miami.

July 14 - Executive Director Andrea Moore attended the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet meeting and provided technical assistance and support concerning the need for better inter-agency coordination.

July 11 - Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg and Marlene Sallo of the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities addressed the Hillsborough County Jail Commission concerning the treatment of children and youth with disabilities who come through the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems in Hillsborough County.

July: FCF brings critical attention to a youth in foster care in jeopardy of losing a place on the transplant list because of issues related to his foster care status. Within a week, the youth received a transplant.

June 27 - Transitioning Youth Coordinator Tammy Workman participates in the statewide Independent Living Council meeting in Tampa.

June: On June 11th FCF will begin its work as part of the "core team" working with the Department of Children and Families and others on the Florida Team that will participate in the National Governor's Ass'n Public Policy Academy on Safely Reducing the Number of Children in Foster care. Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg will represent FCF in this endeavor.
June: FCF's Northeast Area Youth Organizer Mike Dunlavy and Florida Youth SHINE member Robin Singleton were appointed to serve on DCF's Task Force on Child Development.

June: FCF published the proceedings from it's February 14th Fostering Success program focusing on the educational and work needs of youth, including those with disabilities, transitioning out of state care.

June: On June 11 and 12th FCF led two training sessions at the continuing legal education conference of the Children's Legal Services grantees of the Florida Bar Foundation. DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth and Legal Services Director Mary Cagle gave keynote addresses.

June : June 19th, FCF organized the Florida Bar's Standing Committee on the Legal Needs of Children Children's Mental Health Seminar.

May:  On May 2nd, FCF participated in DCF's first statewide meeting of the newly reorganized Child Welfare Legal Services - the lawyers who represent DCF in dependency matters. Tammy Workman, FCF's Transitioning Youth Project Coordinator participated in an expert panel to give the youth perspective on critical issues. She and Robin Rosenberg, Deputy Director observed and participated in numerous breakout sessions as the staff attorneys gave input into the CWLS strategic plan.

May 2008: On May 15 FCF held an Awards presentation and Reception for the Tampa Bay Area at the Tampa law offices of Carlton Fields. This inaugural event was a great success with over 120 people in attendance including local judges, legislators and child advocates from all backgrounds. Honorees were the Eckerd Family Foundation, the Public Defender's Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit and outstanding Foster Care Graduate Ashley Kyle.

May 2008: On May 15 and 16th FCF hosted the Casey Family Programs consultant Debbie Staub who instructed more than 60 participants on how to present the Endless Dreams curriculum to teachers, caseworkers and all front-line personnel involved with children in foster care. Endless Dreams helps participants learn how they can better help youth in care attain educational success. Participants came from all over the state, and all have agreed to present Endless Dreams at least one time in their community.

May 2008: On May 16th Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg trained the Florida Bar Foundation's Public Interest Summer Fellows on the basics children's law and provided and overview of the relationship among all the lawyers who represent children and other parties in legal proceedings.

April 2008: FCF and Florida Youth SHINE partnered in the statewide Children's Week events in Tallahassee. This event spotlights the needs of all of Florida's children in the heart of the Legislative Session.

April 2008: FCF was chosen to host its first Florida Bar Foundation Legal Services Summer Fellow Giselle Velez. Giselle comes to FCF in the summer between her second and third years of law school at Nova Southeastern University.

April 2008: Transitioning Youth Coordinator Tammy Workman has been appointed to the statewide Independent Living Advisory Council.

April 2008: On April 25th FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore received the Russell Carlisle Advocacy Award for outstanding contributions to social justice in Broward County. The award is presented by Broward County Legal Aid and is one of the highest honors given to lawyers in Broward County.

March & April 2008: Florida Youth SHINE held its annual Spring Tallahassee Leadership event from March 29th to April 2nd. FYS met with DCF Secretary Butterworth and the leadership of the Florida Legislature; they participated in the Children's Week Town Hall Forum, they met with Judge Nikki Clark to discuss their interest in ensuring that youth are involved in their court proceedings and toured the Florida Supreme Court with Chief Justice Fred Lewis. They event included training sessions and planning sessions as well.

March 2008: FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore participated in a panel during the strategic planning meeting of DCF's Child Welfare Legal Services leadership team and supervisory attorneys as DCF Lawyers worked on the process of improving the quality of services they provide to children and families in the Dependency System.

March 2008: FCF finalized its legislative concepts and worked with bill sponsors to refine language for numerous bills affecting children in foster care. Education, access to records, and adoption disclosure were the focus of the legislative positions.

March 2008: In March FCF began its substantive work with the American Bar Association's Center on Children and the Law Youth Empowerment Project. As the subgrantee for Florida, FCF Executive Director began serving on the National Advisory Board for the project and chairs the Florida Advisory Board. Florida Advisory Board includes; Maria Bates, Bob Bertisch, Mary Cagle, Judge Nikki Ann Clark, Alfreda Coward, Michael Dale, Bob Dillinger, Gloria Fletcher, Judge David Gooding, Jay Howell, Rob Johnson, Sharon Langer, Judge Cindy Lederman, Chris Norwood, Bernard Perlmutter, Leslie Powell, Robin Rosenberg, Howard Talenfeld, KeleWilliams, Mary K.Wimsett, and Tammy Workman.

February 2008 - FCF Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg and Youth SHINE member Casey Heidkamp trained 70 case workers supervisors, DCF attorneys and GAL staff in the 20th Judicial Circuit on Independent Living - Putting Law into Practice.

February 2008 - FCF hosted a public policy conference: Fostering Success: Strategies to Empower Youth to Succeed as Adults at Nova Southeastern University. Panels of experts discussed the educational and employment needs of foster youth transitioning tow adulthood, with a third panel specifically looking at the needs of youth with disabilities.

February 2008 - Members of Florida Youth SHINE addressed the Children and Youth Cabinet to urge them to consider the needs of older foster youth and former foster youth in their oversight, coordination and accountability efforts.

January 2008 - January 30th Presentation to the Broward Delegation

January 2008 - FCF and Florida Youth SHINE participated in a statewide conference on foster care recruitment and retention held by DCF in conjunction with the Eckerd Family Foundation and the National Youth Law Center on January 16 and 17.

January 2008 -  On January 8th Florida Youth SHINE members met with the Florida House Committee on Healthy Families to provide information on youth transitioning out of state care.