(5)  2009 News

September 2009

Dear FCF Board, Advisory Board, CLS Grantees, Host Committees, Colleagues, Supporters, and Friends,

   We have much great news to report! 

   First, I am excited to announce that after a national search in which we considered over 100 applicants, Christina Spudeas, Esq. has joined the team as the new Executive Director of Florida’s Children First, Inc. Christina comes to us with a wealth of experience and passion for children’s rights issues and a command of both dependency and delinquency systems. Her energy is contagious. In the short time that she has been serving us, we have seen many doors open with new opportunities, and calls from all over the state of Florida wishing Florida’s Children First well as we move forward.  Ms. Spudeas also has taken a great interest in the continued development of Florida Youth SHINE and is taking time to get to know all of the youth as well as meeting with Board Members and other stakeholders statewide.  

  I am also very pleased to report that we have new members joining us on the Board of Directors.  We want to welcome Sheila Alu, Alan Mishael, Sandra Murman, Veronica Robinson, and John Walsh.  These new members are bringing additional expertise and resources to the team. The full board is engaged in public policy issues with representation, psychotropic medication and child-on-child sexual abuse at the top of the list for the 2010 Legislative Session.

  Adding to our excitement is that Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg and her husband Barry now have a new son named Elijah. We wish her and her family well as she takes a maternity leave, and look forward to when she will return full-time.

  Mike Dunlavy, our 2008-09 Florida Youth SHINE coordinator has started law school at St. Thomas University and everyone that knows Mike is bursting with pride at his accomplishments. Although it will be difficult to replace Mike, FCF has begun the process of finding a Statewide Youth Development Specialist to lead and expand Florida Youth SHINE.

  We thank you for your continued support and know that you will be pleased with the direction that FCF is heading under our new leadership.  Please take the opportunity to meet with Christina as she travels the state so that you can share your ideas. It is our continuing privilege to protect the legal needs of Florida’s children.

Howard Talenfeld
President, Florida’s Children First, Inc.

Howard M. Talenfeld, Esq.
Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, P.A.
One Financial Plaza, 23rd Floor
100 Southeast Third Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33394
Phone: (954) 492-4010
Fax: (954) 492-1144
htalenfeld@cftlaw.com
Web page: Floridachildadvocate.com

Dear FCF Board & Advisory Board

Just a note to catch you up on our recent happenings and items of interest.

As many of you know, May 15th marked Andrea Moore's last day as our Executive Director. Andrea moved our organization and agenda forward in so many ways that we couldn't have dreamed possible five years ago when she became our ED (agreeing to take the job for 2 years). She's ready for new challenges and to finally have some time to spend with her family! So we are in the midst of the hard work of trying to find someone who can fill her big shoes. A copy of the ad for the position follows this email - if you can think of an appropriate applicant please have them submit their resume ASAP.

FCF held its second annual Tampa Bay Area reception and fundraiser on May 21st. Despite a drenching rain, we had a good turnout and a successful event with very inspiring honorees. You can see photos of this and other recent events on our website's new photo gallery, floridaschildrenfirst.org (link on the front page)

We've recently conducted two trainings. On May 21st we held a "Serving Foster Youth with Disabilities in Our Community" training in Tampa in connection with our reception. The previous week we co-sponsored with the Public Interest Law Section o the Florida Bar a training on "Psychtropic Medications for Children." Both were well-attended and well-received. We will present training on the transition needs of youth in state care to the Florida Bar Foundation's Children's Legal Services grantees at a statewide meeting on June 4th and 5th.

With the tragic death of Gabriel Myers in Broward County, DCF and the public have renewed their attention to the problem of psychotropic medications for children. FCF sits on the small workgroup convened by Secretary Sheldon that is looking into circumstances leading up to his death. The next two meetings of that work group are June 8th in Tampa, focussing on psychotropic medications, and June 18th in Broward County which will address a variety of issues.

Mike Dunlavy of Florida Youth SHINE will be attending the next meeting of the DCF Task Force now called Fostering Success (previously the Task Force on Child Protection.) The task force will receive a briefing on the state's recent review of psychtropic medication prescriptions and court orders and will discuss a proposal to collect DNA samples from all kids in state care. Mike will present the youth's opposition to mandatory DNA collection. That meeting will be held June 4th in Tampa.

This has been a busy couple of weeks for news articles of interest to FCF. I am attaching brief clips and links to articles relating to the Governor's signing of the two bills promoted by FCF and Florida Youth Shine; the state's review of the delivery of psychotropic medications to children in state care and the investigation of the Subsidized Independent Living in Tampa (after the murder of a baby born to a teen mom in SIL).

Robin Rosenberg
Acting Executive Director
Florida's Children First
P.O. Box 1812
Tampa, FL 33601-1812
813-625-3722
robin.rosenberg@floridaschildrenfirst.org

February 13 - Mike Dunlavy, FCF's Transitioning Youth Coordinator attends the Independent Living Services Advisory Council meeting.

January 26-30 - FCF's Deputy Director Robin Rosenberg and Florida Youth SHINE advisor Tammy Workman along with Youth Shine members Kimberly Foster, Derek Riggins, Julia Villamizar conducted nine trainings over the course of four days addressing the issue of Involving Youth in their Court Proceedings. Six trainings were held at the DCF Regional Training workshops in Miami, Orlando and Tallahassee, and three were held in Miami-Dade County.

January -  FCF's Transitioning Youth Coordinator Mike Dunlavy is appointed to the Independent Living Services Advisory Council.

 January 5 - FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore participates in the Special Session of the Florida Legislature to ensure that the needs of children in care are at the forefront of budget discussions.