The U.S. Department of Education today released a new toolkit to inspire and support current and former foster youth pursuing college and career opportunities. The Foster Care Transition Toolkit includes tips and resources intended to help foster youth access and navigate social, emotional, educational and skills barriers as they transition into adulthood. Currently, there are […]

View Making Healthy Choices: A Guide for Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care

View Engaging Youth in Court: A National Analysis 2015.

In March, 2016, the Board of the Governors of the Florida State University System realized the need to revise its Regulation that limited the use of the tuition exemption to a maximum of 120 credit hours in undergraduate courses – which was not correct according to current law. The revised Regulation will make it clear […]

See the Court Order here.

Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities 2012 – Statistics & Interventions

Infographic: The Truth About ACEs by RWJF on RWJF.org

This factsheet was written for foster parents to help them learn about LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth in the child welfare system, the unique risks they face, and the important role that foster parents can play in reducing those risks. The factsheet outlines specific actions that foster parents can take to create […]

The process to get approved for a job that requires a state of Florida background screening for people with criminal convictions. For all your questions and answers, click on the link below. Exemption from Disqualification

For all questions about how to go about sealing and expunging any criminal records, please click on the full PDF report below. Seal & Expunge Packet

This technical assistance brief intended to serve as an introductory guide for communities seeking an overview of the Miami CWBC(TM) model and a roadmap of key steps to take in support of implementation, maintenance, and sustainability of the model. Author: Jennifer Goldman Fraser, PhD, Cecilia Casanueva, PhD  

This technical assistance brief intended to serve as an introductory guide for communities seeking an overview of the Miami CWBC(TM) model and a roadmap of key steps to take in support of implementation, maintenance, and sustainability of the model. Author: Jennifer Goldman Fraser, PhD, Cecilia Casanueva, PhD,  

This report highlights the findings of two expert workgroups that were asked to describe “what works” when it comes to serving pregnant and parenting teens and to identify the gaps and challenges that persist in the field as well as opportunities to support this vulnerable population. The report summarizes: 1. Promising practices in reaching, engaging […]

The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), Department of Children and Families (DCF), Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Department of Education (DOE), Department of Health (DOH), Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program, and Florida’s Office of Early Learning (FOEL), enter into this Interagency Agreement to coordinate services and supports for […]

Florida’s Legal Online Resource, Information Driven Access – F4CF is a resource for all attorneys and judges who work in the child welfare and juvenile delinquency arenas. Any lawyer or judge who registers can use this online network, for free. F4CF will create an instant community of lawyers who are focused on child welfare, juvenile […]

The GAO raises continuing concerns about the adequacy of mental health services for children – especially those in foster care. Click to read full report here  

Click here to view the full report

National Council on Disability September 27, 2012 Read the Full Report Here  

Alphabet Soup – Top Terms You Need to Know

Top Ten Actions Florida Can Take to Eliminate the Unnecessary Use of Psychotropic Medications

On June 1st the Rules of Juvenile Procedure will require judges to inquire why children are not present for dependency court hearings. This brochure explains the rule change and answers many questions about children’s appearance in court. Please print and distribute to children in care, their caregivers and advocates.

This publication of the Center for the Study of Social Policy examines numerous aspects of the use of class action litigation to achieve systemic reform of child welfare systems of care.

The mission of the Center on Children and Families is to promote the highest quality of advocacy, teaching and scholarship in the areas of child & family law and policy.

This FCF publication answers the most commonly asked questions asked by teens as they figure out their transition to adulthood. It explains the Independent Living services and benefits available to young people in state care and young adults who recently aged out of care.

Inspired by Florida Youth SHINE, the Dept. of Children and Families issued this publication to inform children and youth of their rights while in state care or shelter care.

These materials contain many of the items used to obtain a name change and to update government documents.

This document describes all of the things that may or will happen to youth as a result of being arrested, pleading guilty or no contest to a juvenile or adult charge and going to trial. Prepared by the Law Offices of Miami-Dade Public Defender Bennett H. Brummer. 2008

The booklet defines the terms that are used in the criminal justice system. It explains expunging and sealing records and how to answer questions about your record on school and job applications. It was prepared by the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County. August, 2008

These are materials for use with the Name Change Packet.

This Report shares the results of a survey of local, state and national policies concerning the shackling of juvenile offenders. Produced by the Center on Children and Families at the University of Florida Levin College of Law

This publication 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. By the ABA Bar Youth Empowerment Project with Florida’s Children First. 2008

The only national organization which strives to support foster parents and remains a consistently strong voice on behalf of all children.

CAPTA -key federal child welfare statute.

The National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) is a non-profit child advocacy and professional membership association dedicated to representation and protection of children in the legal system. The NACC provides training and technical assistance to child advocates and works to improve the child welfare, juvenile justice and private custody systems. NACC membership is comprised primarily of attorneys and judges, although the fields of medicine, social work, mental health, education, and law enforcement are also represented.

The purpose of this memo is to provide basic information
on CBHAs so that all players in the child welfare system will know what a CBHA is, what it covers, how to obtain one and how to use it. Prepared by the Children’s Legal Services Grantees of the Florida Bar Foundation. CBHA Packet

This document answers some of the questions most commonly asked by former foster youth who are pregnant or parenting. It was prepared by the University of Miami Children and Youth Law Clinic. September, 2008.

This publication sets forth 8 goals for youth in foster care along with benchmarks for each goal that will indicate progress for educational success. By the Legal Center for Foster Care and Education.

This report quantifies the foster care bias in juvenile detention decisions, and shows that a relatively simple intervention can eliminate it for juveniles facing low-level offenses and with no prior records. Produced by the Vera Institute of Justice, New York City Administration for Children’s Services. (June 2001)

This website was designed to help high school students learn about living college life with a disability, though all high school students interested in college will find it useful. The site provides video clips, activities, and resources that can help students get a head

Remarks, including specific recommendations for systemic improvement made to the Department of Children & Families Task Force for Child Protection which is studying and recommending improvements to Florida’s child welfare system. Delivered on September 20, 2007 by FCF Executive Director Andrea Moore.

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.

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. Report of Proceedings on February 14, 2008.

This white paper outlines FCF’s recommendations for actions that the school system and the child welfare system should undertake to improve educational outcomes for children in state care.