|
Executive Director | ||
|
Deputy Director | ||
|
2007 Board of Directors | ||
|
|
||
|
2007 Youth Organizer |
||
 Howard Talenfeld Andrea Moore Bernard Perlmutter Gerard Glynn Maxine Williams David Bazerman | ||
|
Florida's Children First |
|
Board of Directors |
|
Home About FCF Board Contact US Resources Reports |
|
-Update: 04/05/08 10:39:55 AM Submit Feedback |
|
Executive Director | ||
|
Deputy Director | ||
|
2007 Board of Directors | ||
|
|
||
|
2007 Youth Organizer |
||
Howard Talenfeld Andrea Moore Bernard Perlmutter Gerard Glynn Maxine Williams David Bazerman | ||
|
| |
|
|
Andrea Lobert Moore became executive director of Florida's Children First, Inc. in January 2005. Andrea is an attorney with a long history of advocacy for children in both the education and dependency systems. She adds her legal experience to her life experience as a foster parent, adoptive parent, and parent of a child with disabilities when advocating for the rights of children.
Andrea is best known in Florida for her advocacy to ensure that children in the child welfare system receive an education and related services. Andrea developed the concept of an Interagency Agreement for Education of Children in Foster Care between the School Board of Broward County and the District X office of the Department of Children and Families and then convinced those entities to execute such an agreement. That partnership for education was the basis for what is now Florida Statute 39.0016, requiring interagency education agreements on both the state and local levels.
Prior to coming to Florida, Ms. Moore worked as a social worker (earning honor as the North West Ohio Social Worker of the Year) and, after holding progressively responsible positions, was appointed the Commissioner of Human Resources (now Human Services) for the City of Toledo, Ohio. While serving as Commissioner, she oversaw all of the City's human service programs and received a number of awards and honors. After moving to Florida, Andrea went to law school. She began her career in law as an Assistant City Attorney in Coral Springs and then went on to private practice, representing parents and children in family law and complex custody matters, education issues and disability matters. She received her J.D. from Nova University Center for the Study of Law now Nova Southeastern Law School. Andrea has served on numerous Boards, Commission, Committees and Task Forces throughout her former (current) career ranging from the North Area Parent Advisory for the Broward Schools, to the Girl Scout Board of Directors, and the Broward Steering Committee for Implementation of the Interagency Agreement for Education of Children in foster care. Andrea has conducted training programs and taught continuing education courses throughout her career. She has taught caseworkers, case managers, Guardians ad Litem and attorneys about the special education process and issues surrounding the administration of psychotropic medications to children in Foster Care, the need to improve outcomes for older youth in care and other subjects. Andrea has received awards from The Florida Department of Children and Families District X, the Guardian Ad Litem Program for the 17th Judicial Circuit, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies of Broward County while in Florida. |
|
Board Members | |
|
Theodore Babbitt |
Prominent West Palm Beach trial lawyer and co-counsel in the statewide foster care class action, Bonnie L. v. Bush, which challenges the poor systemic conditions in Florida's child welfare system. |
|
Melissa originally joined SunTrust Bank in September 2001 as a Vice President and Trust Officer in the Wealth & Investment Management Department of the Miami and Fort Lauderdale offices. Prior to returning to her home town of Florida, Melissa was an attorney with the law firm of Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, P.C. of Chicago, Illinois where she concentrated her practice in the areas of estate planning, guardianship and special needs trusts drafting and administration. Prior to joining Wildman Harrold, Melissa worked for Old Kent Bank (n.k.a. FifthThird Bank) as a Vice President and Trust Officer handling guardianship, special needs trusts and estate administration. While at Old Kent Bank, Melissa co-authored an article titled “The Corporate Role in Estate Planning for Disabled Adults”, published in the CBA Record in September 2000. Melissa also worked as a staff attorney for the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office representing vulnerable juveniles and disabled adults from 1992 through 1997 and previously taught as an adjunct professor at the John Marshall Law School. Melissa has guest lectured for the Elder Law Class at St. Thomas Law School, Dade County Probate and Guardianship Bar, Developmental Disability Workshops and the Fiduciary and Investment Risk Management Association. Melissa received her B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from University of South Florida in 1988, J.D., Cum Laude, from the John Marshall Law School in 1991, Chicago, IL and her L.L.M. in Public Health Law from DePaul University College of Law in 1994. Melissa was the recipient of the 2001 Chicago Bar Association and Chicago Bar Foundation Maurice Weigle Exceptional Young Attorney Award for her significant involvement in community activities and pro bono work. Currently, Melissa is a member of the Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale, where she is serving on the Transitional Independent Living Resource Center Committee, the Advisory Council to the Association for Retarded Citizens (“ARC”), and Board Member for The Coalition to Prevent Abuse of Vulnerable Adults and First Children’s First. Melissa is licensed to practice law in both Illinois (1991) and Florida (2003). | |
|
|
Named one of "The 50 Most Powerful People" by Orlando Magazine (2005 and 2004), the 2003 "Central Floridian of the Year" (The Orlando Sentinel) and the 2002 "Businessman of the Year" (Orlando Business Journal, November 2002), Dick Batchelor is a longtime Orlando resident who received degrees from the University of Central Florida and Valencia Community College.
Batchelor served in the Florida House of Representatives (1974-1982) and was chairman of the Auditing Committee, Health and Rehabilitative Services Committee and House Energy Committee, as well as chairman of four subcommittees. He is the recipient of more than 50 awards for legislative service. A concerned and caring neighbor, Batchelor continued his commitment to his community when he left the Florida Legislature in 1982. He currently serves on the boards of directors of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Conference for Community & Justice (NCCJ), Seeds of Peace, Florida Children’s Hospital Foundation, Florida Hospital Foundation, Harbor House, United Negro College Fund and Investment Trust Company. Since 1981 he has served as honorary chairman of the "Dick Batchelor Run for the Children," an annual 5-K run that raises funds to treat abused children. Batchelor’s passion as an advocate for children, education and the environment as well as his knowledge of international affairs has garnered recognition by The White House in addition to the public and private sectors: • 1975: As part of the United States Information Agency Program, Batchelor represented the U.S. in Poland and Romania • 1980: As part of the United States Information Agency Program, Batchelor represented the U.S. in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala • 1994: Batchelor received a Presidential Appointment to serve as member of the "Presidential Delegation to Observe the Elections in South Africa," meeting with President-Elect Mandela. • 1995: Batchelor was appointed as a delegate to the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism which examined issues that will impact the future of travel and tourism in America. • 1997: Served as U.S. representative at the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) General Conference in Paris. • 1991: Appointed by the late Governor Lawton Chiles to chair the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission (ERC), of which he served as Chairman from 1991-1997. The ERC exercises the exclusive standard-setting authority of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection. • 2000: By Presidential appointment, Batchelor served as U.S. delegate at United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland (attended UNHRC again in April 2003). • 2001: Batchelor was elected as a board co-chairman of the Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN), a national, multi-disciplinary organization, whose mission is to protect babies and children from environmental health hazards and promote a healthy environment. He continues to serve in that capacity. • 2001: Batchelor was asked to serve as escort to a delegation on a U.S. mission to Viet Nam, joining a bipartisan delegation of seven elected and appointed leaders from around the country. • 2002: Batchelor served as a delegate to United Nations Special Session on Children (UNICEF) • 2002: Batchelor chaired the "Change 4 Kids," campaign that successfully garnered support of a half-cent sales tax increase in Orange County (Florida) to generate funding for school construction and renovation. The ballot initiative passed on September 10, 2002 with almost a 60% favorable vote – the first time a tax initiative passed in Orange County after 6 previous unsuccessful attempts. This is one of the largest tax referendums for schools in the country at $2.7 billion. • 2003: Awarded credentials by United Nations Association to observe the 59 th Session of United Nations Human Rights commission in Geneva, Switzerland. • 2004-2005: Appointed by City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty and the Orange County School Board Member of Orange County Blue Ribbon Panel on Education. The Panel is working toward specific recommendations with the goal of improved student performance in Orange County's public schools. • 2004-2005: Co-Chairman, Orange County Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Commission. Commission to review and structure court process to improve responsiveness and outcomes to families experiencing domestic violence and child abuse and to ensure that the principles of safety, well-being and stability for these families are promoted throughout all court processes, to include the criminal, juvenile and civil courts. • 2005:Through ACYPL, attended 3 rd Annual Kennedy School of Government Leadership Seminar at JFK School of Government, Harvard University. Batchelor is a member of the Independent Consultants Association and heads Dick Batchelor Management Group, Inc. (www.dbmginc.com), a public policy planning and consulting firm based in Orlando, Florida. Established in 1986, the firm specializes in providing business development consulting services, strategic government relations and public affairs issues management. Today, Dick Batchelor serves as weekly on-air political analyst for WESH TV (NBC Affiliate), WMFE (PBS) radio, and WDBO radio (Cox Broadcasting). He has served as on-air political analyst for WFTV-TV (ABC Affiliate) and on-air political analyst for WNDB Radio (Daytona Beach) and is frequently interviewed for political analysis and expertise by television, radio and print journalists. He and his wife, Orlando news media veteran Andrea Coudriet, have three sons. |
|
|
Cabrey was elected Vice President at the group's 2006 annual meeting. A personal injury attorney with the Jacksonville law firm of Zisser, Robison, Brown, Nowlis, Maciejewski & Cabrey, P.A., Cabrey's practice includes representing children who have been injured and abused while in state care. Cabrey also volunteers as pro bono legal counsel (attorney ad litem) for children involved in the juvenile dependency system. He is a former senior attorney and assistant general counsel with the State of Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF)." |
| Former State Senator Walter ‘Skip’ Campbell, Jr., has been a leader on children’s issues for over a decade. A founding partner of Krupnick, Campbell, Malone, Buser, Slama, Hancock, Lieberman and McKee in Fort Lauderdale, Senator Campbell is a respected litigant and child advocate.
In 1996, Skip was elected to the Florida Senate, where he proudly served the communities of the western portions of central and northern Broward County. Senator Campbell is an accomplished legislator who has sponsored and supported numerous bills in the areas of children’s rights, crime fighting, education, consumer rights and safety, and the protection of the quality of health care. He is the past Chair of the Senate Children and Families Committee and since February 2007 he has brought his considerable knowledge and expertise to the FCF Board of Directors. | |
| Julie Criser, a Wealth Strategist responsible for high-net worth client and charitable investment management and trust services, is a 9 year veteran with Northern Trust, located in North Palm Beach, Florida. Julie brings her financial expertise and commitment to children's issues to FCF. | |
|
Personal: Age 55, married to Kay Dillinger Native Floridian, Pinellas resident since 1973. Education: Clinic.Career: | |
| President of the Children's Advocacy Foundation of Tallahassee and lead counsel in the Bonnie L. v. Bush litigation, as well a pro bono counsel for children in major cases in the state and federal courts since 1989. | |
| Resume | |
| Amy Hickman is a partner in Hausmann & Hickman, P.A., a private law firm focusing on adoption, juvenile and reproductive law. Prior to founding Hausmann & Hickman, P.A., Mrs. Hickman was a staff attorney with the Juvenile Advocacy Project of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County where she advocated on behalf of children in the dependency and delinquency system. Mrs. Hickman is a member of the Executive Counsel of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, Chair of the Adoption and Juvenile Committee and Vice President of Kids Sanctuary, Inc. a group foster home for children with special needs. | |
|
|
Prominent Jacksonville trial lawyer and co-counsel in the statewide foster care class action, Bonnie L. vs. Bush, which challenged the poor systemic conditions in Florida's child welfare system.
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, April 5, 1947; admitted to Bar 1972, Florida. Education: The Florida State University (B.A., 1969; J.D. with High Honors, 1972); Phi Delta Phi. Past President, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers; Past President, The Florida State University College of Law Alumni Association. Member: The Florida Bar; Jacksonville and American Bar Associations; Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, Civil Justice Foundation; American Board of Trial Advocates; Board of Directors, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. (1978-1981); Founding Chair, Environmental Law Section of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. *(Trial Practice - Personal Injury and Wrongful Death), Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, National and Florida Boards of Certification. |
|
|
Bob Jacobs is an attorney and manager of the Education team for The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc. Bob is also a licensed psychologist (California – inactive) and spent 20 years working with children as a teacher, coach, therapist and clinical administrator before enrolling in law school in 2000. Bob graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in May of 2003 and was admitted to the Florida Bar in September of that year. He has a doctorate in psychology and two master’s degrees in addition to the J.D. Bob has written and spoken extensively in the U.S. and in Australia on the issue of the overuse of psychiatric diagnoses and prescription drugs with children. In August of 2005 he was invited to present on this issue to the Australian Senate Subcommittee on Mental Health in Canberra. Bob has been on the Advisory Board of the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology (ICSPP) since 1993 and served a term (2002-2004) on the National Steering Committee for the Children’s Rights Network of Amnesty International USA. |
| Jay Kassack has been a member of the FCF Board of Directors since February 2007 and comes to the board after serving as Chief of Staff to Former Senate President Tom Lee. While in the Senate President’s office he distinguished himself as a director of important children’s legislation. Now working with AmeriGroup Corporation, Mr. Kassack brings his years of experience to our board.
Kassack’s legislative and executive experience has been an asset to our Board. Prior to his work with the Senate President’s office he served as Staff Director for the important Senate Rule and Calendar Committee, and served as the Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth, and Family Services of the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. | |
|
|
Carlos J. Martinez is the Chief Assistant Public Defender for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida (Miami-Dade County). Mr. Martinez has more than 15 years management experience in the private and public sector. He has also been a trial attorney in Miami-Dade, Florida and Bellingham, Washington, and was an administrator for Exxon Company USA. Currently, he is an administrator in a 200-attorney law firm, where he leads the continuous improvement program, integrates attorney and staff operations across multiple sites, and serves as the Public Defender’s liaison to the legislative, judicial and executive branches. He currently serves on the Supreme Court’s Families and Children in Court Committee and the board of Florida’s Children First Board of Directors. He chaired the Representation Subcommittee of The Florida Bar's Commission on the Legal Needs of Children, chaired the Eleventh Circuit’s Juvenile Justice Board, was a member of Harvard’s Executive Sessions on Public Defense, and served on the Florida Supreme Court's Treatment?based Drug Court Steering Committee. He also served on the committee of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals that wrote the Key Components for Drug Courts. |
|
University of Miami |
Bernard P. Perlmutter, Esq., is a clinical professor of law and director of the Children & Youth Law Clinic, an in-house legal clinic at the University of Miami School of Law. In addition to his teaching duties at the Clinic and the law school’s Center for Ethics and Public Service, Bernie teaches classes in children and the law, lawyering skills, poverty law, and legal ethics. He also serves as director and faculty advisor of the law school’s Public Interest Law Summer Program in Children and the Law.
At the UM Children & Youth Law Clinic, Bernie trains and supervises law students who handle cases involving abused, abandoned and neglected children and adolescents in a variety of legal proceedings, including dependency and foster care, delinquency, public benefits, health care, mental health, disability, education and immigration, in addition to appellate, legislative and administrative advocacy and law reform litigation. He represented the child M.W. before the Florida Supreme Court in the landmark case of M.W. v. Davis & DCF, which resulted in the Court’s adoption of Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.350, a rule that establishes due process protections, including pre-commitment hearings and the right to counsel, for foster children committed to psychiatric facilities by the state Department of Children & Families. He has litigated numerous federal and state court class action lawsuits seeking to reform Florida’s foster care system. He has submitted amicus curiae briefs in a number of cases of national significance, including Roper v. Simmons (juvenile death penalty), GAL v. S.C. (foster child’s right to medical records privacy), DCF v. Statewide Advocacy Council (advocacy council’s access to confidential records held by Department of Children & Families), and cases affecting older foster children, immigrant children and disabled children. He has published law review articles on the due process rights of foster children facing commitment to psychiatric facilities and the use of therapeutic jurisprudence in representing older foster children. He was appointed by the President of the Florida Bar to serve on the Florida Bar Commission on the Legal Needs of Children, is on the Boards of Directors of Florida's Children First and the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, and is a member of the Florida Legal Service Project Directors Association and the National Association of Counsel for Children’s National Advisory Board. He also serves on the Florida Bar Legal Needs of Children Committee, Juvenile Court Rules Committee, and the Public Interest Law Section Legal Needs of Children Committee. Bernie was formerly a staff attorney at Legal Services of Greater Miami, specializing in dependency, foster care, special education, mental health, and immigration law. While on a leave of absence from Legal Services, he served as the Director of the Children's Law Project in the Civil Law Clinic at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center. Bernie and the Children & Youth Law Clinic received the National Association of Counsel for Children’s 2003 Outstanding Legal Advocacy Award, the Clinical Legal Education Association’s 2003 Award for Excellence in a Public Interest Law Case or Project, two Florida Bar Foundation Steven M. Goldstein First Runner-Up Awards for Excellence (in 2001 and 2003), and the Florida Bar Public Interest Law Section’s Honorable Hugh S. Glickstein Child Advocacy Award, given to the members of the Florida Bar Commission on the Legal Needs of Children in 2002. Bernie was also the recipient of the 2005 C. Clyde Atkins Civil Liberties Award from the Greater Miami Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Bernie has a B.A. from Bennington College, did graduate work in English and Comparative Literature at Brandeis University, and received his J.D. cum laude from the UM School of Law. |
|
The founder and president of Boardroom Communications,
Julie Silver
Talenfeld
is known for her creativity and superior client service. Prior to establishing Boardroom, she was founder and executive producer of Florida's first statewide business radio network, syndicated on 30 stations. Julie also served on CNN's national assignment desk and was a writer and associate producer for CNN's Crossfire show in Washington, DC. Always passionate for the public relations industry, she headed up public relations for J.T. Moran Financial, a 20-office, $100 million New York-based investment banking firm. Julie has received the prestigious "Forty Under Forty" Award from the South Florida Business Journal and is a founding member of the Greater Miami chapter of the National Association of Female Executives. She is named in the National Register's “Who's Who in Executives and Professionals.” Active in the South Florida community, Julie is on the board of the Work-Life Balance Institute for Women, a non-profit organization whose focus is to inspire, empower and help women achieve personal and professional balance. Boardroom Communications has been listed in the Women's Business Journal as one of the top 25 women-owned businesses in South Florida. The firm has also been a finalist for the South Florida Business Journal’s Business of the Year awards twice. A South Florida native and loyal Gator fan, Julie attended Boston University and is a graduate of the University of Florida. | |
|
PRESIDENT |
Howard M. Talenfeld is an advocate for the children. A long-time children’s rights attorney and trial lawyer, he has dedicated much of his career to helping – and convincing others to help Florida’s most vulnerable citizens -- its abused, foster, mentally ill and developmentally disabled children.
Talenfeld successfully litigated Ward v. Kearney, a class action lawsuit to reform the foster care system in Broward County, and he won a landmark monetary civil rights settlement on behalf of six neglected and abused foster children. He’s been instrumental in obtaining funding for Florida’s Guardian ad Litem Program and the Broward County Children’s Services Council. In 2002, Talenfeld helped found Florida’s Children First. A partner in Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, P.A., he also recruits and trains fellow attorneys to provide legal counsel to foster children statewide. Talenfeld’s goal is to ensure every foster child has appropriate legal representation for educational, general and mental health care, and developmental services. He even coaches Little League, softball and soccer in the city of Parkland. For his many volunteer efforts, Talenfeld was named the Broward County Bar Association’s 2005 Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year. |
| tba | |
| Margaret Timmins is a government relations consultant who has represented many interests before the legislature and executive branch. She has committed her time and talent to helping children, especially foster children. | |
|
|
Co-founder of Children First and counsel in Bonnie L., M. E. v. Bush, and Lofton v. Kearney, now Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Child Advocacy Clinic at the University of Memphis School of Law. |
| Contact Information | ||||||||
|
|
| ||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
Florida's Children First (FCF) Web Designer - AMAJN | ||||||||
