| About FCF <<Back About FCF Next >> |
|
(3) Why is this organization needed? |
|
Florida’s Children First was founded by child advocate attorneys from around the state who have been fighting their own individual battles on behalf of children at risk. But the new organization allows those efforts to be coordinated, strengthened and built into a powerful force. The advocates each have their own specialties and together are ideally positioned to effect real change
One way to explain the creation
of FCF is the following parable: One summer in a village, the people from the town gathered for a picnic. As they leisurely shared food and conversation, someone noticed a baby in the river, struggling and crying. The baby was going to drown!
Someone rushed to save the baby. Then, they noticed another screaming baby
in the river, and they pulled that baby out. Soon, more babies were seen
drowning in the river, and the towns people were pulling them out as fast as
they could.
It took great effort, and they began to organize their activities in order to
save the babies as they came down the river. As everyone else was busy in
the rescue efforts to save the babies, two of the townspeople started to run
away along the shore of the river.
“Where are you going?” shouted one of the rescuers. “We need you
here to help us save these babies!”
“We are going upstream to stop whoever is throwing them in!” After years of trying to save Florida’s children after they were harmed, some of Florida’s child advocates have organized FCF to promote policies and practices that will prevent the harm from occurring. While going up river to stop the harm, we will also help train those in the river who are still rescuing our babies to equip them to be able to rescue more. |