Despite eight prior calls to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) abuse hotline, a young boy was left in the care of his mother and is now catastrophically injured. Having exhausted all legal remedies, a claims bill (HB 6541) has been filed by Clermont Republican Rep. Taylor Yarkosky... View Article
Results & verdicts
more results & verdictsCategories for Florida Department of Children and Families
As reported by WFSU, Franklin County Sheriff A. J. Smith is again calling out the Florida Department of Children and Families for failing to serve abused children and neglected kids in his jurisdiction. Read the full story here.
Lawsuit: DCF accused of keeping kids from relatives, adopting them to system-connected strangers
As reported by ABC Action News in Tampa, Taniyah and Rodney Williams are among four Florida families now suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and leaders of Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) along with several other state foster care organizations. Read more here.
Justice for Kids Partner Stacie Schmerling was recently interviewed by WESH 2 News in Orlando regarding Florida’s Department of Children and Family Services enacting changes, including one major statewide change after Palm Bay’s police chief sounded the alarm on the state’s child welfare system. According to Schmerling, “this systemic... View Article
Miami Herald: Florida seized a disabled mom’s 4-day-old son: ‘I didn’t think this could happen in America’
As reported by the Miami Herald, it was just two days after Alysha Princess Cesaire gave birth to her son when someone at Memorial Regional Hospital called the state’s child abuse hotline to express concerns that her physical disability — which causes her to use a walker and have difficulty... View Article
Florida Today: Police investigation: DCF alerted at least 6 times before mother charged with manslaughter of infant son
As reported by Florida Today, a police investigation revealed the state Department of Children and Family Services had been called at least six times regarding abuse allegations in the case of a mother who now faces a charge of manslaughter in connection to the death of her infant son. Read more here
WTSP: Pinellas sheriff will announce criminal investigation of lead child welfare agency
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri will announce a criminal investigation Thursday into Eckerd Connects Community Alternatives. Read more here.
Tampa Bay Times: Eckerd Connects loses child welfare contract in Pinellas, Pasco
DCF terminates Eckerd Connect contract because of too many child deaths and for placing children in dangerous, risky and abusive placements. Read more here.
Florida DCF confirmed flaws with the handling of child abuse complaints concerning foster parents following USA Today story
Several tragic cases of Justice for Kids Partner Stacie Schmerling were recently featured in USA Today concerning the failures of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to investigate and respond to credible complaints against foster care providers to ensure children are safe. Complaints to Florida’s abuse hotline about... View Article
On November 6, 2020, Florida lost another child that had been repeatedly involved with the Department of Children and Families (DCF). 22-month-old Rashid Bryant was pronounced dead at Miami Jackson North Medical Center. The cause? Complications of acute and chronic blunt force injuries, attributable to “parental neglect,” according to the... View Article