Children's Issues

Team Leaders:

Evan J. Goldman, Esq. , Children's Services Council of Broward County, egoldman@cscbroward.org; (954) 377-1000; Derrick S. Roberts, Esq., ChildNet, DRoberts@ChildNet.us, (954) 414-6000; Howard M. Talenfeld, Esq.,Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, PA, htalenfeld@cftlaw.com, (954) 492-4010

 

Team Mission:

The Children's Issues Team will address critical issues affecting thousands of at-risk children in our community and throughout the state. Team members will examine legislation related to family support services, kinship care, improvements to Florida's dependency system, support for children with special needs, early childhood issues, immigrant children and other crucial issues affecting our most vulnerable population.

 

Team Members:

Sheila Smith and Billie Morgan, 211/FCFH; Karen Hochman, IFCS; Cassandra Evans, DJJ; Mark Dhooge, Kids In Distress; Regine Kanzi, BRHPC; Danica Mamby, WorkForce One; Neolita Maharj, Boys & Girls Club; Kathy Thomsen and Walter Honaman, Legal Aid Services; Janice Carter, ELC Broward; Nancy Rogan, Community Foundation of Broward; Katherine Danio, AD Henderson Foundation; Sandra Bernard-Bastien, CSC; Dave Wallace, United Way of Broward; Marsha Lev and Kirk Brown, HANDY; Regine Cordon, CHS; Pepi Dunay, United Jewish Community of Broward County; Sarah Franco, JAFCO; Kristen Guerrise, FLITE Center; Ron Ishoy, Office of the Attorney General; Tom Lukasik, 4Kids of South Florida; Christina Spudeas, Florida Children's First; Jeanette Martin, Jack & Jill Children's Center; Robin Moselle, Jacobson, Sobo & Moselle; Jillian Smath and Jeffrey Zirulnick, SOS Children's Villages of Florida; Patty Walker, Guardian ad Litem; Mark Halpert, Learning Disabilities Assn.; Michael Farver, End Childhood Hunger; Debbie Metzger and Kerry-Ann Royes, YMCA; Maggie Zalamea, BTU; Denise Wronowski, Broward Children's Center; Katina Thompson and Cicely Barnes, Smith Comm. Mental Health; Ellie Schrot and Jeanne Miley, CDTC, Ellen Lobelenz, All Purpose Life Skills; Vanessa Hargray, DJJ; Eivina Cobb, The Poutis Group, Ronnie Montgomery and Lourdes Zapara, Boys Town; Adriane Reesey and Dean Williams, Broward Sheriff's Office, Karen Small, Sickle Cell Disease, Judi Hamilton, Youth of Tomorrow, Valerie Sheppard, Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Shari Appell, Camelot Community Care, John Pisula, Public Affairs Specialist, Sherry Friedlander and Dr. Alexis Brimberry, A Child is Missing, Kristen Stablein, Chrysalis Health, Omrit Shimon, Children's Harbor, David Freedman, Community Leadership Consulting, David Williams, Center for Hearing and Communication

 

Team Issues:

- Ensure that children are held harmless from state budget reductions.

- Improve access to the Florida KidCare health insurance program.

- Support efforts to improve Florida's Voluntary Pre-K program and deliver on the promise of a high-quality, preschool education.

- Maintain proven and effective home visitation programs to prevent child abuse and neglect.

- Make sure that young adults leaving foster care receive adequate and appropriate support.

- Promote developmental screening, diagnosis and treatment for children with special needs.

- Preserve prevention and diversion funding including that for Juvenile Assessment Centers (JACs) in areas of high utilization, Children in Need of Services/Families in Need of Services (CINS/FINS) and effective girls' programs.

- Collaborate with partners such as The Children's Movement of Florida, other Broward Days Teams and the Broward Workshop Education and Youth

- Advocacy Committee on issues of common interest to children in our community.

Date Submitted: 10/21/11