Children's Issues

Children’s Issues Team

 

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:

Karen Hochman, IFCS; Elizabeth R. Massey, City of Pompano Education Advisory; Cassandra Evans, DJJ; Mark Dhooge, Kids In Distress; Debbie Martin-Nuessle, YMCA of Broward; Claudette Hinds, Family Central; Catina Farah, 211 Broward; Gilda Clarke, The Chrysalis Center; Miriam Firpo-Jimenez, Broward County; David Spivey, Drug Free Youth in Training; Norma Wagner, BRHPC; David Duresky, BCHSC; Barbara Schecht, Heart Gallery of Broward; Michelle Reid, Child Net; Patti Kodish, March of Dimes; Danica Mamby, WorkForce One;; Neolita Maharj, Boys & Girls Club; Walter Honaman, Legal Aid Services; Janice Carter, ELC Broward; Nancy Rogan, Community Foundation of Broward; Katherine Danio, AD Henderson Foundation; Renee Richards, City of Hollywood; Kathy Thomsen, Legal Aid Services; Sandra Bernard-Bastien, CSC; Hon. Robin Bartleman, School Board of Broward County; Hon. Pamela Bushnell, Tamarac City Commissioner; Hon. Ari Porth, Florida House of Representatives; Howard Bakalar, United Way of Broward; Christine Bernard, HANDY; Kirk Brown, HANDY; Mariza Cobb, Esq., Office of the Attorney General; Regine Cordon, Children's Harbor; Pepi Dunay, United Jewish Community of Broward County; Sarah Franco, Jewish Adoption & Foster Care Options; James Gress, Covenant House Florida; Kristen Guerrise, FLITE Center; Nina Hansen, SBBC; Suzanne E. Higgins, Covenant House Florida; Ron Ishoy, Office of the Attorney General; Marsha Levy, HANDY and STARS Academy; Mary Lynn Lovejoy, United Way of Broward; Tom Lukasik, 4Kids of South Florida; Tracey McPharlin, Esq., Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, P.A.; Christina Spudeas, Florida Children's First; Jeanette Martin, Jack & Jill Children's Center; Robin Moselle, Jacobson, Sobo & Moselle; Barbara Myrick, SBBC; Aaron Nevins, Office of Hon. Ellyn Bogdanoff, Florida House of Representatives; Tamara Peacock, The Tamara Peacock Company; John Pisula, State Farm Insurance; Julie Radlauer, Ronik & Radlauer; Michelle Rogers, Family Central; Phil Saia, Bergeron Properties & Investment Corporation; Jillian Smath, SOS Children's Villages of Florida; Patty Walker, Guardian ad Litem Program, 7th Judicial Court; Debbie Winters, School Board of Broward County; Melissa Zelniker-Presser, Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel; Jeffrey Zirulnick, SOS Children's Villages of Florida

Team Issues:

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

Ø      Support "adequacy" of funding for all Community Based Care (CBC) lead agencies and oppose any attempts to redistribute revenue from adequately funded districts to create "equity."          

Ø      Fully fund the Guardian ad Litem program and ensure that children have appropriate legal representation.

Ø      Improve access to the Florida KidCare program.

Ø      Obtain appropriations, continued benefits and incentives to promote adoption of foster children with special needs.

Date Submitted: Submitted: 01/15/10