with Florida Foster Care Review!
You're Invited to Claws for Kids!

Let's do lunch! On Monday, November 2nd, from 11:30am to 2pm, FFCRwill host its 10th Annual Claws for Kids Luncheon at Joe's Stone Crab on Miami Beach to promote the safety, well-being and long-term success of children, youth and young adults in Miami-Dade's foster care system. Attended by more than 300 guests, this signature event is expected to raise $100,000 in crucial, unrestricted funds. These funds allow us to implement new initiatives like the Permanency Roundtable Program and better serve the increasing numbers of children whose cases come before the CRP. Highlights include a wine reception with top Miami civic and community leaders, as well as raffle prizes that include travel, leisure, restaurant and cultural experiences. To purchase tickets or sponsor the event, click HERE!
A Warm Welcome to Melissa Martinez-Esteve, Review Specialist

This year, FFCR conducted 804 review hearings for 573 children - nearly twice as many as last year. It's no surprise, then, that we're thrilled Melissa Martinez-Esteve has joined our team as a new Review Specialist with the Citizen Review Panel (CRP) Program.

Melissa brings to her post six years of child welfare, advocacy and volunteer management experience with the State of Florida Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program for the 11th Judicial Circuit Court. In addition, Melissa has seven years of clinical experience in case management, counseling and group facilitation with children and their families. Melissa earned an MSW in Social Work from Florida International University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She was born and raised on Curaçao and speaks multiple languages. Right now, Melissa's looking forward to her third half marathon this October. Welcome, Melissa! 
Success Story: Connecting families with the services they need 

The Citizen Review Panel (CRP) examines all aspects of children's dependency court cases to determine whether children are safe and their needs are being met. Earlier this year, the CRP heard the case of two children who had recently been reunified with their mother and father. The children had originally been removed from the home due to inadequate supervision and hazardous conditions.

Their post-reunification progress reports were extremely positive. However, during the hearing, the mother began to cry as the allegations that brought the case in were recounted. The panelists assured her that, based on the reports, she appeared to be doing a great job. The mom admitted to having low self-esteem and further reported that her individual therapist, assigned after an assessment for services, had stopped coming to the home a month prior. The case manager, who was present at the hearing, was unaware of this and asked why the mom hadn't told her. The mom responded that she thought maybe the service was completed, but expressed a desire to continue. The CRP recommended that the therapy continue, and the case manager assured the panel she would follow up on compliance.
   

to Florida Foster Care Review!





In the Community
Juvenile Court Lecture Series: Independent Living Laws, Tuesday, October 13, 11:45 am to 1:15 pm

Guardian ad Litem Newsletter: Fall 2015

CWLA September 20, 2015 Newsletter

Foster Youth Weekly, FFCR's Online Newspaper
Like being in the know? FFCR curates Foster Youth Weekly, an online paper focusing on resources useful to and supportive of youth in foster care and young adults recently in care. Check it out for employment information and more.

To receive it in your inbox, be sure to subscribe!


 

Be the safety net abused and neglected children and youth need. Donate or volunteer today.

About Florida Foster Care Review 

Established in 1989 by a United Way committee, Florida Foster Care Review promotes the safety, well-being and long-term success of abused and neglected children in our community. Through special recruitment and training, volunteers review cases of youth in foster care to ensure they are safe and receiving needed services, intensively promoting positive outcomes. Together with child welfare professionals, Florida Foster Care Review also works to ensure that children and youth leaving the foster care system have someone they can call family. Through all its programs, Florida Foster Care Review tracks and analyzes outcomes in order to advocate for system changes that improve children's lives.