Floridas Children First Inc

ORGANIZATION MISSION: FLORIDA'S CHILDREN FIRST IS A NON-PROFIT, NONPARTISAN, INDEPENDENT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO PROTECTING AND ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IMPACTED BY THE CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND DISABILITY SYSTEMS THROUGH SYSTEMIC REFORM, EDUCATION, YOUTH VOICE, AND PROMOTING HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION. ORGANIZATION VISION: OUR VISION IS THAT FLORIDA'S LAWS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES RESPECT, PRIORITIZE, AND PROTECT CHILDREN AND YOUTH IMPACTED BY THE CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND DISABILITY SYSTEMS. ABOUT US: BY BEING INFORMED BY THE YOUTH WE SERVE AND PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR THEIR INPUT AND LIFE EXPERIENCES TO BE VALUED, WE HAVE ACHIEVED POSITIVE, LONG- LASTING SYSTEMIC CHANGES IN FLORIDA'S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM THAT PROTECT AND UPLIFT OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN. WE ARE CHANGE AGENTS. WE ARE WATCHDOGS. WE FILL A CRITICAL GAP IN THE STATEWIDE CHILD-SERVING SYSTEM BY TIRELESSLY WORKING TO DISMANTLE BARRIERS, RAISE AWARENESS, AND ENSU

IMPROVING GENERAL CHILD WELFARE FLORIDA'S CHILDREN FIRST (FCF) HAS BECOME A NATIONAL GO-TO ORGANIZATION WHEN SEEKING SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN CHILD WELFARE. FLORIDA'S CHILDREN FIRST MAKES THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN A TOP PRIORITY. FCF WORKS DILIGENTLY TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN LAWYERS ACROSS THE STATE TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES FOR OUR CHILDREN. FCF HAS HELPED TRAIN HUNDREDS OF LAWYERS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME REPRESENTING INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. FCF WORKS WITH AGENCIES WHEN THEY WRITE THEIR POLICIES, PROCEDURES, OR RULES. KNOWN FOR OUR EXPERTISE, FLORIDA'S CHILDREN'S FIRST PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THIS ARENA. BUILDING ON THE WORK WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, THIS YEAR WE PARTICIPATED IN RULEMAKING FOR THREE FEDERAL RULES THAT WILL IMPACT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ON THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. THE AREAS INCLUDED: 1. SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT WHICH APPLIES TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: A. WE ADVOCATED FOR EXTENDING THE DISABILITY PROTECTIONS TO PLACEMENTS AND SCHOOLS WHERE FOSTER CHILDREN LIVE AND ATTEND. B. WE ADVOCATED FOR A FINDING THAT A FAILURE TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE PLACEMENT ARRAY IS A 504 VIOLATION. C. WE ADVOCATED FOR RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN TO HAVE FAMILY INTEGRITY WITH PARENTS. 3. IV-E REIMBURSEMENT FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION: FCF COMMENTED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULATING FEDERAL FUND REIMBURSEMENT TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN GET INDEPENDENT LEGAL REPRESENTATION. FCF IMPROVES GENERAL CHILD WELFARE THROUGH TRAINING AND EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS. CHANGING THE SYSTEM OF CARE FOR FLORIDA'S CHILDREN REQUIRES THAT WE EDUCATE A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS. WE MAKE THE GENERAL PUBLIC AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS CONCERNING CHILDREN, IN ORDER TO MOBILIZE THEIR HELP AND SUPPORT IN MAKING IMPROVEMENTS. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE PROVIDED MORE THAN 102,698 HOURS OF FREE TRAINING TO KEEP INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS INFORMED ON ISSUES, RULE CHANGES AND NEW BEST PRACTICES THAT IMPACT VULNERABLE YOUTH. NEARLY 22,000 HOURS WERE PROVIDED IN JUST THE PAST YEAR. WE ALSO EDUCATE BY WRITING MATERIALS, BROCHURES, AND PAMPHLETS THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS IN CHILD WELFARE, DELINQUENCY, AND DISABILITIES, WE NOW HAVE MORE THAN 4 DOZEN PUBLICATIONS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC INCLUDING 12 NEW PUBLICATIONS COMPLETED IN 2023. FCF IMPROVES GENERAL CHILD WELFARE THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY. FCF ACHIEVES SUCCESS IN SECURING MAJOR SYSTEMIC CHANGES BY EDUCATING THE STATE LEGISLATURE ON THE CHALLENGES THESE CHILDREN FACE DAILY, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEMS OF CARE AND THE DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING THROUGH THOSE SYSTEMS - ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN. THESE CHANGES CONTINUE TO HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT IMPACTS MORE AND MORE YOUTH EACH YEAR AND EDUCATES THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONALS AND COUNTLESS CITIZENS ABOUT ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS FOR CHILDREN IN CARE. THIS YEAR OUR RECENT LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: "EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE KEYS TO INDEPENDENCE BILL BENEFITS." 450+ WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY PRECLUDED FROM GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND INSURANCE ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE STATE'S DRIVING PROGRAM FOR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH WHICH WE ADVOCATED TO ESTABLISH, ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR THAT SUPPORT DUE TO THE BILL GLITCH "FIX" WE SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED THIS YEAR. HUNDREDS MORE WILL NOW BE ELIGIBLE FOR EACH YEAR TO COME. "EDUCATING YOUTH ON THE RIGHTS, BENEFITS, AND PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO HELP THEM THRIVE." THOUGH FLORIDA HAS MANY GREAT LAWS TO PROTECT AND BENEFIT CHILDREN, IT DOES NOT HELP THEM IF THEY OR THEIR CARE-GIVERS, ARE NOT AWARE OF THEM. FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS, HUNDREDS OF FLORIDA YOUTH SHINE MEMBERS, MENTORS AND FCF STAFF MEMBERS HAVE TRAVELED TO TALLAHASSEE TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS LEGISLATION. MANY TESTIFIED TO CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BILL, SHARING. MANY SPOKE OUT EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD NO LONGER BENEFIT FROM THE LEGISLATION, TO ENSURE FUTURE GENERATIONS DO NOT MISS OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES, AS THEY HAD. IN 2023, WE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THE "EDUCATION OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE BILL, ENABLING 28,449 CHILDREN TO BE NOW BE EDUCATED ON THEIR RIGHTS WHILE IN CARE. THIS BILL ALSO CODIFIED THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN. OUR RECENT LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS COMBINED WITH SUCCESSFUL PRIOR EFFORTS THAT NOW ALLOW YOUTH TO REMAIN IN FOSTER TO AGE 21, MAINTAIN STABILITY WHEN MOVED TO A NEW LIVING PLACEMENT, RECEIVE FEWER PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS, AND MANY OTHER PAST ISSUES WE'VE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSED ALL COLLECTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE BETTERMENT OF YOUTH WHO MUST EXPERIENCE THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. MANY OF OUR EFFORTS, INCLUDING THE LANDMARK "NORMALCY" BILL THAT NOW ALLOWS YOUTH IN CARE TO PARTICIPATE IN "NORMAL" CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BAND PRACTICE, SPORTS OR CLASS TRIPS WITHOUT A COURT ORDER REQUIRED, HAVE SINCE BECOME NATIONAL LEGISLATION. BY FILLING A CRITICAL VOID IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, OUR WORK EACH YOUR BENEFITS THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT AND LIFE-CHANGING, ENABLING THESE YOUTH TO HAVE A STRONGER FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE. COLLECTIVELY, OUR BENEFITS HAVE BENEFITED THE 30,000 CHILDREN IN THE STATE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM EACH YEAR WHO NOW HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE INCLUDED, AND HAVE ALL THEIR NEEDS CONSIDERED, WHEN DECISIONS ARE MADE ABOUT WHERE THEY WILL LIVE AND GO TO SCHOOL. OVER 60,000 PARENTS AND RELATIVES OF CHILDREN IN OUT OF HOME CARE NOW HAVE A GREATER ROLE IN DECISION-MAKING AND COMMUNICATION WITH CHILDREN.

FCF IMPROVES OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN THROUGH EDUCATION. FCF ALSO TAKES ON THE EQUALLY IMPORTANT ROLE OF EDUCATING CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS, THE PROCESSES THAT THEY ARE FACING, AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORK. WE WORK HARD TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THEY CAN HAVE OVER THEIR OWN DESTINY WHEN THEY LEARN TO EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES. THROUGH CREATING YOUTH FRIENDLY PUBLICATIONS AND TRAININGS WE EQUIP THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO SELF-ADVOCATE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. TOPICS INCLUDE: LEGISLATIVE SYNOPSIS, COVID TIP SHEETS, ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS, INCOME TAX TIPS, REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, TUITION EXEMPTION FACT SHEET, AND AN INDEPENDENT LIVING BENEFIT TABLE. FCF IMPROVES OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN BY EMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH FLORIDA YOUTH SHINE. FLORIDA YOUTH SHINE (FYS), IS A YOUTH RUN, PEER DRIVEN YOUTH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WORKING HARD TO CHANGE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. FYS' MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE BY ELEVATING AND VALUING THE VOICES, EXPERIENCES, AND KNOWLEDGE OF YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. BY BUILDING A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, EMPOWERING FELLOW YOUTH, DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND INSPIRING RESILIENCE, WE SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF TOMORROW'S LEADERS THROUGH THE LIVED-EXPERIENCE OF TODAY'S YOUTH. FYS IS SUPPORTED BY FLORIDA'S CHILDREN FIRST AND HAS 14 CHAPTERS ACROSS THE STATE WITH OVER 350 MEMBERS AGES 13-26. THROUGH FYS, WE PROVIDE INVALUABLE LEADERSHIP AND CAREER SKILLS AND A SUPPORT NETWORK FOR YOUTH TO THRIVE. FYS ALSO PROVIDES A SAFE AND NURTURING SPACE FOR EMOTIONAL HEALING AND UTILIZES A GROUNDBREAKING PEER-TO-PEER MODEL. MEMBERS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT THE SYSTEM AND THEIR RIGHTS, AND TRAINED ON HOW TO AMPLIFY THEIR VOICE TO SELF- ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES. THIS INNOVATIVE YOUTH-LED MODEL HAS RESULTED IN IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH AS THEY TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. OUR METHOD FOR ENGAGING YOUTH IN SYSTEMIC CHANGE IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BEST PRACTICE. CASEY FAMILY PROGRAMS DID A NATIONAL STUDY AND SELECTED FLORIDA YOUTH SHINE AS A PREMIER ORGANIZATION TO SHOWCASE BEST PRACTICES FOR AUTHENTIC YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. FCF IMPROVES OUTCOMES FOR OLDER YOUTH BY EMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY. FCF ADVOCATES FOR LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT YOUTH WHO AGE OUT OF CARE SO THEY CAN THRIVE AS ADULTS. BY BEING INFORMED BY THE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WE ARE INFORMED ABOUT THE ISSUES AND WHAT STRATEGIES CAN BEST SUPPORT THEM. AS A RESULT OF OUR ADVOCACY THIS YEAR 5000 YOUTH WHO AGED OUT OF STATE CARE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS WILL HAVE MORE ACCESS TO SUPPORT AS YOUNG ADULTS. NOT ONLY DO WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OLDER YOUTH BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH PROFESSIONAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL ADULTS, BUT WE EDUCATE AND TRAIN THEM HOW TO SPEAK WITH LEGISLATORS AND GET LAWS CHANGED. THIS AFFECTS THEM DIRECTLY BUT THEN IT AFFECTS ALL THE OTHER OLDER YOUTH IN CARE CURRENTLY AND THE ONES THAT COME AFTER THEM. THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS INCLUDE: OSUPPORT FOR HOMELESS YOUTH: OUR WORK HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS YOUTH. RECENT BILLS EXTENDED THE KEYS TO INDEPENDENCE (ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING DRIVER'S LICENSES AND CAR INSURANCE) TO HOMELESS YOUTH AND EXPANDED COLLEGE CAMPUS SUPPORTS FOR HOMELESS YOUTH. OTUITION AND FEE EXEMPTION: FCF HAS CONTINUOUSLY FOUGHT TO EXPAND LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES FREE TUITION AND FEES AT IN-STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY FOR YOUTH WITH CHILD WELFARE INVOLVEMENT. THANKS IN PART TO OUR WORK, FLORIDA HAS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE TUITION ASSISTANCE IN THE COUNTRY. NOW ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS CAN ATTEND UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FREE OF CHARGE UNTIL AGE 28.