Florida's Children First, Florida's Leading Child Advocacy Organization, Calls on DCF for Full Transparency in Barahona Investigation

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida's Children First, the state's leading advocate for at-risk kids, especially those in foster care, is calling on the Department of Children and Family Services to be totally transparent in its investigation of the tragic Barahona case, to be sure to include a former foster child on the review team, and to continue the legacy of the Butterworth-Sheldon administration of transparency and improving our state's child protection system.

"We are asking DCF to be forthright with the public on how it handled abuse complaints that came in years before the children were hurt and to consider the length of time these kids were waiting to be adopted and the initial efforts made to find/investigate placement with blood relatives," said FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas.  "We want to know why DCF couldn't do more to protect Victor and Nubia once cries to the Florida Abuse Hotline were dismissed and not competently, completely and urgently investigated before the kids met their tragic fates.  We need to understand the mistakes that were made and any systemic flaws, so tragedies like this can never happen again to children in Florida's care."

Based on initial reports, Florida's Children First believes that there were several red flags in this case, both before and after the adoption of the twins which DCF investigators should have picked up on and there appears to be systemic deficiencies that caused these tragedies.  Had DCF and its community partners been more proactive it's possible the sister would still be alive.

Finally, we believe that our child protection system is critically under-funded and cannot absorb any further budget cuts.

About Florida's Children First:

FCF is Florida's leading advocacy organization fighting for the rights of at-risk children and youth.  It uses legislative and policy advocacy, executive branch education and advocacy, training and technical assistance.  FCF is also the adult-support organization for Florida Youth SHINE, a youth run, peer-driven organization working hard to change the culture of Florida's foster care system. FCF's statewide headquarters is in Coral Springs, FL.  For more information visit www.floridaschildrenfirst.org.

SOURCE Florida's Children First