Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2017

After eight South Florida nursing home residents died when Hurricane Irma knocked out their power, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday directed the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to block the facility from receiving Medicaid payments. Hollywood Police Chief Tom Sanchez said investigators believe the deaths at Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills were heat-related, adding […]

Jim RosicaJuly 12, 2017

Can Melinda Miguel, formerly Gov. Rick Scott‘s inspector general, do consulting work involving a nonprofit doing business with the state’s child-welfare agency if she worked on a whistleblower’s report against that same concern? Yes, according to a staff recommendation of the Florida Commission on Ethics released Wednesday. The commission is scheduled to consider the opinion at its […]

Staff ReportsMay 23, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott agreed the state needs to pay the remainder of a $5 million settlement to a boy found doused in chemicals while his twin decomposed in the back of their father’s pesticide truck. Scott signed the claims bill (SB 18) to pay Victor Barahona $3.75 million in an abuse case that took the […]

Florence SnyderApril 21, 2017

In the wake of two suicides of teenage foster children in their “care,” the “leadership team” of Miami’s “community-based care” agency took their marbles and accrued benefits and went home. Judging from their whiny, self-involved letters of resignation, the agency’s name — Our Kids — refers to the six-figure people running the place, and not […]

Erin ClarkApril 17, 2017

For the community-based care providers that perform the lion’s share of child welfare services in Florida, the proposed 2017 budget is a disappointment. A press release that accompanied the Jan. 31 release of Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s “Fighting for Florida’s future” budget proposal touts “a record $632 million to provide core services to children who […]

Les NeuhausMarch 28, 2017

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Naika Venant’s mother vehemently refutes narratives by the state agency in a March 13 report, including suggestion she ‘allegedly’ commented on Facebook Live thread taunting daughter while watching and did nothing; lawyer says agencies ‘abysmally failed’ Naika. *** Naika Venant was a girl whose personality had turned from that of a bright and gifted child […]

Les NeuhausMarch 27, 2017

A Pinellas County court set a trial date for John Jonchuck, arrested in 2015 for throwing his 5-year-old daughter off a St. Petersburg bridge. The Tampa Bay Times reported Monday that the trial will begin early February. In a pretrial hearing Monday, Jonchuck’s three public defenders listened as Pinellas County Circuit Judge Chris Helinger announced […]

Les NeuhausMarch 24, 2017

Part of a psychological evaluation administered to Naika Venant in June 2015 included a sentence completion test. For the beginning stem sentence “The thing I want to do most of all is …” the then-12-year-old girl responded: “Die happy.” Sentence tests can provide indications of attitudes, beliefs, motivations or other mental states. Other sentences she […]

Les NeuhausMarch 21, 2017

Two measures dealing with drug testing for certain public aid applicants and law enforcement taking over DCF’s role investigative role in another county met no resistance Tuesday. Among several bills heard by the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee were two dealing with applicants of temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) and child welfare […]

Les NeuhausMarch 20, 2017

Three bills dealing with issues of child support, sexual exploitation of minors and the controversial Baker Act were passed favorably by the House Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee Monday. Rep. Kimberly Daniels introduced HB 313, while Rep. Jeanette Nuñez put forth her legislation on child trafficking in HB 1383 and Rep. David Silvers added his […]

Tag: Department of Children and Families

Rick Scott takes action against nursing home where eight died

Ethics panel could approve ex-Rick Scott official’s consulting work

Rick Scott signs claims bill for abuse survivor Victor Barahona

Florence Snyder: Why children die, Part 4 — Clues in the resignation letters

Florida child welfare providers do more with less, but how much less?

Did Florida DCF create media frenzy after foster child’s suicide to distract from agency errors?

February trial date set for John Jonchuck, accused of throwing daughter off St. Pete bridge

Psychotropic cocktail may have contributed to Facebook Live suicide

Breezing through committee: Welfare drug testing, DCF takes backseat in Walton County

House bills move ahead on loss of driver’s licenses, human trafficking, Baker Act