Jennifer Meiselman Titus

12/16/2020

Children with developmental disabilities should not be placed on Baker Acts. IDEA protects children from being discipled and/or expelled when acting out of their disability. Schools need better training and resources to provide for children with developmental disabilities.
Schools need better resources and training for managing children's mental health. Families need to be empowered and supported in seeking mental health treatment for their children before an emergency occurs. Families know their children the best and need the resources to help their children. It is unfathomable that the parents would not be called by the schools first before the police.

The number of children who are taken for involuntary psychiatric evaluations in Florida increases every year. This is the first story in a five-part series about how the state's Baker Act affects children.

12/10/2020

Important updates to Domestic Violence legislation that went into effect on July 1, 2020. See the legislative update I wrote that is published FAMSEG the newsletter for the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar.

CLEs, Timesharing Tips, Case Law Updates, Committee Spotlights and more! MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR As this year comes to an end and we look toward 2021, it is important to appreciate all of those people

07/12/2017

The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program is pleased to announce its latest pro bono initiative, the “Defending Best Interests Project” which will allow more Florida attorneys to use their skills to defend the best interests of dependent children when challenged on appeal. In dependency court, it is a...

05/29/2017

Inclusive homes are so important for dependent youth!

This National Foster Care Month, the HRC Foundation and FosterClub are excited to once again promote the campaign.

04/28/2017

This is so wrong. Children need loving homes for adoption. I can't imagine that not having a family is better than a LGBT family.

HB 24 and SB 145 would allow adoption and foster care agencies to deny homes to children by discriminating against potential foster and adoptive parents based on the agencies’ religious beliefs.

04/28/2017

A good site for education issues.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new website focused on youth educational success. Today, in conjunction with our partners ABA Center on Children and the Law, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Education Law Center we are unveiling our Juvenile Justice Education Blueprint website. This site is a resource for adults who serve justice-system involved youth and youth themselves who are working towards educational success.

Please take a look - the site offers resources in all 50 states as well as benchmarks for success. It includes a framework for promoting educational success for youth in the justice system, benchmarks for success, and national and state-specific resources. We are grateful to Message Agency, who designed and built the site.

www.jjeducationblueprint.org

04/22/2017

Dependency opinion by the FL Supreme Court rules immigrant children (unaccompanied minors) cannot have dependency petitions dismissed without an evidentiary hearing.

The Florida Supreme Court decision should end the summary dismissal of dependency petitions from young immigrants seeking U.S. residency.

04/11/2017

Forging faith based partnerships to serve children at risk for abuse or neglect is fine, but there should be oversight and accountability.

TAMPA — One parent losing a job, being admitted to a hospital or struggling with addiction can be difficult for any family. For a single parent, however, it can also mean losing children to the foster care system.

04/01/2017

This will be of great comfort to victimized and traumatized children to participate in court.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Children testifying in court in abuse, abandonment and neglect cases would be allowed the help of therapy animals under a...

03/22/2017

The US Supreme Court ruled 8-0 in favor of a student with an IEP. The court also defined the "benefit" that a student must receive from his/her IEP. This is a great victory for special needs students.

In a case involving a Colorado school district, the high court finds that schools must ensure students make more than minimal progress.

03/02/2017

Florida's child welfare system performs enormously difficult work on a paltry budget. That's been the case for years, and the underfunding is as critical as ever, with the statewide opioid and he**in crisis devastating families. It's time for Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature to seriously invest i...

02/22/2017

Transgender youth need our support!

Late Friday, the Trump Administration initiated its attack on the LGBTQ community — targeting transgender youth. Send a letter with HRC calling on the Trump Administration to change its course.