by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
There are more than 2,000 children in foster care on the First Coast and one group is working to make sure their rights are protected.
“Foster children are one of the most significantly undeserved and voiceless populations because they are out there and isolated,” said attorney Jay Howell. “It’s like the dark side of the (legal) system.”
Florida’s Children First is a non-profit advocacy group that works to establish legal rights for children. Political leaders, local attorneys and members of the community who all have a similar goal — helping children, especially those in the state’s foster care system — gathered Thursday at the Haskell Building for a cocktail reception and ceremony.
“Florida’s Children First is extremely effective in accomplishing the art of the possible,” said Mary K. Brennan, an attorney at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. “They are focused on the big picture and are able to bring together the key people who can really affect systemic change...In a very short time they have been able to accomplish what many other similar agencies have struggled to do, but there is still so much more to do.”
Brennan runs the Mental Health Advocacy Program at JALA, which among other services, provides an advocate for those children who are developmentally disabled as well as other children in foster care.
Brennan said the program is the brainchild of attorney Wayne Hogan and his wife Patricia.
“They’ve been funding this program since the late 1990s and it’s one of a few in the country,” said Brennan, adding that it was one of the first in the country.
Hogan was honored at the ceremony for his dedication to FCF and the children of Florida; he’s also a member of FCF’s board of directors.
Rep. Aaron Bean was honored for his support of legislation on behalf of the children of Florida.
All told, five community leaders and two young adults were honored including: Hilda Griffis, Gwen Tennant-Evans, Fredrick Borg (in memoriam), Laura Rivera and Marcus Ward.
Rivera and Ward are both products of Florida’s foster care program. Ward helped with legislation that requires school guidance counselors and others working with foster children to alert children of the existence of programs that help them.
Rivera was honored for her determination to work towards a successful future. She graduated in the top of her class in high school and was the first member of her family to attend college.
The core of FCF’s work is to ensure that children growing up in state custody are provided a safe environment, educational opportunities and the ability to transition into adulthood and a productive future.