What is the current status of families and children in Northeast Florida?
In 2010, The Wall Street Journal reported that Florida had the eighth highest divorce rate in the nation.
That translates into an annual divorce rate of about 57 percent of the number of marriages recorded in 2009, according to the U.S. Census report.
Family Support Services of North Florida reports that about 1,500 children in Duval and Nassau counties are in out-of-home care and more than 100 are awaiting adoption.
A 2012 report from the University of Florida and Florida's Children First states that less than 10 percent of children in out-of-home care in the state have access to attorneys and only an estimated 0.02 percent of those children living in the 4th Judicial Circuit have representation.
The Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research reported that more than 4,000 juvenile delinquency complaints were filed in the 2010-11 year and that 200 of those were direct-filed to adult court.
Sounds bleak, doesn't it? Several months ago, Brian Cabrey, chairman of the Protecting Our Children Section of The JBA, introduced the newly structured section.
The dedicated attorneys who are members of this section continue to seek ways to improve the lives of families and children, despite these daunting statistics.
How are they making a difference? One idea at a time.
Thomas Edison successfully executed 1,093 patents in the United States. Some of his ideas, like the light bulb, had far-reaching effects.
Despite his many successes, not all 1,093 ideas resulted in workable or marketable products. Edison is credited with saying, "Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."
As this article goes to print, major legislative changes in family laws have made their way through the state Senate and are moving through the House.
These changes, if signed into law, will require our most experienced family law attorneys to reconsider the effects of alimony, timesharing and equitable distribution on the decisions individuals make, both as they marry and as they divorce.
As a result of legislative efforts across the state, a "normalcy" bill became law this year.
This legislation, which will positively impact children in foster care, will require re-education of child advocates and attorneys to ensure that children in foster care receive the benefits promised. Recent local headlines have highlighted the issue of direct filing children in adult court, raising important questions about the appropriate levels of care and the possibilities for rehabilitation for those children.
Picture this: A group of people meet in what has the potential to become just another committee meeting. Each comes with his or her own thoughts and ideas about what this particular group should do. Because they cared enough to show up — to talk, listen, and consider — an idea is born.
The power of collective thought can change the world. You can choose whether to use your voice to promote positive change or to discourage with critical, mocking denigration.
I would like to salute those in the Jacksonville legal community who have decided to add their ideas and their voices to effect positive change.
The Protecting Our Children Section of The Jacksonville Bar, through the combined efforts of committees and subcommittees, is making a difference.
We invite you to join us in this important work.
1. Stay informed.
As attorneys, each of us has the ability to read and understand complex material, spot those issues that need our attention and advocate for positions that can make a difference.
JBA section and committee involvement will help you take the first step.
Join the Dependency Committee for after-hour networking events. Share lunch with the Attorney ad Litem subcommittee at quarterly lunch-and-learns. Plug in to the Adoption or Delinquency Committees and stay abreast of important issues and legislative activity.
2. Be prepared.
If you already practice in areas that affect families and children — adoption, family law, dependency, and delinquency — take advantage of opportunities to learn more and stay current.
If you don't practice in those areas, consider stretching yourself. Perhaps with a little extra training you can use your skills to represent a child, a parent or a family in need. The Family Law Committee recently offered an in-depth CLE for family law attorneys, focusing in part on pending legislation. The Legal Needs of Children committee will host training June 21 for Attorney ad Litem to represent children in dependency.
3. Volunteer.
There are ample opportunities to volunteer. For information about opportunities to represent children in dependency contact Brian Cabrey, section chairman, at [email protected] or Connie Byrd, section vice chairman, at [email protected].
Experienced family law attorneys are encouraged to contact Family Law Committee Chairman Joy Owenby, [email protected], or Vice Chairman Ashley Myers, [email protected], to serve as a presenter for group information clinics for those who will proceed as pro se litigants in family law matters.
You have an opportunity to help shape the future.
Stay informed. Be prepared. Volunteer. The future belongs to all of us.