October is Foster Youth Voice Month and Legal Services of North Florida wants to honor the remarkable young people navigating the complexities of the dependency system in Florida.
The dependency system is an important component of our state’s court system, established to safeguard the well-being and rights of children who have experienced abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
While the preferred outcome is to keep these children in their own homes or with family members, the dependency system provides a safety net through foster care. Approximately 23,000 children in Florida are currently in foster care.
In the dependency system, young people are recognized as a party independent of their parents, the Department of Children and Families, and the Guardian ad Litem Program. While each of these stakeholders plays an important role in the dependency system, it is imperative that we amplify the voices of Florida’s foster care youth.
Imagine being thrust into a world of new faces, new rules, new surroundings, and with only a plastic bag filled with your belongings — a symbol of the sudden and profound changes that foster children experience. Imagine the whirlwind of emotions — fear, confusion, and uncertainty. And imagine having to adjust to new routines, adapt to new surroundings, and navigate new relationships with a foster family.
Often, children entering foster care leave behind not only their home, but also their social support networks, friends, and the activities that bring them joy. With each move and each set of new surroundings, a child may feel like they are losing a piece of themselves as they are separated from siblings, relatives, and the simple comfort of being home despite its imperfections.
The identity lost by a child in foster care is replaced by a new label: Foster Youth. For some, this label may represent the child’s resiliency and unique experiences. For others, it can represent hopelessness and trauma. The weight of grief and worry is heavy, and it is difficult to find space to dream about a future.
Throughout a foster child’s journey, their voice may be one of their most critical and consistent resources. Helping foster children find that voice is an important part of foster child advocacy. Ensuring that a foster child’s voice is heard through the noise of adults is essential to a child’s success and well-being.
Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) ensures that the voices of foster children are as loud and powerful as others in the courtroom. At LSNF, attorneys have decades of legal experience in dependency, expertise serving children and youth, and proficiency in family law. The dedication of LSNF attorneys to protecting children, their passion for public service, and their tireless work to amplify children’s voices, lessens the trauma experienced by foster children in these difficult times.
LSNF is honored and humbled to support the children in our community who find themselves in foster care. Children and youth are entitled to more than just a voice; they deserve a voice that resonates. LSNF legal advocates ensure that youth understand their rights, advise them on significant decisions, and advocate for them in numerous other areas, including education, mental health, and immigration.
If you are interested in hearing the real stories of young people who have grown up in foster care, explore the narratives shared by Florida Youth Shine. For more information on LSNF and the work we do in support of foster care youth, please visit LSNF.org.
Jamie Ito is managing partner at Ito Law, a firm dedicated to Labor and Employment law, Litigation, and Trial Advocacy. She has worked in state government, the non-profit sector, and private practice. Jamie currently acts as board chair on the Legal Services of North Florida board of directors.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Legal Services of North Florida aims to amplify voices of foster youth