Children’s Services Council awards $250,000 for legal representation of youth in the Child Welfare System to Legal Aid Service of Broward County

Children’s Services Council awards $250,000 for legal representation of youth in the Child Welfare System to Legal Aid Service of Broward County

LAUDERHILL, FL — The Children’s Services Council of Broward County (CSC) awards $250,000 for Legal Representation of Youth in the Child Welfare System to Legal Aid Service of Broward County.

The CSC had issued a Re-quest for Proposals (RFP) for qualified applicants with specific expertise in dependency law and the related systems and practices. Two agencies submitted proposals indicating their interest in providing legal representation, advocacy and support services to adjudicated dependent children/youth and their siblings with the goal of reducing the length of time in out of home care by expediting permanency.

A Rating Committee, comprised of members from various public and private entities in the community, recommended awarding $250,000 to Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Inc. for the period of February 1, 2017, through September 30, 2017. The program will provide legal representation to a mini-mum of 80 children in the Child Welfare System with the goal of shortening the time these children are in the system.

“We look forward to working with Legal Aid Service of Bro-ward County in this important initiative,” said President/CEO Cindy Arenberg Seltzer. “Expediting the path to permanency through the dependency court process is key in ensuring that children are able to find care in nurturing and supportive homes,” she added.

The Children’s Services Council of Broward County is an independent taxing authority which was established by a public referendum on Sept. 5, 2000, and was reauthorized on Nov. 4, 2014, which, through Public Act, Chapter 2000-461 of the laws of Florida, authorized the Council to levy up to 0.5 mills of property taxes.

The role of the Council is to provide the leadership, advocacy and resources necessary to enhance children’s lives and empower them to become responsible, productive adults through collaborative planning and funding of a continuum of quality care.

Follow us on Twitter at @CSCBroward and on Facebook.  For more information about the Children’s Services Council of Broward County, please visit www.cscbroward.org.