Florida Florida Statutes
§ 39.4085 — Goals for dependent children; responsibilities; education; Office of the Children's Ombudsman
FS § 39.4085Ch. 39
Statute text
View on source(1)The Legislature finds that the design and delivery of child welfare services should be directed by the principle that the health and safety of children, including the freedom from abuse, abandonment, or neglect, is of paramount concern and, therefore, establishes the following goals for children in shelter or foster care:(a) To receive a copy of this act and have it fully explained to them when they are placed in the custody of the department.
(b)To enjoy individual dignity, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and the protection of their civil and legal rights as persons in the custody of the state.
(c)To have their privacy protected, have their personal belongings secure and transported with them, and, unless otherwise ordered by the court, have uncensored communication, including receiving and sending unopened communications and having access to a telephone.
(d)To have personnel providing services who are sufficiently qualified and experienced to assess the risk children face before removal from their homes and to meet the needs of the children once they are in the custody of the department.
(e)To remain in the custody of their parents or legal custodians unless and until there has been a determination by a qualified person exercising competent professional judgment that removal is necessary to protect their physical, mental, or emotional health or safety.
(f)To have a full risk, health, educational, medical, and psychological screening and, if needed, assessment and testing upon adjudication into foster care; and to have their photograph and fingerprints included in their case management file.
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Legislative history
s. 5, ch. 99-206; s. 12, ch. 2021-170; s. 2, ch. 2023-248; s. 5, ch. 2024-2; s. 17, ch. 2024-70.