Putting Children First
Attorney Howard M. Talenfeld developed a soft spot for society's most vulnerable early in life. His younger sister Bess was born developmentally disabled.
"I used to diaper her. I took her to the movies," says Talenfeld, who helped found and is president of Florida's Children First, a non-profit focused on advocating for children at risk.
In February, Talenfeld won the Florida Bar's 2006 Pro Bono Award for the 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County.
"He was a major contributor of the idea (to start Florida's Children First) and absolute leader in its implementation," says Karen Gievers, a Tallahassee-based attorney and child advocate who is treasurer of the organization. "He doesn't accept the idea that the state can get by without doing what's right for children."
Among other things, the organization trains attorneys in child advocacy work. This year, Florida's Children First has been pressing the Legislature to ensure funding so that children in foster care have a guardian ad litem and that disabled children have access to an attorney.
Sometimes, he's taken an unconventional tack. He was the first attorney in Florida to apply the federal civil rights damage statute in a foster care case to exceed Florida's $100,000 sovereign immunity limit.
Talenfeld is quick to deflect attention from himself, focusing instead on the gaping need for more resources for kids at risk. "What we need," he says, "is to get more people interested in participating and giving their time."
"I used to diaper her. I took her to the movies," says Talenfeld, who helped found and is president of Florida's Children First, a non-profit focused on advocating for children at risk.
In February, Talenfeld won the Florida Bar's 2006 Pro Bono Award for the 17th Judicial Circuit, Broward County.
"He was a major contributor of the idea (to start Florida's Children First) and absolute leader in its implementation," says Karen Gievers, a Tallahassee-based attorney and child advocate who is treasurer of the organization. "He doesn't accept the idea that the state can get by without doing what's right for children."
Among other things, the organization trains attorneys in child advocacy work. This year, Florida's Children First has been pressing the Legislature to ensure funding so that children in foster care have a guardian ad litem and that disabled children have access to an attorney.
Sometimes, he's taken an unconventional tack. He was the first attorney in Florida to apply the federal civil rights damage statute in a foster care case to exceed Florida's $100,000 sovereign immunity limit.
Talenfeld is quick to deflect attention from himself, focusing instead on the gaping need for more resources for kids at risk. "What we need," he says, "is to get more people interested in participating and giving their time."