Florida Bar President Dori Foster-Morales Appoints Children’s Rights Lawyer Howard Talenfeld Chair of Legal Needs of Children Committee
Howard M. Talenfeld, a respected children’s rights attorney and Business Unit Leader of Justice for Kids, a division of Kelley Kronenberg, has been named Chair of The Florida Bar Legal Needs of Children Committee, as appointed by Bar President Dori Foster-Morales. This is Talenfeld’s second appointment as Committee Chair, having served in the role from 2009-2010.
The Legal Needs of Children Committee was established to find ways to implement the 2002 recommendations of The Florida Bar Commission on the Legal Needs of Children. The committee monitors and has informed the legislative process where the legal needs of children are concerned.
“While much has been accomplished in Florida to improve the lives of children in state care, there is still a long road ahead to ensure that all of our most vulnerable citizens have the protections and resources they need,” said Talenfeld. “I am honored for this opportunity to work with my fellow committee members – as well as lawyers across Florida – to ensure that the voices of children are heard and their legal needs are met.”
As a Partner and Business Unit Leader with Kelley Kronenberg and Justice for Kids, Talenfeld is known as having established a statewide children’s rights practice. His work on behalf of at-risk children has improved many lives and has resulted in judicial and legislative reforms. He is also the founder and Board President for Florida’s Children First (FCF), a statewide advocacy organization protecting the rights of foster children and at-risk youth.
Talenfeld was recognized by The Florida Bar Foundation as the recipient of the 2018 Medal of Honor Award for a Lawyer. Additionally, he has been recognized for his efforts with The Florida Bar’s President’s Award of Merit and the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the 17th Judicial Circuit. He has also received Legal Aid’s Russell Carlisle Award for child advocacy law. Recently, he was honored by 2-1-1 Broward as the Non-Profit Organization Board Leader of the Year for his leadership of FCF.