When Cindy Lankenau called for help, Florida’s Department of Children and Families and the National Youth Advocate Program turned her life upside down. Her daughter Grayce, diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, and autism, was taken from her care after Cindy defended herself during a violent outburst. Although criminal charges were dropped, DCF refused to reunite them, canceled medical care, ignored court orders, and placed Grayce in a home with no structure or therapy. Cindy’s story exposes how Florida’s child welfare system fails families who seek help, replacing treatment with bureaucracy, compassion with negligence, and justice with silence.

Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families has failed again and again to protect the most vulnerable children. From infants poisoned by fentanyl to teenagers starved and hidden from school, the agency ignored warnings, mishandled safety plans, and allowed children to die in homes already flagged as dangerous. Investigations show a pattern of missed opportunities and systemic neglect that continues to put lives at risk.