Florida News Straight From the Source
For her efforts to increase education and awareness of child sexual abuse prevention throughout the country and the world, Florida State Senator Lauren Book was honored at the Glamour Magazine annual Women of the Year Summit and Awards Ceremony in New York City. [Read more…] about Senator Lauren Book Recognized at Glamour Magazine 2018 Women of the Year Summit and Awards Ceremony in New York City
For her efforts to increase education and awareness of child sexual abuse prevention throughout the country and the world, Florida State Senator Lauren Book will be honored at the Glamour Magazine annual Women of the Year Summit and Awards Ceremony in New York City. [Read more…] about Sen. Lauren Book to be Recognized at Glamour Magazine 2018 Women of the Year Summit and Awards Ceremony in New York City
On the investigation:
“I commend our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, for launching an investigation into any possible child sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests in Florida, following the news that more than 1,000 children were victimized by priests in Pennsylvania. Sadly, we know these instances are not isolated. [Read more…] about Florida Senator Lauren Book Regarding Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Investigation into Sexual Abuse by Florida Priests & Survivors Coming Forward
“The findings of a Missouri state audit revealing nearly 1,300 registered sex offenders to be unaccounted for is an imminent threat to the safety of children and families in Missouri and beyond. In one part of the state, nearly 80 percent of the most dangerous predators – those who have raped, sodomized or committed first- or second-degree child molestation – are missing. This is absolutely terrifying, outrageous, and unacceptable. [Read more…] about Statement by Florida Senator Lauren Book, Child Sexual Abuse Survivor and Founder of Lauren’s Kids
Appealing to voters from the perspective of a survivor of child sexual abuse, a new “Yes on Amendment 6” ad featuring Lauren Book is now running across Florida. [Read more…] about Marsy’s Law for Florida Releases Statewide “Yes on Amendment 6” Ad Campaign Featuring Lauren Book
“The Florida Supreme Court was in South Florida today hearing arguments for why Amendment 6, also known as Marsy’s Law for Florida, should remain on the November General Election ballot. More than political or legal theatre, this is an issue that is so important and so deeply personal to Floridians who are survivors of crime, including me. [Read more…] about Statement by Florida Senator Lauren Book, Child Sexual Abuse Survivor and Founder of Lauren’s Kids
“The credible allegations of more than 1,000 victims of child sexual assault by Roman Catholic clergy throughout Pennsylvania are revolting. Over the course of 80 years, 300 predator priests were permitted to prey on their parishioners and their parishioners’ children, creating a scale of abuse never before documented. [Read more…] about Statement from Florida Senator Lauren Book, Child Sexual Abuse Survivor and Founder of Lauren’s Kids
CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis today was joined by the bill sponsors for Senate Bill 376, Senator Lauren Book and Representative Matt Willhite, and members of the fire service and law enforcement communities from across Southeast Florida and Palm Beach County to highlight the signing of SB 376, expanding mental health benefits for first responders. Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill last week in Tampa surrounded by hundreds of first responders from across the state.
2018 is a landmark year for Maternal Mental Health in Florida as the legislature considers Senate Bill 138, the “Florida Families First Act,” filed by Senator Lauren Book. The Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative is hosting a Maternal Mental Health Advocacy Day in Tallahassee on Monday, January 29, 2018.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, postpartum depression is the most common, yet also most under-diagnosed, obstetrical complication in our county impacting women, infants and their families. Approximately 40,000 Florida families will be affected by a maternal mental health disorder. Most medical care providers don’t screen for these disorders and if they do, they are unsure of local specialized resources to help care for their patients’ needs. Maternal mental health disorders can occur during pregnancy and up to one year after delivery. This can include mild to severe depression and anxiety; and the less common but very serious postpartum psychosis that presents a need for emergency medical attention.
Since its founding in 2016, the Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative has brought together increasing numbers of various professional disciplines, advocates and survivors across the state to partner for positive change in awareness, education and services for maternal mental illnesses.
Partners from across the state will convene in Tallahassee on Monday, January 29 to educate and advocate for attention to these needs addressing postpartum depression and related illnesses. The Florida Families First Act has passed favorably through its first committee appearance, the Senate Health Policy Committee and will now be sent before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.
State Senator Lauren Book (D-Plantation) today filed legislation (SB 284) that would require nursing homes and assisted living facilities to have working generators. The proposed bill is response to the deaths of eight elderly residents at the Rehabilitation Facility of Hollywood Hills, following air conditioner failure within the facility in Hurricane Irma’s wake.
“There is no excuse for failing to protect those most vulnerable among us,” says Sen. Book, who co-signed a letter to Governor Scott requesting the Florida Department of Law Enforcement open a formal investigation into the tragedy. “The loss of eight lives at Hollywood Hills was completely preventable, and that is what is so heartbreaking about this situation. One of the residents who perished lived to be 99 years old – but because of air conditioning failure and human negligence in the days following a storm, this very special life was lost. We can prevent these things – which never should have happened in the first place – from happening again…and we must, for the sake of our senior citizens and their families.”
If passed, the legislation would add electricity and emergency power sources to unannounced inspections of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as require equipment sufficient to provide adequate day-to-day electricity, a fully operational emergency power source, and a supply of fuel sufficient to sustain the emergency power source for at least five days during a power outage.
The Rehabilitation Facility of Hollywood Hills air conditioning malfunctioned on Sunday and elderly residents had to endure oppressive conditions for three days before an evacuation was conducted.
Sen. Book intends to continue to fight for the health and rights of all citizens – especially senior citizens in the state of Florida, making senior wellbeing a special focus during her term.
“This is just the beginning of a set of essential and long overdue reforms needed to help ensure Florida’s seniors are being cared for in the way we would wish for our own parents, or grandparents,” Sen. Book concludes.
