When Julia Leck of Land O' Lakes celebrates her ninth birthday today, she'll be giving away her gifts and throwing in a few she bought herself to help children in need. The gifts that Julia receives at her birthday party this year will be donated to the children of the Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay, the local office of a national organization that posts photo and video exhibits of foster children in need of adoption ...more

October 24, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - When Julia Leck of Land O' Lakes celebrates her ninth birthday today, she'll be giving away her gifts and throwing in a few she bought herself to help children in need. ...more

October 24, 2009

When 2-year-old Gabrielle Randel didn't go to sleep easily Saturday night, deputies say, her mother's boyfriend picked her up, wrapped her in a towel and began to beat her. ...more

March 10, 2009

A 21-year-old Tampa man beat a 2-year-old girl unconscious, causing her to stop breathing, Hillsborough County deputies say. ...more

March 9, 2009

She had just three years left to find a family. After that, her childhood would be over. ...more

January 2, 2009

Hillsborough Kids Inc., the agency that oversees 3,057 children in state custody, is testing a program that ensures caseworkers visit children every 30 days as required by law. ...more

October 21, 2008

Hillsborough Kids Inc., the agency that oversees 3,057 children in state custody, is testing a new computer program that ensures caseworkers visit children every 30 days as required by law. ...more

October 14, 2008

Tina Freeman, a mother of four and stepmother of four more, was browsing Craigslist for day care services today when she came across what she called a shocker: "Eight Months Old Baby Boy For Adoption." ...more

August 28, 2008

Bob Butterworth, who was hand-picked by Gov. Charlie Crist to straighten out the beleaguered Florida Department of Children & Families, resigned Tuesday, leaving many local child welfare advocates surprised and saddened. ...more

July 30, 2008

The biological mother of an 11-year-old girl who died in foster care is suing the Department of Children & Families and other agencies for negligence, according to a complaint filed Friday in civil court. ...more

July 1, 2008