A grand-opening ribbon cutting ceremony was held last Friday to highlight a brand-new intake and referral program that seamlessly links people in the community to local service providers. ‘Self-Help @ The Seventeenth’ is now open in the Central Courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It is the first in the State of Florida to offer such a wide-ranging array of services in a “one-stop” environment.

Five days a week, representatives from the following agencies are on-site in the new West tower, to help anyone in need.

• Coast to Coast Legal Aid– provides assistance with family cases and filling out forms in family matters, referrals and assistance with domestic violence injunctions (Room 4101, 4^th floor)

• 211 Broward  – identifies and assists families in crisis, in need of housing, and a referral base to all Broward social services (Room 5107, 5^th floor)
• South Florida Wellness Network– a peer run program that offers emotional support and guidance in assessing recovery and care systems and services for individuals or families (Room 5106, 5^th floor)

• Henderson Behavioral Health– offers a variety of mental health and behavioral health services for both youth and adults, crisis intervention, and referrals to local in and out-patient services (Room 5101, 5^th floor)

• Women in Distress of Broward– provides court accompaniment, victim compensation and relocation assistance, and referral to attorneys for legal assistance to victims of domestic violence (Room 4106, 4^th floor)

Judge Brown was recently honored with a community service award given by the Jewish Community Center of Plantation. It was given in recognition of her work with the JCC board, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Broward Children’s Center, Florida United Methodist Children’s Home advisory board and the Broward Crime Commission advisory board.

Congratulations Judge Brown!

A group from the Rayfield Family Literacy Center, a social services organization in Hollywood, visited the South Satellite courthouse last week to observe court and to meet and talk with the judges. Pictured here are Judge Terri-Ann Miller hosting a question and answer talk and Judge Michael Davis giving a tour of his courtroom.

Last week, Judge Louis Schiff presented a training course to the circuit’s traffic hearing officers entitled “Effective Communication in the Courtroom, The Colloquy and the Closing.”

Traffic hearing officers are required to attend in-person, accredited  training every other month.

This free event is open to the public. Click here to register.

Last Friday May 25, 2018, Judge Frink  spoke to three 5th grade classes at Hibiscus Elementary for Career Day. He is pictured here with the teachers.

Thank you for your community service, Judge Frink!