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Use law to solve children's problems
By CARRIE JOHNSON © St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2001 CITRUS HILLS -- School violence, teen pregnancy, an ever-growing assortment of drugs -- it's not an easy time to be a kid, said state Department of Children and Families Secretary Kathleen Kearney. But at least now the law's on their side.
"I really believe there are no problems we can't solve, and we should use the law to help us solve them," said Kearney, the keynote speaker at the annual Citrus County Law Week luncheon Friday. The theme for this year's Law Week was "Protecting the Best Interests of Our Children." The weeklong event was capped off by the lunch, held at Andre's of Citrus Hills. Kearney, who has headed the state's social services agency since early 1999, was given a warm reception by the crowd of more than 200, many of them lawyers or other members of the legal profession. She kept her remarks brief because Friday was the final meeting of the state Legislature and she needed to rush back to Tallahassee. Like a school teacher, Kearney began her speech with a question. She asked the crowd to name the top 10 problems facing children today. Then she went from table to table, checking answers and chatting amiably. "That's good, that's very good," she said encouragingly to one participant. After making contact with people from each table, she gave them the answers. She cited a study done by the National League of Cities that lists the chief concerns children face in the coming years. The problems range from environmental hazards to parental neglect to violent crime, Kearney said. As the head of a state agency in charge of keeping children safe, she said those problems are not surprising but troubling nonetheless. But Kearney said she has confidence the problems can be conquered. The law can be a powerful tool when used effectively. "We need to cherish our children and cherish the laws that will allow them to grow up and be free," she said. Among other events included in this year's Law Week was a special session of the 5th District Court of Appeals. Justices listened to oral arguments from lawyers, then answered questions from Citrus High School students on Thursday morning. While it's rare for the appeals court to meet in Citrus County, the significance of the event was apparently lost on senior Mike Walla. His friend, Alex Deutschman, had to jab him in the ribs a couple of times to keep him awake. "I guess I'm just not that interested in the law," Walla said, sheepishly. Another highlight was the People's Law Academy, a session in which citizens could have their legal queries answered by lawyers. The questions focused on an array of topics, including wills, real estate and bankruptcy. Nelson Williams dropped by the event Wednesday night at the Citrus County Courthouse to listen to a discussion about the power of attorney. He said he's interested in legal matters and likes to stay updated on the latest issues. Williams said he planned to drop in on the session on wills next. "I don't know why. My assets don't amount to a damn," Williams said, chuckling.
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