T.J., the Father, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES STATEWIDE GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE (2023)

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.

T.J., the Father, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES and STATEWIDE GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, Appellees.

No. 4D2023-1364

Decided: October 18, 2023

Antony P. Ryan, Regional Counsel, and Richard G. Bartmon, Assistant Regional Counsel, Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Fourth District, West Palm Beach, for appellant. Carolyn Schwarz of Children's Legal Services, Fort Lauderdale, for appellee Department of Children and Families. Glen P. Gifford, Pro Bono, Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, Defending Best Interests Project, Tallahassee, and Sara Elizabeth Goldfarb, Statewide Director of Appeals, Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, Tallahassee, for appellee Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office.

Affirmed. See D.R. v. Dep't of Child. & Fam. Servs., 898 So. 2d 254, 256 (Fla. 3d DCA 2005) (“Watching, hearing, or even later learning of a parent being abused by a partner threatens a child's sense of stability and security” and serves as grounds for an adjudication of dependency); D.W.G. v. Dep't of Child. & Fams., 833 So. 2d 238, 242 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002) (“Children may be affected by domestic violence and may be aware of the violence, even if they do not see it occur with their own eyes,” and such conduct may constitute grounds for an adjudication of dependency).

PER CURIAM.

WARNER, MAY and FORST, JJ., concur.

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