Courts react to new budget realities: children's programs take a hard hit.

Children are the big losers as trial courts took a beating from the special legislative session on the budget.

The budget that passed May 27 -- $10.8 million less than last year's funding for court staff, services, and programs -- wipes out state funds for attorneys ad litem, lawyers appointed for foster children with especially difficult cases. Not only does the budget dismantle the attorney ad litem pilot program in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, at $1.7 million, it expressly prohibits state funds from being used for attorneys for foster children, thereby eliminating programs throughout the state.

In 11th-hour negotiations in conference committees, model dependency courts that help make sure children don't fall through the cracks were obliterated in all five test circuits. The sacrifice of 34 positions to cut $2.3 million was reluctantly made by the Trial Court Budget Commission rather than make deeper cuts to the already devastated base line trial court budget.

A third hit of $1.3 million (arrived at by legislators and not the TCBC), deleted each of the 20 circuits' alternative sanctions coordinators who assist judges by recommending placements for children in juvenile court, making sure they get where they are supposed to be, and communicating with parents throughout the process.

Self-help services, truancy alternatives, court system services for children and youth, guardianship monitoring and dependency drug courts were eliminated in the Sixth, 11th, 13th, and 17th circuits.

Children's advocates are bemoaning major setbacks for Florida's children embroiled in court, often the only party in dependency and neglect proceedings without a lawyer.

"I am very much shocked and confused," said Julie Koves, an attorney ad litem in the Ninth Judicial Circuit since the program began two years and three months ago.

"I am actually going through the stages of grief. I am out of denial and shock. Yesterday, I was angry. This morning, I've been in grief, and I go in and out of anger."

Koves stressed she is not so much sad about being one of 10.5 employees who will lose their jobs July 1, but she is distraught about the 146 children who will lose their lawyers' help in maneuvering through the courts on a variety of complicated issues.

"Basically, all of us employees will be fine. We'll find other jobs if we have to. It's the kids most affected by all of this. They are the ones losing out," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

"They will be staying in...