It is with great sadness that Florida’s Children First announces the death of Andrea Moore, former Executive Director from 2005 through 2009. Andrea was an attorney with a passion for championing child advocacy issues, and she will be greatly missed.
After studying to become a social worker, Andrea’s experience becoming a foster parent and an adoptive parent, highlighted the many flaws in the child welfare system and this fueled her passion for the law, and to help fix a broken system for the vulnerable children caught up in it through no fault of their own.
Andrea’s work led to the establishment of several critically important programs and protocols in Broward County and statewide. But perhaps her biggest legacy is her efforts to establish the Florida Youth SHINE program. She recognized the need to give youth a voice in their own lives as well as to improve the child-caring systems. Andrea oversaw the creation of Florida Youth SHINE in 2005, with current and former youth who have experienced the child welfare system. With her insight, this initial group of young advocates became the foundation for the amazing youth advocacy organization that has now grown to 14 statewide Chapters and over 300 youth. Florida Youth SHINE is a living legacy to Andrea’s memory.
