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ATTORNEYS FOR CHILDREN – OH MY! Florida Law, Data & View from the Bench

RECORDED ON 11.1.23      

Co-hosted by Florida’s Children First & FLS Statewide Training Initiative

Speakers:
Robin Rosenberg, Deputy Director, Florida’s Children First

Judge Katherine G. Essrig, Circuit Court Judge, Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit in Tampa since 1991

Cheryl L. Sattler, J.D., Ph.D., Child Advocate for Legal Services of North Florida and part of the Youth Justice Team at Bay Area Legal Aid (CA)

Which children are supposed to get attorneys? Why – and what are they supposed to do? Since 2014, Florida law (§39.01305) has required the court to appoint an attorney for some dependent children with disabilities and those who were trafficked. The Florida Legislature recognized that children who need services and supports provided by agencies outside of the child welfare system benefit by having their own attorney. This training will review the statute requiring the appointment of attorneys for dependent children with specified “special needs.” We will look at statewide data on appointment of counsel and the survey results of youth and young adults about their experience with court. Finally, we will get a judge’s perspective on the participation of counsel for children in dependency proceedings.

SEE THE PRESENTATION SLIDES

CLE: 2309461N
CLE CREDITS: 2.0 General

CERTIFICATION CREDITS: 2.0 Juvenile Law

Approval Period: 11/01/2023 – 05/31/2025

If you need a Certificate of Completion & Attendance or have any questions, please feel free to contact lia.paul@floridaschildrenfirst.org

This training is being provided in partnership with:

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Alexia Nechayev

FYS Events & Meeting Chair
(Palm Beach)

Hello, My name is Alexia Nechayev. I am 25 years old and I am an alumna of Florida International University where I received my B.A. in Psychology. My future career goal is to be a Lawyer. I was in care for about one year from age 17 to 18. Prior to entering care, I only knew about the negative stigma regarding foster care and while in care that narrative was unfortunately my experience.

In school I felt like I was on display because my status in care was broadcast to other students and in my placement behavior was leveraged for “privileges” that should be a natural right of all children. Because I did not know my rights I did not know that what I was experiencing was wrong. Today this is exactly why I advocate, because I don’t want this to be the same for other youth who are experiencing foster care.

This is my second year on the FYS Statewide Board and I’m happy to be the Events and Meetings Chair this year because my main goal through advocacy is to reach as many people as possible. My favorite thing as a board member is to see how comfortable members become while working together. The community needs to know that youth in foster care are real people, going through some of the hardest moments of their life and youth need to know that their voice is powerful. I believe that we have to speak up and bring these issues to people’s attention so that they do not forget us. Advocacy, education and consistency is the only way.

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