DCF resignation a hopeful change
By Howard M. Talenfeld Published: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 It”s been a deadly time for children under the watch of the Florida Department of
We believe that all children have the right to food, clothing, housing, education, medical care, property and personal privacy.
Florida’s laws, policies and practices respect, prioritize and protect children and youth impacted by the child welfare, juvenile justice, and disability systems.
By Howard M. Talenfeld Published: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 It”s been a deadly time for children under the watch of the Florida Department of
By MARGIE MENZEL, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA Published July 23, 2012 THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE-………Student protesters at Gov. Rick Scott”s office spent Monday talking with
OUR OPINION: Gov. Scott must appoint a new leader committed to keeping kids safe BY MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL, HERALDED@MIAMIHERALD.COM Published: June 22, 2013 Gov. Rick Scott
By: Carol Marbin Miller, The Miami Herald Published: Monday, July 22, 2013 A Homestead man has been charged with shaking his 2-year-old son to
By Carol Marbin Miller and Katia Savchuk, The Miami Herald CMARBIN@MIAMIHERALD.COM Published on Monday, July 22, 2013 Florida healthcare regulators have acted with “deliberate
By Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida Published: Friday, July 19, 2013 TALLAHASSEE | Esther Jacobo, the new interim secretary of the Florida Department
Published: Friday, July 9, 2013 It’s been a deadly time for children under the watch of the Florida Department of Children & Families and the
By Carol Marbin Miller and Mary Ellen Klas, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau Published: Thursday July 18, 2013 TALLAHASSEE — David Wilkins, Florida”s top child welfare and
Over 100 supporters attended Florida”s Children First”s Miami Reception on June 12, 2013 honoring child Advocate of the Year Secretary Wansley Walters and recognizing the
By: Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida Published: Monday, July 15, 2013 TALLAHASSEE – The chairwoman of the Senate committee that oversees the
By: Margie Menzel, News Service of Florida Published: Saturday July 13, 2013 This month, the Florida Department of Children and Families launched a new
By: Carol Marbin Miller and Katia Savchuk, Miami Herald Published: Thursday, July 11, 2013 CMARBIN@MIAMIHERALD.COM The first time a Miami infant went to the
By: Lynn Hatter, WFSU Published: Wendesday, July 10, 2013 Florida Department of Children and Families officials say the deaths of four children in six
Recent cases have refocused attention on the need for change By Diana Gonzalez, NBC 6 Published: Wednesday, Jul 10, 2013 Antwon Hope, Ezra Raphael, Bryan Osceola,
By Mike Clary, Sun-Sentinel Published on July 5, 2013 The number of Broward children removed from their homes over abuse and neglect concerns has increased
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.