Op-Ed in Daily Business Review by Howard Talenfeld
PRACTICE FOCUS: CHILD WELFARE One can only hope that new penalties and the threats of punishment will lead to a shortened list of missing children
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.
PRACTICE FOCUS: CHILD WELFARE One can only hope that new penalties and the threats of punishment will lead to a shortened list of missing children
No Nonsense Nancy got misty eyed. State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, has long built a reputation as a tough legislator worthy of the intimidating firefighter’s
By Jan Pudlow, Senior Editor “Go live and start communicating!” That’s the enthusiastic invitation to those handling dependency and delinquency cases from Florida’s Children First,
Florida’s Legal Online Resource, Information Driven Access – F4CF is a resource for all attorneys and judges who work in the child welfare and juvenile
(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) commemorated President Obama’s signing of the Uninterrupted Scholars Act (S.3472). The Uninterrupted Scholars Act is bipartisan legislation
Florida’s Children First is proud to introduce their new Equal Justice Works Fellow, Hasti Barahmand, sponsored by The Florida Bar Foundation and Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
The GAO raises continuing concerns about the adequacy of mental health services for children – especially those in foster care. Click to read full report
By ALAN ABRAMOWITZ / Special to the Herald As the executive director of the statewide Guardian ad Litem Program, I talk to many children and
In a drab, cramped conference room in Doral, a 45-year-old single mother is fighting with the state to secure in-home nursing care for her severely
Tampa Bay Times: Florida mother’s lonely fight ends with disabled son’s death By Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald In Print: Saturday, December 29, 2012 Tereza
“Remember, I love you always.” Isn’t that what we all want our children to know? If you were never going to see your child again
Miami Herald: Children need real legal protection in court Posted on Fri, Dec. 28, 2012 “Remember, I love you always.” Isn’t that what we all
Written by Ashley “Moniece” Jackson Special to the Chronicle The pride I feel in my organization is overwhelming. Florida Youth SHINE (FYS) is a statewide,
Florida Courier, December 20, 2012 By Margie Menzel After two incidents of staffers charged with abusing teens at a juvenile lock-up in Milton – one
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.