Fostering Hope: Howard Talenfeld is fighting for Florida’s most vulnerable kids
June 13, 2011 Talenfeld helped involve him in a group called Florida Youth SHINE, which the lawyer had played a role in launching. Composed 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.
June 13, 2011 Talenfeld helped involve him in a group called Florida Youth SHINE, which the lawyer had played a role in launching. Composed of
5-17-11 Naples Daily News Letter May 17, 2011 Naples Daily News: Keeping Kids Safe, by Christina Spudeas
May 17, 2011 Fort Myer’s News Press: Keeping Kids Safe, by Christina Spudeas
May 1, 2011 Florida’s foster kids and others are the targets of harmful legislation being debated in Tallahassee. Senate Bill 1972 — the Medicaid reform
April 29, 2011 Only two-percent of Florida foster kids graduate from college. Legislation being discussed in Tallahassee could lower the success rate even more. Right
April 11, 2011 A child advocacy group that is fighting liability limits for children in the state foster care system is taking aim at a
April 7, 2011 Opponents of a move to cap liability for the private nonprofits that oversee children’s services are breathing easier. When the Senate Committee
April 4, 2011 Florida’s privatization of child welfare services was supposed to be good for kids and taxpayers. But in the decade since the state
March 16, 2011 A measure capping legal damages for agencies providing foster care services cleared a House committee on an 11-4 vote Wednesday, despite emotional
March 16, 2011 A measure that would cap damages for pain and suffering by children in Florida’s child welfare system was approved by a House
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.