State Legislature argues DCF budget after child deaths
After dozens of child abuse-related deaths, Florida lawmakers may add money for nearly 200 new child protective investigators and other services, but critics worry the
After dozens of child abuse-related deaths, Florida lawmakers may add money for nearly 200 new child protective investigators and other services, but critics worry the
With breakneck speed, House and Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations conference committees met Tuesday morning and agreed to $47 million in new money for
For more than a year, the Miami Herald dug through Department of Children & Families records and police reports to find out how and why nearly 500
In the wake of a bloody year for Florida youngsters, lawmakers have pledged to repair the state’s frayed safety net for abused and neglected children.
A town hall meeting sparked by the Miami Herald’s Innocents Lost series sparked both discussion and hope for the future. BY MICHAEL VASQUEZ MRVASQUEZ@MIAMIHERALD.COM Through
Gov. Rick Scott visited a Department of Children & Families service center in Opa-locka on Tuesday to tout additional funding and staffing for the troubled
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER, AUDRA D.S. BURCH AND MARY ELLEN KLAS Gov. Rick Scott visited a Department of Children & Families service center in Opa-locka
By SASCHA CORDNER Members of Florida Youth Shine, Christian Aguilar (left) and Georgina Rodriguez (right) gave lawmakers an update last week on a new law aimed
BY MIAMI HERALD STAFF This coming Thursday, April 17th, the Miami Herald and WLRN will host a town hall meeting to discuss Innocents Lost, the investigative
By: Julie Montanaro, wctv.tv More than 97% of children in foster care in Florida don’t have a
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.