by Kathy Para, The JBA Pro Bono Committee Chairwoman Lawyers are known for living up to the phrase “carpe diem” because legal services often include
Updated: 7:12 a.m. Monday, Aug. 27, 2012 | Posted: 12:00 a.m. Monday, Aug. 27, 2012 By Ana M. Valdes Palm Beach Post Staff Writer More than
THE KIDS AREN’T ALRIGHT: EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE AN ATTORNEY IN CHILD WELFARE PRO-CEEDINGS IN FLORIDA
A Guide for Judges, Lawyers, and Child Advocates. Click for the complete PDF.
Check out our event’s most recent press in the summer issue of Gold Coast Magazine!
To fully appreciate the impetus for creating the Regis Little Subcommittee of the Legal Needs of Children Committee of The Florida Bar, you have to
The Juvenile Justice Center at Barry University School of Law has received $250,000 from the Legislature to continue to improve the quality of representation for
Who is there to help a foster child with disabilities who turns 18 and becomes a legal adult? Deborah Schroth is taking the lead on
“Right for Kids” Report Paints Misleading Picture of Florida’s Child Welfare System Nonprofit advocacy group Florida’s Children First discusses issues Coral Springs, Fla. – Recently,
Article – 4 Charged in Foster Care Prostitution Ring
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.
