Florida’s Children First: The First Ten Years 2002-2012
Florida’s Children First is proud to release this report in honor of our 10 year anniversary of operation. Inside, you will find messages from key
Florida’s Children First is proud to release this report in honor of our 10 year anniversary of operation. Inside, you will find messages from key
Article – Foster Kids leave school detour to brothel
Caseworkers speak in codes, complains a grandmother who has been through four in seven months. Lawyers never take a phone call. Foster parents need backup.
By Gloria W. Fletcher 10:24 a.m. EDT, June 2, 2012 If you are a child in dependency court in Florida, the numbers are stacked against
The Palm Beach Post Updated: 11:02 a.m. Saturday, May 26, 2012 Posted: 10:32 a.m. Saturday, May 26, 2012 POST IN DEPTH FOSTER CHILDREN By Ana
On June 1st the Rules of Juvenile Procedure will require judges to inquire why children are not present for dependency court hearings. This brochure explains the rule change and answers many questions about children’s appearance in court. Please print and distribute to children in care, their caregivers and advocates.
The numbers are staggering. More than 14,000 kids across Florida are in foster care, and thousands more are considered at risk. Yet for advocates, guardians,
Florida’s Children First received a phone call a few weeks ago from a mother just listening to her 8 year old daughter’s instructions: call an
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.