July 26, 2011 During the past five years, the state of Florida has reduced by more than a third the number of kids in its
July 26, 2011 When 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson died after a beating at a notorious Florida boot camp for wayward youth, the state’s public records
Manny Oliver, 24, was given a 2004 KIA Spectra Manny Oliver, 24, is all smiles as he looks over is new car Saturday. Oliver… (Mark
July 20, 2011 No need to empanel a grand jury to investigate the last few hours of Eric Perez, who was left to die in
July 19, 2011 TAMPA, Fla. — A former New York foster child swindled out of more than $400,000 in insurance money by his foster parents
June 30, 2011|By Kate Santich, Orlando Sentinel A new state law requiring all welfare applicants to be drug-tested goes into effect today — even as
June 15, 2011 Welfare applicants who fail a new mandatory drug test might not only lose their claim to government assistance — they may also
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
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.
