Many young people struggle with decision-making as they become adults. Youth in the child welfare system often lack the natural support of family and friends to help them navigate adulthood. They are further disadvantaged if they lived in placements that did not…
Florida’s 2024 Legislative Session resulted in the passage of bills that will have a significant impact on Florida’s child welfare system. A handful of other bills also affect children…
Adoption attorney Maria Bates, members of Florida Youth SHINE, and an adoptive mom will explore the importance of maintaining connections to birth family for youth adopted from state care. The session will prepare participants to facilitate…
Which children are supposed to get attorneys? Why – and what are they supposed to do? Since 2014, Florida law (§39.01305) has required the court…
Adoption attorney Maria Bates, members of Florida Youth SHINE, and an adoptive mom will explore the importance of maintaining connections to birth family for youth adopted from state care. The session will prepare participants to facilitate…
Florida’s 2023 Legislative Session resulted in the passage of bills that will have a significant impact on Florida’s child welfare system…
Adoption attorney Maria Bates, members of Florida Youth SHINE, and an adoptive mom will explore the importance of maintaining connections to birth family for youth adopted from state care. The session will prepare participants to facilitate…
Review the 10 primary duties for children’s attorneys and explain the lived experience perspectives that shaped each one. Special focus will be given to areas that pose the greatest potential for the field (ex. sharp increase in out of-court client contact)…
This training is geared to attorneys who have or may be asked to finalize an adoption from foster care. It will also be useful for others in the system who want to know what should be happening in adoption finalizations. Topics include…
DCF and CBC lead agencies have a fiduciary duty to protect the funds of children in state care and to ensure that they are used for their short and long term needs…
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.
