Florida Settles Lawsuit, Agrees to Improve Foster Care Placements in Miami Area
In February of 2018, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) was hit with a federal class-action lawsuit alleging that private
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In February of 2018, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) was hit with a federal class-action lawsuit alleging that private
Province could look to Florida or Connecticut for ideas on how to help former kids in care. By Katie Hyslop Today | TheTyee.ca Katie
A Winter Haven man who was adopted from foster care as a child is doing something remarkable. He’s working
By: Liliana Hernandez and Angelique Day More first-generation, low-income students and students of color, including youth in foster care, are
There is much work to be done before the promise of full legal rights for dependent children is realized. By
For the first time, states can now claim federal matching funds through Title IV-E of the Social Security Act to
By Christopher O’Donnell and Nathaniel Lash Published Dec. 27, 2018 Justice McGuill was barely 12 when she walked into the house in Hudson,
As a former youth in foster care, I have experienced firsthand the care of children in our state and how
Florida has made great strides when it comes to improving the system of care for children in our state, but
On any given night, 7,000 young people in Florida are homeless. For many, the barriers standing between them and a stable,
My name is Chelsea. My childhood was spent in what many people might consider a stereotypical “broken home” with domestic
Share Baker McKenzie has partnered with The Walt Disney Company and nonprofit child advocacy organization Florida’s Children First in a joint
Human-trafficking victims, their advocates call on Disney to take public stand on proposed law Sex trafficking survivors spoke tearfully of
Lawyer-lobbyist Nicole “Nikki” Fried, who specializes in medical marijuana issues, says she might run for Governor this year after coming to the
It was sweltering in the bedroom of the Largo mobile home the day a child welfare case manager visited in
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.