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Christine Smith Joins Florida’s Premiere Child Advocacy Non-profit, Florida’s Children First

Florida’s Children First (FCF), Florida’s premiere statewide advocacy organization focused on protecting the rights of children of youth in the foster care system, is proud to announce the addition of celebrated family and dependency law attorney Christine Smith to its staff.

“Chrisine is an extraordinary addition to our small but mighty team,” said FCF Executive Director Geori Seldine. “Christine’s commitment to children’s issues and her lived experience as a foster parent brings a depth of experience to the organization that will give the at-risk children and youth in care we serve a stronger voice.”

“Christine’s background and passion for safeguarding the rights of youth will allow us to address the needs of even more young people in need, providing guidance, representation, and education to them as we continue to elevate youth voices,” adds Robin Rosenberg, Florida’s Children First Deputy Director.

A long-time Floridian and Stetson University College of Law graduate, Smith joined the L. David Shear Children’s Law Center of Bay Area Legal Services, a nonprofit law center dedicated to providing legal representation for abused, neglected, or abandoned children in 2006. In 2011 Christine became a partner at the firm of Hernandez & Smith, P.A. where she focused on family and dependency law.

Actively involved in the community, Smith serves on the Hillsborough County Unaccompanied Immigrant Children Task Force and the Stann Givens Family Law Inn of Court. Additionally, she has served on the board of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Pregnancy Care Center and on the Hillsborough County Unaccompanied Immigrant Children Task Force.

About Florida’s Children First:

Florida’s Children First, Inc. (FCF) is an award-winning non-profit organization that advocates to make positive systemic changes to improve children’s lives. Its primary focus is on impacting the lives of children in foster care. Its work also impacts children with disabilities, those who are homeless, are immigrants, or have juvenile justice involvement. The Florida Youth SHINE program was developed to educate, empower, and support youth from foster care to become passionate advocates who amplify their voice for systemic changes.

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Alexia Nechayev

FYS Events & Meeting Chair
(Palm Beach/Miami)

Alexia Nechayev, from Miami, Florida, is a dedicated advocate for youth with lived experience in foster care and with homelessness. After being placed in foster care as a teenager, Alexia experienced firsthand the stigma surrounding the system, as well as the challenges of navigating a system that didn’t provide support for her to advocate for herself. This experience motivated her to create change, ensuring that other youth in care have the tools and resources she lacked.

She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University, and upon graduation worked as a Hope Navigator with the Department of Children and Families which allowed her to assist clients through individualized care plans, further deepening her commitment to improving the lives of marginalized youth. Alexia is now applying to law schools with the goal of advancing her advocacy work through a legal career. As the Events and Meetings Chair for Florida Youth SHINE (FYS), she creates opportunities for foster and homeless youth to collaborate and push for meaningful change. She is also an active member of the Policy and Initiative Team for Florida Youth SHINE, where she helps create and shape policies that directly impact youth in foster care. One of her proudest accomplishments is helping to develop the Foster Care Bill of Rights, a law that she feels would have made a difference during her own time in care.

In addition to her work with FYS, Alexia serves on the Board of Directors for the parent organization of FYS, Florida’s Children First. In this role, she contributes to strategic decision-making while advocating for the rights and welfare of children statewide.

Every year, she travels to the state capitol to advocate for bills she and her peers have helped shape, including key pieces of legislation that benefit foster and homeless youth. However her advocacy extends beyond her state, as she represents Florida Youth SHINE at national conferences such as the National Leaders 4 Change Conference.

Through her internship with the National Foster Youth Institute, Alexia continues to refine her advocacy skills, preparing for a future where she can contribute meaningfully to both policymaking and the legal system. Guided by the belief that “the blue sky is always there,” she remains committed to ensuring that every youth in foster care has the power and support to advocate for themselves.

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