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Pro bono spotlight: Stepping up for our children in foster care

“One Lawyer, One Life” is a new pro bono opportunity sponsored by The Florida Bar Public Interest Law Section, The Florida Bar and Florida’s Children First.

It is a statewide pro bono project designed to recruit, train, support, match and mentor volunteer attorneys willing to assist a 17-year-old who is in out-of-home care pursuant to Chapter 39, Florida Statutes, regarding dependency proceedings.

It will be the pro bono attorney’s role to counsel the young person regarding the resources available through the state and/or to assist with a specific legal matter.

Important decisions are made by and about 17-year-olds in Florida’s child welfare system. They need good legal advice to help them transition into adulthood on solid ground.

It’s one more way attorneys can prevent problems and can help ensure all of our young people have the support they need to be productive, happy adults.

In the 4th Judicial Circuit, the Department of Children and Families will refer young people needing assistance to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. Pro bono attorneys who volunteer will be sent the information for a specific young person.

When the pro bono attorney accepts the case, DCF will enter the motion for appointment so the attorney may have access to the case file and docket.

JALA will assign the attorney to the case for the purpose of pro bono attorney support and professional liability coverage for the matter, if needed.

To volunteer, attorneys are asked to sign up on Florida for Children and Families’ website, f4cf.org. Comprehensive training materials are available on the website for viewing at their convenience.

Additionally, pro bono attorneys can be paired with an expert resource person or mentor to provide guidance during the progress of the case. There also is a discussion forum available on f4cf.org.

Sincere appreciation is extended to the attorneys in the 4th Circuit who have signed up to assist a 17-year-old who has been part of our foster care system.

More help is needed as cases in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties are being identified. The difference each attorney will make in helping a young person start adulthood with confidence and stability is immeasurable.

Attorneys interested in pro bono opportunities throughout the 4th Circuit are encouraged to contact Kathy Para, chair of The JBA Pro Bono Committee, at kathy.para@jaxlegalaid.org.

By Kathy Para, The Jacksonville Bar Association Pro Bono Committee Chair

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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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