Florida is trying to help foster youth, but we need to know that | Commentary
By KYLE JOHNSON | PUBLISHED: June 2, 2023 at 2:20 p.m. | UPDATED: June 2, 2023 at 2:20 p.m. If you’re a kid in foster care, can you
We believe that all children have the right to food, clothing, housing, education, medical care, property and personal privacy.
Florida’s laws, policies and practices respect, prioritize and protect children and youth impacted by the child welfare, juvenile justice, and disability systems.
By KYLE JOHNSON | PUBLISHED: June 2, 2023 at 2:20 p.m. | UPDATED: June 2, 2023 at 2:20 p.m. If you’re a kid in foster care, can you
Florida’s Children First and Florida Youth SHINE are growing and we’re looking to add to our team of passionate advocates. We are hiring for the
The relentless advocacy of Florida Youth SHINE (FYS), a statewide advocacy organization run by and for youth who are or were in Florida’s child welfare system, paid
A bill recently passed in the Florida Legislature could help address a key shortfall highlighted in a new national report about foster youth ages 14
SEE VIDEO ORLANDO, Fla. – In the last 2 decades, seven of Florida’s 67 counties have handled their own investigations into child abuse and neglect,
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is planning to take over child protection investigations from seven sheriffs’ offices around the
International Van Lines CEO Josh Morales adopted the first two foster kids he and his wife hosted. Then he started doing pro bono moves for
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — For years, 8 On Your Side has reported on local foster kids sleeping in offices without a bed to lay their
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Navigating the child welfare system can be challenging for many kids, whether they’re adopted or in foster care. A statewide
Geori Seldine, Executive Director of Florida’s Children First Florida’s Children First (FCF), an award-winning non-profit organization that advocates for positive systemic changes to improve children’s
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)…
What is the best way to represent minors in Florida’s child welfare system? A pilot program that would have given foster kids their own attorneys
As foster parents licensed by Florida’s Department of Children and Families, my wife and I are directly responsible for meeting critical day-to-day needs of the
Children’s week came to an end Wednesday at the Florida State Capitol but new relationships and paths are just getting started. Tuesday night, youth-led foster
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.