Foster kids cut loose far earlier than our own
Foster kids cut loose far earlier than our own BY FRED GRIMM FGRIMM@MIAMIHERALD.COM With so many adult children well into their 20s, even their 30s,
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.
Foster kids cut loose far earlier than our own BY FRED GRIMM FGRIMM@MIAMIHERALD.COM With so many adult children well into their 20s, even their 30s,
THE MIAMI HERALD | EDITORIAL No more Nubias OUR OPINION: Tougher child-protection laws should be the priority BY THE MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL HERALDED@MIAMIHERALD.COM If state
The Heart Gallery of Broward County is a traveling photography exhibit of foster children who are waiting to be permanently adopted. The Gallery is unique
orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-foster-care-age-020512-20120203,0,4992019.story OrlandoSentinel.com Don’t abandon foster kids — help them thrive February 5, 2012 Imagine abused youngsters growing up in Florida’s foster care system somehow morphing
By John Barry, Times Staff Writer In Print: Friday, February 3, 2012 TAMPA — Since he was born, Gabrielle Crawford fought his way through multiple birth
Take ‘ONE’ challenge to assist a child 01/30/2012 The JBA Adoption Section Co-Chairperson Hope Iseley The Florida Supreme Court Campaign “ONE” challenges each attorney to
January 27th, 2012 by Whitney Ray Only three percent of kids aging out of Florida’s foster care system receive a college degree. The state pays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mental health professionals will tell you there are children across the Tampa Bay area who have been through hell. Many have been ripped
Updated: 9:26 AM Jan 25, 2012 Debate Hot Over Foster Transition Funding A passionate debate over a stipend for foster-care youth ended Tuesday with a
01/23/2012 By Kathy Para, The JBA Pro Bono Committee Chairwoman Suzanne Judas is the recipient of the 2012 Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award
FOSTER KID STIPEND CAP MULLED TUESDAY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA A bill that would lop two years off the time that young adults in
Learn more about the recent changes to the IRS d the forms and requirements for obtaining adoption tax credits.
Tampa Bay Times Eckerd Youth Alternatives gets child protection contract in Hillsborough County By John Barry, Times Staff Writer Tampa Bay Times In Print: Saturday,
Foster children struggle to graduate By Kelli Kennedy Associated Press When Carey Sommer entered foster care in California, he left his mom, his high school
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.