States Change How They Recruit Foster Parents
MIAMI — For decades, it was common for officials around the country to approve foster parents by room and board criteria: Did they pass a
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.
MIAMI — For decades, it was common for officials around the country to approve foster parents by room and board criteria: Did they pass a
Finding a family isn’t always about tracing a blood line By Leonora LaPeter Anton, Tampa Bay Times Staff Writer Posted: Dec 26, 2011 04:46 PM
December 2, 2011 The statistics that came out of this week’s GAO report on psychotropic drug use among American foster children were bone-chilling: In 2008,
COMMUNITY BASED CARE AGENCIES FACE TOUGH 2012 SESSION By MARGIE MENZEL THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Nov. 15, 2011…..As the 2012 session
October 24, 2011 – Damien Smith, 18, was in foster care in South Florida for several years. He aged out of foster care this fall
SENATE LOOKING AT DJJ PROBE OF PSYCHOTROPIC MED USE By MARGIE MENZEL THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Oct. 19, 2011…..The Department of
October 19, 2011 MIAMI (AP) — Federal lawmakers said during a national town hall meeting Wednesday that they are working to help foster children succeed
THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Oct. 14, 2011……A Senate committee, angered by the juxtaposition of children’s deaths with swelling pay for those overseeing their care, has ordered
Associated Press Oct. 5: Dee Saint Franc, 21, of Providence, R.I., stands for a portrait in front of family photos in her home. Saint Franc
October 1 – Research has shown that Florida’s grand experiment of the ’90s to prosecute younger and younger kids as adults — sparked by
September 15, 2011 – “Upbeat” isn’t usually the word one associates with the Florida Department of Children & Families. Given the state agency’s past, high-profile
September 14, 2011 – South Florida foster care kids struggle in tough job market – Sun Sentinel Tamarra Lestage was 13 when she ran away from
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.