Disney asked to take public stand on human-trafficking law
Human-trafficking victims, their advocates call on Disney to take public stand on proposed law Sex trafficking survivors spoke tearfully of betrayal by Florida lawmakers Friday
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.
Human-trafficking victims, their advocates call on Disney to take public stand on proposed law Sex trafficking survivors spoke tearfully of betrayal by Florida lawmakers Friday
Lawyer-lobbyist Nicole “Nikki” Fried, who specializes in medical marijuana issues, says she might run for Governor this year after coming to the conclusion the current field of
The Law Firm Consortium on Children’s Rights was founded to convene child advocacy stakeholders in collaboration to ensure that children in Florida, along with other
It was sweltering in the bedroom of the Largo mobile home the day a child welfare case manager visited in July. Yet she left 8-month-old
If Florida’s overburdened child welfare system has an epicenter, it’s Hillsborough County. An average of 3,600 children were in foster care in the county during
The first people the state dispatches to the homes of potentially abused and neglected children in Palm Beach County are overworked and in some cases
Maisha Joefield thought she was getting by pretty well as a young single mother in Brooklyn, splurging on her daughter, Deja, even though money was
For many teens still reeling from being taken into foster care, a cellphone is a lifeline, child advocates say. It’s their one connection to the
To the kids who stay with her, Kathryn Melendez is “Mom” or “Miss Kathryn.” Some of her teenage girls even call her “Bae,” slang shorthand
Hundreds of reports about potential child abuse may have been overlooked for months because of a Florida Department of Children and Families computer glitch. About
The agency that runs child welfare in Hillsborough County is closing a troubled out-of-hours teen center. Eckerd Kids announced Wednesday that it will terminate its
The plight of foster children forced to sleep on air mattresses in offices last summer led to outrage and the state ordering additional oversight of
The critical decision to remove a child from a home because of abuse or neglect is based on the work of child welfare investigators. But
One parent losing a job, being admitted to a hospital or struggling with addiction can be difficult for any family. For a single parent, however,
A foster mother has been arrested in the death of a 17-month-old boy who suffered apparent head injuries just weeks before he was likely to
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.