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.
A new Florida law, effective July 1, 2025, provides critical housing support for potentially thousands of kids in our state as they age out of state care. The law prioritizes individuals from foster care…
A former state attorney says the system designed to protect children may have failed 7-year-old Nia Williams, who died earlier this year in what investigators are calling a homicide…
A bill to boost housing access for young adults who have spent time in the foster care system was unanimously advanced by the Senate Education Postsecondary Committee Monday…
Tierra Lamore, who was in foster care from age 6 to 15, suddenly found herself homeless on her 18th birthday. The high school senior started couch surfing and worrying about where she would stay next….
Each year, a group of young people who have been in foster care comes to Tallahassee to lobby during the legislative session. They’re called Florida Youth SHINE, they’ve been around since 2005…
Tierra Lamore, who was in foster care from age 6 to 15, suddenly found herself homeless on her 18th birthday. The high school senior started couch surfing and worrying about where she would stay next….
Sophia Coffey knows foster care in Florida as only a foster kid can — and she is determined to change it. Growing up in the system…
Each year, AAJ presents the Trial Lawyers Care Award to a trial lawyer who contributes to the greater good…
On November 14, 2024, nearly 250 guests gathered at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Mary Porter Ballroom to celebrate the generosity of nine outstanding local donors…
Nonprofit storytelling has the power to transform the lives of those served…
Florida’s Children First has been the voice of at-risk children and youth in the state. The event recognized remarkable child advocates….
Many young people struggle with decision-making as they become adults. Youth in the child welfare system often lack the natural support of family and friends to help them navigate adulthood. They are further disadvantaged if they lived in placements that did not…
Florida’s 2024 Legislative Session resulted in the passage of bills that will have a significant impact on Florida’s child welfare system. A handful of other bills also affect children…
Many young people struggle with decision-making as they become adults. Youth in the child welfare system often lack the natural support…
Recently, FCF’s Executive Director, Geori Seldine & our 2023 Tampa Outstanding Youth Advocate, Aheim King were interviewed on NPR’s “The Capital Report.” The interview showcases
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.
