Neiko Shea was named ChildNet’s first Chief of Staff in November 2023. However, Neiko is not new to ChildNet, as she spent ten years with the organization from 2003 – 2013 as the first Director of Service Coordination and then later as the Vice President of Network development when ChildNet expanded into Palm Beach County.
She now returns with over 30 combined years of robust experience in child welfare, behavioral health, and managed care. Prior to joining ChildNet initially, she spent the early part of her career providing and overseeing behavioral health services for youth and families involved in Florida’s child welfare system. During the past ten years, before returning to the agency, Neiko served in a variety of child welfare leadership positions throughout the state. As an adoptive parent herself, she pursued her passion in adoptions and accepted an opportunity to lead a private adoption agency as Executive Director. Then, for several years, she served as the Vice President of Child Welfare Programs for Sunshine Health, Florida’s statewide Medicaid Managed Care Specialty Health Plan for youth in, and adopted through, the state’s child welfare. Most recently, her prior role was the Florida Executive Director for the National Youth Advocate Program, a major provider of child welfare and behavioral health services both throughout Florida and nationally.
Neiko is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Florida and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Barry University. She currently serves as an Officer on the Broward Healthy Start Coalition’s Board of Directors, which she has been involved in for years. Lastly, and most importantly, Neiko is a proud mother of three children, with her youngest two joining her family though the journey of adoption.
