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Fight For Your Rights: A Guidebook for California Foster Youth, Former Foster Youth, and Those Who Care About Them

NCJ Number
206754
Author(s)
Phil Ladew
Date Published
October 2003
Length
41 pages
Annotation
This guidebook is intended to help foster youth in California, as well as those who care about them, understand the rights and services available when and after leaving the foster system.
Abstract
The book opens with a "Foster Youth Bill of Rights," which focuses on the foster youth's rights in the foster home, rights at court, health rights, school rights, rights of autonomy, family rights, and other rights. Information is then provided on the California Foster Care Ombudsperson and the California Youth Connection. Places where foster children can receive help are then listed. The book next turns to guidance for foster youth after they become 16 years old and before they have become 21 years old. The programs described are the Independent Living Program (ILP) and the Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP). These programs provide help in finding a job and a place to live, as well as information on college and health care. Advice is then provided on what foster youth should do before their 18th birthday, getting a job, finding a place to live, getting an education, health care, sibling issues, juvenile justice issues, issues related to life while still in the foster care system, and emancipation.