Will the Department tell me what my rights are in foster care?
The department must understand that the rights you have in foster care are very important to your safety, permanency, and well-being. The department must work with all stakeholders to help youth know their rights!
Do youth and young adults have a say in all of this?
The department must consult with children and young adults who are currently or have formerly been in out-of-home care when creating or revising any print or digital written information on their rights and must use any responses or feedback to ensure that print or digital written information is understandable by and appropriate and useful for the children and young adults.
How will the Department make sure I know my rights?
The case manager or other staff must give you BOTH verbal and written information on:
- Information on how to identifying and reporting abuse, abandonment, or neglect
- Information to you about laws and requirements for the following topics:
- nurturing care, personal safety, and protection from abuse, abandonment, and neglect
- normalcy and what that means for a child in out-of-home care
- education
- participation in court proceedings
- participation in permanency planning, transition planning, and other case planning
- placement, visitation, and contact with siblings, family, and other individuals who are important to the you
- access to food, clothing, shelter, and health care.
How will I understand my rights?
The instructions and information must use words and phrasing that each child can understand and must occur in a way that is effective for you. The written instructions and information are only required if the you are old enough to understand how to receive these instructions and information. The case manager or other staff must give you the opportunity to ask questions and must document in court reports and case notes the date the instructions and information were provided to you. The case manager or other staff shall review the instructions and information with you every 6 months and upon every placement change until you leave shelter or foster care.
