Youth in foster care deserve a voice in court

Dave Jones, a California Democrat, recently introduced legislation to bring foster children into the court hearings that decide their fates after allegations of abuse and neglect.

This bill was designed to address Broken Families, Broken Courts reports that, throughout California, hearings in the courts that oversee the foster care system are often held without the child present.

As its author states: "This bill sends a strong message that kids need to be a more integral part of the system."

Current law gives children the legal right to attend but does not require officials to make a strong effort to get the children there.

This is a terrible oversight because youth people have a very strong viewpoint about what is and is not working in the child welfare system, and can thoughtfully articulate their own interests.

Jones' bill, AB 3051, requires all California judicial officers to postpone hearings if children 10 years old and older have not been properly notified and offered the chance to attend.

Some lawyers are hoping that the language of this bill will be revised so that any children ages 4 years old and older will be able to attend.

One key proponent of this revision is Leslie Heimov, executive director of the non-profit Children's Law Center of Los Angeles.

Her reasoning is that, "For older kids, there's a benefit to the child, but for younger kids there's a benefit to the court. They bring the case alive. They're ruling on a person, not a piece of paper."

Jones said alterations of his bill are expected, and that he intends the age reference to be "a floor, not a ceiling."

Culture Change
In order for this bill to have an impact, a significant culture change will be required in many California courts. Some judges and lawyers believe children can be disruptive, or shouldn't miss school to attend court. Others fear they will be bored or traumatized by things they hear.

I agree with Presiding Judge Michael Nash of the Los Angeles Juvenile Court: "Children are the most important persons in our process. And they should be seen and heard."

Source:
de Sá, Karen. Bill would strengthen kids' voices in foster care court: Bill would require they're told about right to attend hearings. Mercury News, March 7, 2008.

Promoting Youth Voice in Child Welfare Systems

The National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning has compiled several resources to assist child welfare professionals with promoting youth voice.

In addition, the National Resource Center for Youth Development Toolkit for Youth Involvement provides important information on how to prepare youth and adults to work in partnership to improve the nation's child welfare system.

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

VISIT HOMELESSYOUTHAMONGUS.ORG FOR MORE DETAILS

Youth insight in the British foster care system

While reading his most recent report, I was both happy to learn that Roger Morgan, Children's Right's Director (pictured left) is listening to the insights and experiences of foster children in England, and saddened to learn that the British foster care system has many similar problems to those that we experience here in the U.S.A.

A Meeting of Strangers
One-third of the young people report needing more information about foster parents before moving in -- and one-third of foster parents report needing more information about the child. There are safety concerns on both sides.

Young people reported that it is very important to them to get the right placement the first time, rather than shuttling from one foster home to another, looking for the right fit.

An insufficient range of placements makes this difficult, and youth long for social workers to go the extra mile by keeping tabs on new placements and having a suitable backup placement in mind if the first one doesn't work out.

Desire For Advocacy
Young people requested that they be able to go to a person of their choice with problems. They wanted to select their own mentor.

Youth in England's foster care system greatly desire an advocate, especially when reviewing their case plan. They want the power to request an independent review of their case plan, if they feel that something is happening that is not in their best interests.

In addition, there are deep concerns about what is written in their file and the level of confidentiality. Should their file be shared with other people by the caseworker? Is it accurate? Would sharing the information within serve to help or harm?

Could the young people request to read their foster care file, and check its veracity? If they read something in it that is not true, how can that information be changed? The young people requested that it be considered a (punishable) offense for someone to write something false about them in their files.

Loss Of Continuity
Foster youth were upset about losing hobbies and activities that they had started due to changing placements. Young people also reported a lack of opportunity for community, school, athletic involvement, and said that boredom was leading them into trouble.

Young people want to be able to stay in contact with previous foster care placements if they wish to do so, unless there are valid reasons not to allow it.

Lack of Availability
There are concerns about frequently changing social workers, broken promises, lack of contact and regular visitation with social workers -- especially for youth who are placed further away.

Some youth report having no way to contact their social worker. Young people in foster care often wish they could choose their social worker, since this person has such an enormous amount of power over their life.

Adoption
Regarding adoption, youth want full information about the process of adoption, the reasons they needed to be adopted and the choice of whether or not to receive news about their birth families. They also report being rushed through the adoption, without given time to adjust emotionally.

Released Unprepared Into the Adult World
In additional, it appears that in England, as here, there are huge concerns about aging out of care. Youth reported that not all social workers were advocating for them to receive assistance or informing them about available resources.

For more information, please visit: www.rights4me.org

Source:
Dr. Roger Morgan, Children's Rights Director
Policy by Children: A Children's Views Report
March 2007

My friend Lupe speaks out

Photo of Lupe from www.fosterclub.com

Below is Lupe's guest opinion, as published in the Tuscon Citizen on April 13, 2007.

Guest Opinion: Don't shortchange Arizona's foster kids

At age 5, I entered Arizona's foster-care system. That was the beginning of a series of childhood separations - from my sister, my home, my culture, from everything that mattered.

I was one of the more than 9,000 Arizona children who, at any given time, are in foster care.

Although foster care was intended to be temporary, Arizona's foster children spend an average of two birthdays in care, and more than 40 percent move more than three times while waiting for a permanent family.

I spent 19 years in foster care. During that time, I lived in 10 places, including state, private and residential foster care. I attended five high schools.

The most difficult placement was when I was a junior in high school. The foster family I had been living with moved across the country, and no placements were available for me then.

I was sent to a large institution with locked units. Soon I realized I was the only foster youth there, and the only reason I had been placed there was because I was without a home.

Waiting for a loving family, I ended up in a facility designed for young people who had broken the law.

My experiences led me to become an advocate for foster-care reform. I don't want any other child to experience what I did.

Along with other current and former foster youth, I went to Washington, D.C., to participate in an event sponsored by "Kids Are Waiting: Fix Foster Care Now," a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

A new guide to the U.S. foster-care system, "Time for Reform: Too Many Birthdays in Foster Care," was released at the event.

Wearing T-shirts that read "Kids Can't Wait," we delivered birthday cakes to each House member in honor of the 513,000 foster children who will spend their birthdays in foster care this year, waiting for a family.

We wanted to let Congress know how important it is to reform foster care. We have waited too long for changes to a system that is designed to keep children safe, but instead separates them from their parents, brothers and sisters, and places them in limbo.

Just changing the way the federal government pays for services could help prevent some children from being placed in foster care and help others to be placed in safe, permanent families more quickly.

Because of my experiences, I am waiting for all foster children to be able live permanently with a loving family.

Frequent moves - common in foster care - can be upsetting to children who never know how long they will stay or where they will go next.

About 20,000 children each year "celebrate" their birthdays by aging out of foster care. I was one of those children. I grew up with no lifetime connection with a family. When I was in care, all I hoped for was to be wanted.

I hope Congress will allow more money to be used to keep families together and children out of foster care in the first place or to limit the time they spend in the system.

This flexibility would also create and support permanent, loving families through reunification, adoption and guardianship.

The need to reform federal financing is urgent. Today, more than half a million foster children are waiting, as I did, for a permanent family to love, nurture and protect them.

They have waited long enough.

Guadalupe Ortiz-Tovar of Tucson spent 19 years in Arizona's foster-care system. She is currently a coordinator for In My Shoes, a peer mentoring program.

FosterClub All-Star program

My friend Lupe Ortiz-Tovar was a Foster Club All-Star during its second year of existence... and the experience changed her life!

Internships for Foster Youth FosterClub will select 12 young adults, ages 18 to 24, who have experienced foster care at some point in their lives, to participate in an internship program called the All-Star Program.

The interns will start their year-long commitment this summer at Portland State University in Portland, OR.

After a week of intense training, the All-Stars will travel the country participating in State Independent Living Conferences, various National Foster Care events, and more.

These interns will help other youth in foster care, earn approximately $3,600 over the summer, and improve their leadership skills. Completed applications are due by March 31, 2007.

For more information, please visit their website:

www.fosterclub.com/allStars/join.cfm

Meet the president of O.H.I.O. Youth Advisory Board

Adrian McLemore spent 10 years of his life in foster care. He believes that everything happens for a reason. Throughout high school and during his current time in college, Adrian has served in leadership positions in various student and community organizations. He served as Class President for three years, and State President for a prominent student organization.

Adrian is majoring in Business Management and Political Science. His goal is to become the President/CEO of a fortune 500 company/corporation. He would also like to venture into politics and one day become President of the United States of America.

Adrian McLemore has recently been elected President of O.H.I.O. (Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio) Youth Advisory Board.

Free Resource for Child Advocates

Voices for America's Children has just released the third edition of their Child Advocacy Primer, which can be downloaded free of charge: http://www.voicesforamericaschildren.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Room&CONTENTID=7838&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

This document offers tips and tools for improving your child advocacy skills, since there is little formal training in this area.

Read it. Use it.
I know I will...

Foster youth recommendations in my state

An organization in my state is working to establish a statewide foster youth advocacy group.

The director of this organization was first inspired by California Youth Connection. She and I met earlier this year with two members of her staff.

Foster youth involved in this program are given opportunities to describe their experiences to children's services staff, judges and youth advocates.

Here are some of the recommendations they have made on how to change the system...

Having their voice heard in court
Current foster youth report that they want to be able to speak to the judge personally about their case. They want to be present when a move is being considered or custodial decisions are being made. They desire meaningful interaction with the CASA or guardian ad-litem who is representing them in court.

Any adult would want to meet with his / her lawyer before a trial.

Sharing their insights regarding placements, including reunification
Foster youth want to be able to contact their caseworker directly. Meetings regarding the possiblity of reunification should include youth, biological parents, foster parents and caseworker.

Foster youth want the homes in which they are placed to be safe.
They recommended that foster parents participate in training, meet strict qualifications and be evaluated on an ongoing basis. They also recommended that foster parents be observed actually interacting with youth before being granted a license.

Continuity of care with therapist
Maintaining the same therapist, regardless of placement, builds trust and gives youth time to work through emotional issues. (Caseworkers and foster parents should also receive more training in the emotional challenges faced by foster youth).

Normalcy and preparation to transition out of foster care
- Placement with siblings, or regular contact with siblings
- Able to spend the night with a friend from school, if foster parent gives permission
- Freedom to participate in extra curricular activities
- Able to get a driver's license*

Foster youth asked for opportunities to engage in real-life experience, such as how to obtain housing, access public transportation and manage a checking account.