Self Advocacy:
Step 1: Know Your Rights

Knowing what you have the right to ask for is the first step.

My Rights in Foster Care
You have certain rights while you are in foster care, and the National Youth Law Center has outlined this list of rights.

Know about your state’s independent Living Program
In most states you have a right to independent living resources. independent living is assistance to help you live on your own after you "age out" of foster care. Many states believe you need some help and that you can’t just turn out a young person onto the streets with no money and no resources! It means that you may have available to you such things as medical coverage, education assistance, housing assistance, a monthly stipend, assistance finding a job, etc.

You have a right to know about the resources available to you and a right to have access to them. Call your independent living coordinator in your state for more information: here’s a list of state IL coordinators.

Participate in agency staff meetings/conversations that pertain to you.
Most states allow youth to participate in activities like these when they reach a certain age, often either 14 or 16. Speak to your caseworker and find out which meetings would allow you to have the most input.

Keep this in mind, however: it can be painful to hear all the details that often come up in these meetings. In order for the adults to make good decisions, they need to share details about your history, which might be painful to hear. They may discuss problems that you are having now or have had in the past. Things aren’t kept secret in these meetings, although the adults in the room have made a promise to not discuss your case with other people who are not involved in your foster care plan.

One thing you can do to avoid this is to ask your caseworker if it would be O.K. if you could just say what you wanted to say to the group, then leave. This can be arranged at staff meetings at the Agency, in court, or in planning meetings.

Have your opinions and feelings be heard
You have a right to express your feelings and opinions, and letting them be known is an important way of standing up for yourself. If you find it hard to talk about your feelings, try writing them down and sharing them with a friend or with your foster parents. Talking clearly and directly about how you feel, without blaming others, is a good way to have your ideas count.

A great way to be heard is to download a FREE FYI Forms (coming soon).