Connecticut: Adolescent and Siblings Rights in Foster Care

About this resource

The Connecticut Department of Children and Families' website includes a wide variety of resources for adolescents in the foster care system, including links to gender-specific mentoring services, summer employment resources, scholarship funds, applications for youth advisory boards, and bills of rights for youth in care. It also contains resources for child welfare agencies and providers. Two of these resources, the Adolescent Bill of Rights and Expectations and the Sibling Bill of rights, are highlighted below. 
Adolescent Bill of Rights and Expectations 
Codified into state law in 2019, this document highlights the rights to which adolescents in the foster care system are entitled and outlines what they can expect during their time in the system. It was developed by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. The document recognizes the importance of recognizing and upholding the rights of youth in the foster care system. It provides guidance to child welfare agencies and providers about how best to guarantee the safety and basic needs of youth in the foster care system. It is also an important resource for youth themselves, as knowledge of their rights within the system will help them better advocate for themselves and their needs. 
Sibling Bill of Rights 
Developed by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, the Sibling Bill of Rights recognizes the importance of sibling relationships and aims to safeguard these relationships whenever possible. It provides guidance to child welfare agencies about providing services with the goals of permanency, safety, and well being in mind.