The Youth Law Center successfully advocated for the issuance of clarifying guidance by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) that will stop the automatic placement disruption and separation of siblings in foster care when a foster youth comes into contact with the juvenile justice system. Despite longstanding state law permitting dependents and wards to […]
Victory: Prop 57 Abolishes Direct File in Adult Court
After years of advocacy to eliminate the practice of prosecutors directly filing juvenile cases in adult criminal court, the Youth Law Center celebrates the passage of Proposition 57, The Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016. While Proposition 57 encompassed a number of criminal justice reforms, its primary impact for youth is to require that a […]
YLC to Honor Unsung Heroes on December 12, 2016
Each year the Youth Law Center recognizes people who have made a difference in the lives of our clients during the past year at its Loren Warboys Unsung Heroes Reception. This year’s honorees have helped improve the lives of children and youth involved in the nation’s foster care and justice systems. It is our pleasure […]
New Law Protects Foster Youth from Unfair Detention
The Youth Law Center is pleased that Governor Brown has signed AB 2813 by Assemblymember Richard Bloom. This bill, sponsored by the Youth Law Center, protects children and youth in foster care from being needlessly detained in juvenile hall due to their foster care status, harmonizing the standards used by a probation officer to detain […]
Victory for Youth Exiting Foster Care
On September 25, Governor Brown signed into law AB 1849 by Assemblymember Mike Gipson. This bill, co-sponsored by the Youth Law Center and Children Now, clarifies instructions about Medi-Cal coverage for youth exiting foster care at age 18 or older. AB 1849 will reduce barriers to foster youth receiving the extended health coverage to which […]
Trauma Screening Bill for At-Risk Children Vetoed
Governor Brown dealt a serious set-back to children in foster care in vetoing SB 1466, which would have ensured that children on Medi-Cal receive expert-recommended trauma screenings. When left unaddressed, trauma in childhood causes long term harm, from heightened risk of illness, substance abuse, and premature death to increased learning problems and a greater chance […]
Governor Vetoes Bill Limiting Use of Out of State Group Homes
Youth Law Center is disappointed by the Governor’s veto of AB 2005, as we believe there should be greater care in the high-stakes placement process for youth who are supervised by probation and put at risk of being sent out of state to harmful group homes, hundreds and even thousands of miles from home. We […]
Bill Signed to Remove Graduation Barriers for At-Risk Youth
On September 22, 2016, Governor Brown signed into law AB 2306 by Assemblyman Jim Frazier, which requires school districts to exempt a student from local high school graduation requirements once the student transfers to the district from a juvenile court school. It also clarifies that pupils in juvenile court schools have a rigorous curriculum that […]
Federal Court Questions Detention of Immigrant Youth
YLC was of counsel on a recent motion to enforce the settlement agreement in Flores v. Lynch which challenged the federal government’s practice of indefinitely detaining immigrant children without a hearing. The Flores settlement agreement requires that children be provided with bond redetermination hearings in front of an immigration judge. The government has consistently failed to provide […]
YLC Works to Ensure Trauma Screening for At-Risk Youth
Childhood trauma is the leading public health issue of our time and one that disproportionately impacts children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. When unaddressed, trauma can cause lasting harm, lead to a host of problems in adulthood, and even shorten lives. With our care and support, all our children can heal and […]
Urge Governor Brown to Sign AB 2005
Urge the Governor to sign AB 2005 so California can have more informed and careful decision-making when out-of-state congregate care is under consideration for probation-supervised youth. The stakes are high for these young people. Taking them far away from their home communities can have a devastating impact on their futures as critical links to family, […]
Help the Louisiana QPI Community Hit by Flooding
Last Wednesday foster parents, youth, birth parents, social workers, judges, administrators and community partners from across Louisiana came together to start their QPI journey. The excitement and energy in the room was inspiring. Today, sadly, many of the people in that room, their friends and colleagues have lost their homes and possessions to the floods […]
YLC asks Court to Depublish Opinion in Ivan N.
YLC filed a request with the California Supreme Court to depublish In re Ivan N, a recently issued California Court of Appeal opinion holding that foster youth education rights do not apply to probation supervised foster youth. The court badly misinterpreted several statutory provisions that are critical in ensuring that probation-supervised foster youth are treated equitably and […]
YLC Writes Amicus Letter to Support Right to Quality Education
YLC filed a letter in support of the Petition for Review in two cases that were consolidated for appeal, Campaign for Quality Education v. State of California and Robles-Wong v. State of California. The cases present a core question particularly important to court involved youth – whether the fundamental right to education under the California […]
Fulfilling the Promise of Gault
Youth Law Center is proud to be a co-sponsor of a conference “celebrating” the 50th Anniversary of the landmark decision In re Gault, which affirmed a child’s right to an attorney in delinquency proceedings. The conference entitled, Fulfilling the Promise of Gault – Due Process and Effective Advocacy for Youth in the 21st Century,” examines how the […]
Expanded SSI Application Window for Foster Kids
The federal government recently extended the time for foster youth to apply for SSI from 90 days to 6 months prior to leaving foster care. The extension will be piloted for one year, starting August 1, 2016, while the SSA assesses if it decreases gaps in coverage for disabled youth who are eligible. Youth Law […]
Youth Law Center Co-Sponsors Court School Forum
On Tuesday, July 12, 2016, Youth Law Center is co-sponsoring a forum on education for youth in the juvenile justice system. The event entitled, “Education Reform’s Missed Opportunity: Young People in California’s Court Schools,” will address the failure of the juvenile justice system to meet the educational needs of kids in their care. Jennifer Rodriguez […]
Groups Demand Due Process for Immigrant Youth
YLC signed on to a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, urging the Attorney General to halt the government’s ongoing practice of pursuing deportation proceedings against children who do not have counsel and to guarantee that every child facing deportation is provided a lawyer. The government routinely brings children, many of them as young […]
Schools in Juvenile Justice Get an “F”
New America Media recently posted an article about the failure of California’s juvenile court schools to educate youth in their care. The article cited Youth Law Center’s 2016 study “Educational Injustice: Barriers to Achievement and Higher Education for Youth in California’s Juvenile Court Schools,” which reported that juvenile court schools have very poor outcomes for […]
Medi-Cal for Former Foster Youth – Progress!
The Youth Law Center, along with ChildrenNOW and NHeLP, has been working to ensure implementation of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act that require states to provide health care coverage up to age 26 for youth who were in foster care on their 18th birthday and were enrolled in Medicaid while in foster care. The […]
YLC Releases Report on Failure of CA’s Juvenile Court Schools
This week Youth Law Center released a study, funded by the California Wellness Foundation, on the education system for youth confined to detention facilities within California’s juvenile justice system. In the report, entitled Educational Injustice: Barriers to Achievement and Higher Education for Youth in California Juvenile Court Schools, Youth Law Center examines areas of challenge […]
CECANF Releases Final Report
The Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (CECANF) has released its final recommendations for developing a national strategy to reduce fatalities resulting from child abuse and neglect. The report outlines 10 recommendations to help organizations and communities implement a strategic response to protect children at high risk of fatality from abuse or neglect. CECANF was established […]
YLC Unsung Hero Appointed as CA Foster Care Ombudsman
The California Department of Social Services has just named Rochelle Trochtenberg to be the new California Foster Care Ombudsman. The office is responsible for educating foster youth about their rights and how to report violations. It also investigates and resolves individual complaints. Rochelle is a former foster youth who grew up in California’s child welfare system […]
Appeals Court Again Reverses Disposition for Immigrant Youth
The California Court of Appeal has issued a second opinion confirming that the juvenile court is not required to turn youth over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in response to an ICE detainer. In re Y.V., Case No. A142355. The Youth Law Center served as amicus curiae and was represented by Baker & McKenzie. The Appeals […]
Alice Bussiere Participates in Webinar on Families First Act
Staff attorney Alice Bussiere participated in Foster Youth in Action’s first public hot topics webinar: State Policies on Non-Family Foster Care Settings. The webinar focused on the proposed Families First Act and other policy issues. The proposed act is intended to increase early intervention to reduce foster care entry and also to prevent prolonged stays […]