In 2024, the Youth Law Center worked alongside legal aid organizations across California to expand access to public benefits, strengthen housing supports, and protect the rights of youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system. Through our TAY Civil Legal Practice Exchange, YLC provided dozens of trainings to legal aid attorneys, offered technical assistance on individual cases, developed legal resources and guides, and engaged in state and federal advocacy to ensure youth receive the economic supports they need to thrive.
As examples, YLC hosted a statewide CalFresh training webinar with Bay Area Legal Aid and the Public Interest Law Project, highlighting common barriers youth face when applying for benefits that support food access. The training led to the development of fact sheets and statewide administrative advocacy with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to ensure foster youth are not excluded from new exemption rules.
We also supported legal aid partners in responding to proposed state regulations on Transitional Housing Programs (THP) for non-minor dependents, including investigations into program quality and reports of rights violations-issues closely tied to the pervasive homelessness and instability among transition-aged youth.
The Youth Law Center led additional advocacy to ensure youth retain access to cell phones and internet, vital tools for engaging in legal services and maintaining support systems. Finally, we collaborated with Public Counsel, the Alliance for Children’s Rights, and others on legislation and federal advocacy to improve access to Social Security benefits for foster youth with disabilities.
Together, these efforts advance a broader strategy to build legal infrastructure that protects youth from poverty, allows access to justice, and supports long-term stability.