Author(s):

Date:

5/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Normalcy-FAQ-for-CA.pdf

Author(s):

Date:

4/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Transition-Planning-CA-Foster-Youth-FAQs-April-2023.pdf

This resource contains template letters to request information and actions related to foster youth clients, including probation-supervised foster youth, who may be receiving Social Security Administration benefits or for whom you want an eligibility screening and/or benefits application to be made. These templates are for use by attorneys in California, including dependency counsel, juvenile defenders, and civil legal aid attorneys, but could be used in other jurisdictions with some editing.

Author(s):

Date:

4/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Template-Letters-for-SSI-OASDI-Advocacy-for-California-Foster-Youth.docx

This training describes the role and authority of the newly created office of the Ombudsperson for the California Office of Youth and Community Restoration.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

3/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Training-on-OYCR-Ombuds-3.24.23.pdf

Homelessness both during extended foster care and after leaving extended foster care are critical issues facing transition-aged youth (TAY). This presentation provides an overview of extended foster care in California, transitional housing options for current and former foster youth, housing preservation strategies, the FYI & FUP Housing Choice Voucher Programs, and supportive services to maintain housing.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

3/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Housing-Presentation.pdf

Homelessness and housing/placement instability are a critical issue facing transition-aged youth in California. Despite broad protections and housing/placement entitlements for youth in extended foster care, many youth are involuntarily exited from transitional housing before reaching the maximum age or duration of participation. This training provides a foundational understanding of the Transitional Housing Placement Program for Nonminor Dependents (THP-NMD) and the issue of involuntary exits, to support legal aid attorneys in understanding the unique housing challenges and remedies available for youth clients participating in this housing program.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

3/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Preventing-THP-NMD-Exits.pdf

Homelessness both during extended foster care and after leaving extended foster care are critical issues facing transition-aged youth (TAY), and despite broad protections and housing/placement entitlements for youth, many youth are involuntarily exited from transitional housing before reaching the maximum age or duration for participation in these programs. This supplement to the Youth Law Center Presentation: Housing & Homelessness Prevention for Transition Aged Foster and Former Foster Youth provides a broad overview of various housing preservation strategies for youth in the Transitional Housing Placement Program for Nonminor Dependents (THP-NMD) and the Transitional Housing Placement Program Plus (THP-Plus).

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

3/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Housing-Preservation-Strategies.pdf

This supplement to the Youth Law Center Presentation: Advocacy Strategies for Preventing Involuntary Exits from THP-NMD provides a glossary of key terms used in the presentation, including legal citations and sources of law.

Author(s):

Date:

1/1970

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Glossary-of-Terms-Preventing-Involuntary-Exits-from-THP-NMD.pdf

This supplement to the Youth Law Center Presentation: Advocacy Strategies for Preventing Involuntary Exits from THP-NMD provides advocacy considerations and answers to the hypotheticals and questions presented in Slides 45-51.

Author(s):

Date:

3/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Hypos-Preventing-Involuntary-Exits-from-THP-NMD.pdf

This resource provides guidance on how to assist youth who cannot obtain parental information to complete the FAFSA. Federal law allows youth to qualify for financial aid without providing parental information if they qualify as an independent student or if they qualify for a dependency override due to "unusual circumstances." This guide explains what unusual circumstances are and the current process for dependency overrides, and includes three case examples to assist practitioners in understanding how unusual circumstances and dependency overrides may play out in practice.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

3/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Unusual-Circumstances-Override-1.pdf

This document provides information on how state child welfare agencies can request unspent Chafee funds. This opportunity is available every year, however, this year's unspent funds include the Division X funds which were allocated in 2021 as pandemic aid for youth in foster care. Because $400 million additional Chafee funds were allocated in 2021 as part of Division X of the Consolidated Appropriation Act, it is likely that more unspent funds will be available than is usual.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

2/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Requesting-Unspent-Chafee-and-ETV-Funds-for-FY-2023.pdf

This publication provides an update on funding that the state has made available to county child welfare agencies and probation departments to support family based care for young people with complex needs. This Alert summarizes additional guidance provided by CDSS on how funds for Child-Specific Requests for Exceptional Needs and Capacity Building Requests can be used. The Alert also includes examples of Medicaid-related services that may also be leveraged before or when making Child-Specific requests.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

2/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

AB-153-Alert.pdf

This resource alert provides an update related to older foster youth access to Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act provided Medicaid eligibility for former foster youth until age 26 if they were in foster care at age 18 or older and were enrolled in Medicaid at that time. When it was enacted, the law did not require states to provide this coverage to youth who were not in foster care in their state. The SUPPORT Act (“Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act”) fixes this gap for young people who turn age 18 on January 1, 2023 or after.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

2/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

SUPPORT-ACT-Alert.pdf

Homelessness and housing/placement instability for current foster youth, youth in extended foster care and former foster youth, are critical issues facing transition-aged youth (TAY) (ages 16-25) in California. Despite broad protections and housing/placement entitlements for youth, many youth are involuntarily exited from transitional housing before reaching the maximum age or duration of participation This resource provides an overview of housing options for current and former foster youth in California, and an index of all housing-related resources and trainings by the Youth Law Center from 2020 through March 2023.

Author(s):

Date:

3/2023

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

March-2023-Update_-YLC-Housing-Resources-2020-present.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

12/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

SAP-Reforms-in-CA-.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

12/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Golden-State-Social-Opportunities-Program.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Final-Comments-on-PEP-Proposed-Regulations.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

12/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Supporting-Higher-Ed.-Success-for-Youth-with-Experience-in-Foster-Care-and-Homelessness-Briefing-Summary.pdf

Homelessness both during extended foster care and after leaving extended foster care are critical issues facing system-impacted transition-aged youth (TAY). This resource shows how a youth may maximize their time using housing options available to current and former foster youth in California.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

10/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Housing-Maximization-Resource.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

10/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Voting-Rights-of-Youth-in-Juvenile-Facilities-Youth-Law-Center.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

10/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

TAY-PX-One-Pager.pdf

Foster Care Benefits: AFDC-FC Program Change Alert

Author(s):

Date:

10/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Foster-Care-Benefits-AFDC-FC-Program-Change-Alert_YLC-2022.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

9/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Info-Sheet-for-Pregnant-Parenting-Foster-Youth-in-CA.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

9/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Research-on-Youth-Incarceration-in-California.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

9/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Calling-Out-the-Harms-of-Incarceration-Handout.pdf

This resource explains how public meeting laws under the Brown Act apply to local juvenile justice decision-making and planning bodies, and in particular to the realignment process in California. The Brown Act laws protect the community’s right to participate in important juvenile justice decision making currently taking place in each county across the state. This resource is intended both for members of the public and for members of local Realignment Subcommittees to understand the public meeting requirements under the Brown Act.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

9/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Building-Community-Power-in-Youth-Justice-Reform-The-Brown-Act-and-Juvenile-Realignment.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Fact-Sheet_-Rights-of-Pregnant-and-Parenting-Foster-Youth-in-CA-August-2022.pdf

Assisting young adults in securing affordable housing continues to be a challenging task. The tools included with this packet can be used as one strategy among many to help your clients access affordable housing. Please note that these strategies aim to increase your county’s use of FUP and FYI vouchers and likely will not result in immediate housing for your clients. 

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

FYI-and-FUP-Template-Letters-082022.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Information-gathering-letter-on-existing-FYI-program-082022.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Referral-letter-for-FUP-from-Civil-Legal-Aid-attorney-082022.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Referral-letter-for-FYI-from-Civil-Legal-Aid-attorney-082022.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

7/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

CA-Wrap-for-Foster-Youth-070122.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

6/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

BSCC-Juvenile-Facility-Regulations-Revisions-Quick-Facts-062022.pdf

A host of new “Complex Care” supports and forms of assistance have been put into place to help develop innovative, highly individualized service models to ensure young people are always in the least restrictive placement and with family whenever possible. More information about these supports is available in the California Department of Social Services’ Complex Care Resource Guide at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCR/Complex-Care-Guide-031122.pdf. While these resources are available for use by all county welfare agencies and probation departments, they are not yet widely known or understood. Advocates should familiarize themselves with the resources available and make specific requests for these services, and when possible should make requests in writing to develop a record. In order to assist attorneys and advocates in making these requests, we are providing the following templates that can be easily filled out to make youth-specific requests for these new services.

Author(s):

Date:

6/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

FFPSA-Advocacy-and-Enforcement-Template-Letters-v.2.docx

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

6/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Building-on-the-Momentumf.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

6/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

FYI-Referral-Letter-CA-Attorneys.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

4/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

FYI-and-FUP-for-Youth-Overview-Factsheet-June-2022.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

1/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC_FAQ-on-S-2689_January-28.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

1/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC_S.-2689-Two-Pager_January-28.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

3/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Final-3.1-Sen-Sub-Committee-3-YLC-testimony.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

10/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

QLSPs-Outreach-Flyer-rev.2023.03.28.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

3/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

National-Tax-FAQ-for-TAY_March-3-2022.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

12/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

CLEAR-v.-FRESNO-Settlement-Agreement-Attachments.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

1/2022

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-THP-NMD-Advocacy-Guide-to-Preventing-Involuntary-Exits-2022.pdf

Author(s):

Date:

12/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Transition-Planning-Check-List-for-Young-People-in-California.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Six-Ways-to-Ensure-Transition-Aged-Youth-Leverage-Federal-Support-During-and-Post-Pandemic.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center, Think Of Us

Date:

9/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

A-Call-to-Action-For-Transition-Aged-Foster-Youth-During-the-Pandemic-Recommendations-at-a-glance.pdf

A Call to Action For Transition-Aged Foster Youth During the Pandemic

Author(s):

Youth Law Center, Think Of Us

Date:

9/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

A-Call-to-Action-For-Transition-Aged-Foster-Youth-During-the-Pandemic.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Tips-for-Preparing-Youth-for-Virtual-Hearings_Aug-102.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

WIC-827-for-Ed-Advocates-1-1.pdf

Many young adults, including older youth in foster care, are eligible for an array of benefits through the American Rescue Plan, but many do not know about these benefits or how to access them. Economic Impact Payments, the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit, are among the benefits that young people may be eligible for, but they must file a tax return as soon as possible to get these funds. Together these benefits could add up to several thousand dollars. The IRS has re-launched its non-filers tool, which makes filing taxes much easier! This document provides information on federal benefits and programs. Please check to see if your state offers additional benefits and funds that young people are eligible for. 

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

EIPS_CTC_EITC_Aug-2021.pdf

In a critical victory for California’s most vulnerable children, California has enacted AB 153 (2021), phasing out the use of out-of-state residential facilities by California child welfare and probation departments and removing children in foster care from out-of-state facilities by July 1, 2023. This action follows a year of Youth Law Center advocacy demanding that California exercise its oversight and enforcement obligations to protect California youth from being placed in dangerous out of state facilities that fail to comply with California standards, and ensure those children receive appropriate care in family settings in their home communities.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

AB-153-Phasing-Out-Out-of-State-Residential-Facility-Placement-August-2021.pdf

Many resource, foster and kinship families are either unaware of, or given incorrect information about, their ability to access the new federal child tax credit as a result of caring for children in their homes. This resource provides basic information about the CTC which we hope will assist both families and their advocates to receive the benefit amounts to which they are entitled.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

7/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

QPI-CTC-FAQ-_July-26.pdf

Transition-aged youth continue to face challenges during the pandemic and recovery. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan have provided an array of funds and benefits, however, many young people and their advocates are not aware of all that is available for transition aged youth and young adults. This matrix provides an inventory of some of the key funds, benefits and programs that transition aged youth may benefit from. This list includes benefits for young people with experience in foster care as well as those who are not system involved. We hope that it will help you access concrete resources for individual young people and advocate for the development of programs and services for transition aged youth.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

7/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

TAY-Pandemic-Funding-Maximization-Matrix-102621.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

5/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-FFPSA-Implementation-QI-Comments-050621.docx.pdf

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

5/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Comments-on-FFPSA-TBL-052521.pdf

YLC recently submitted comments to the CDSS on the initial print version of the proposed budget trailer bill implementing the 2018 federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) to raise concerns primarily about the timing and coordination of key elements of the case planning process and the adequacy of equitable provisions governing probation supervised foster youth.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

3/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

FFPSA-Implementation-Trailer-Bill-Narrative.pdf

Youth Law Center and Bay Area Legal Aid have created a new resource that we hope will be useful to your advocacy. Ensuring Stability and Success for Youth Tenants in THP-Plus was developed to help civil legal advocates initiate capacity-building conversations about transition planning with THP-Plus providers and the county agencies that oversee them. THP-Plus is a transitional program for former foster youth that provides eligible young people with a housing subsidy, in addition to supportive services administered by contracted nonprofit agencies or by counties directly. This tool helps build shared language and knowledge around THP-Plus agencies’ transition planning duties under state regulations and state and federal housing and antidiscrimination law. It also makes recommendations for how THP-Plus agencies can establish strong working relationships with THP-Plus participants, to further support them in achieving their goals

Author(s):

Youth Law Center, Bay Area Legal Aid

Date:

3/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Ensuring-Stability-and-Success-for-Youth-Tenants-in-THP-Plus.pdf

Congress passes legislation that will make it easier for students to get financial aid! Congress has passed legislation that will greatly simplify the financial aid application process by 2023. with specific benefits for youth with prior involvement in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Changes include:

• Shortening and simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Filling out the FAFSA can be very intimidating for all students, but can be particularly difficult for youth in the child welfare or juvenile justice system, who may not have easy access to financial aid professionals to help them. These changes will make it easier for youth and supportive to complete the application
• Removing the requirement that students register for selective service in order to get financial aid. This can be a barrier for older students who were in foster care or the juvenile justice system during their high school years, which can lead to students not knowing that they have to sign up for selective service.
• Fighting misconceptions about youth eligibility for the Pell Grant. After many years of advocacy, adults who are incarcerated will once again be eligible to receive financial aid! While youth in the juvenile justice system have always retained eligibility for federal financial aid, it's easy for people to get confused about the difference between the adult and juvenile systems. This change should help fight misconceptions about aid eligibility for youth in the juvenile justice system, as well as benefit adults in the criminal justice system, including those who have prior involvement with child welfare or juvenile justice.
• Allowing financial aid officers to accept a wide range of documentation, including phone calls from agencies, attorneys, CASAs, and others, for foster youth, unaccompanied homeless youth, or other independent student status. Youth who are deemed independent students can fill out the FAFSA without parental information, and may qualify for more financial aid. In the past, the process for becoming an "independent student" has been difficult, and can vary widely from college to college. Changes in this legislation will make it easier for students to qualify as independent, and will prevent students from having to prove their independent status every year.
• Linkages with benefits programs. This legislation will require the FAFSA to coordinate more with federal benefits programs to ensure that eligible youth and families apply for available support. Increasing knowledge of available support services, as well as increasing outreach by benefits programs, can help youth access much-needed funds for food, healthcare, or other needs.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

12/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Fin-Aid-Policy-Bulletin-1.pdf

This resource is meant to help youth who are about to graduate from higher school and/or who are under the age of 26 with juvenile justice system involvement maximize the amount of financial aid they receive to attend college. The guide covers what financial aid is and how to get it, offers tips for troubleshooting common issues, and provides links to resources that cover in-depth financial aid questions for foster youth, homeless youth, and youth who are undocumented or DACA recipients. The guide is intended to be accessible enough for use by youth on their own or in partnership with financial aid counselors, social workers, probation officers, and other adults supporting youth in seeking financial aid. This guide was originally posted on November 19th, 2020 and last revised on March 24th, 2021.

Author(s):

Date:

11/2020

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Financial-Aid-Guide-for-Juvenile-Justice-Involved-Youth-rev.2020.03.pdf

Preventing Involuntary Exits from Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) was developed after young adults reported being exited prematurely from their transitional housing programs, sometimes without notice or proper process. In THP-Plus, a transitional program for former foster youth, a quarter of program exits are involuntary. Our new advocacy guide summarizes the legal protections that young adults have--both as former foster youth and as tenants--to remain in THP-Plus and stay housed. The guide also contains advocacy checklists, practice scenarios, and links to other relevant resources.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

11/2020

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Preventing-Involuntary-Exits-from-THP-Plus_Final.pdf

No child should remain in custody due to the lack of a reentry plan. Now more than ever, the juvenile justice system must make every possible effort to return detained youth to their families and/or home communities. This guide is for advocates working to release detained youth and support them in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. This guide can be used to create comprehensive transition plans for individual youth, which serve the dual purpose of demonstrating to the Court or Probation that a youth can be served in the community and should be released and providing a roadmap for provision of supportive services. The guide can also help advocates who wish to shift practice and policy to releasing youth and serving them in the community, but are not sure where to start.

Author(s):

Date:

8/2020

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Juvenile-Justice-Reentry-Checklist.pdf

Did you know that the California state budget recently made changes to the eligibility requirements for THP-Plus? THP-Plus is a transitional housing program for young adults who have exited foster care, but it is time-limited. Recognizing that the normal time limitations were putting former foster youth at risk of homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis, the state budget gave counties the option to keep THP-Plus participants in their programs until June 30, 2021, even if they reach the maximum age or duration. Learn more about this emergency extension and other strategies to prevent homelessness among former foster youth in our updated resource, Seven Strategies Counties Can Implement to Ensure Housing Stability and Maximize Participation in Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) During COVID-19. Many thanks to our partners at John Burton Advocates for Youth and Bay Area Legal Aid for co-authoring this resource.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2020

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

THP-Plus-Seven-Strategies-During-COVID-Crisis-updated-8-24-20.pdf

Guide to Online Information on California Licensed and Out of State Facilities

Author(s):

Maria Ramiu

Date:

7/2020

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Guide-to-Accessing-Out-of-State-Placement-Oversight-Information.pdf

Youth Law Center, in partnership with John Burton Advocates for Youth and Bay Area Legal Aid, has developed a resource to promote housing stability among youth in California's Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus). THP-Plus programs provide transitional housing and supportive services for former foster youth between the ages of 18 and 24, and sometimes up to age 25. THP-Plus is a time-limited program, and youth participants have contacted YLC expressing fear and uncertainty about losing their housing during the current public health emergency, when alternative housing options and transitional supports are scarce. YLC strongly believes that all California counties that contract with THP-Plus providers should take immediate action to maintain youth in THP-Plus housing whenever possible, expand housing capacity for transition age youth, and continue transition planning services to ensure that THP-Plus participants do not exit their programs at extreme risk of homelessness. Youth in THP-Plus are tenants under California law and are entitled to the same protections. This resource, Six Immediate Steps Counties Can Take to Ensure Housing Stability and Maximize Participation in THP-Plus During COVID-19, describes funding streams and promising strategies that counties should utilize in administering their THP-Plus programs during the current state of emergency and for a reasonable time afterward. Please share this resource widely to any counties, programs, and advocates for whom it would be helpful.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

5/2020

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Six-Immediate-Steps-for-THP-Plus-Stability_May-2020.pdf

The Youth Law Center joins a coalition of child welfare advocates in requesting Governor Newsom and the California State Legislature take immediate actions to protect the health and well-being of California’s children and youth in foster care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fellow advocates include: John Burton Advocates for Youth, California Alliance of Caregivers, Alliance for Children's Rights, California Alliance of Child and Family Services, Children Now, Children's Advocacy Institute, Children's Law Center, National Center for Youth Law, and VOICES.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

3/2020

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Child-Welfare-Advocates-COVID-19-Response-Letter.pdf

Youth Law Center has developed an emergency planning resource to support attorneys and advocates working with youth in congregate care. As you know more than anyone, youth in congregate care facilities face acute risks in a public health emergency. Meanwhile, the state licensing agencies that are tasked with monitoring the safety and wellbeing of young people in group care are facing incredible strain as they respond to the public health needs of all licensed facilities. Advocates have an important role to play in monitoring facility conditions and expediting transitions out of group care whenever necessary to meet the individualized needs of young people.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

3/2020

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Toolkit-for-Emergency-Planning-with-Youth-in-Congregate-Care.pdf

Updated August 31, 2021. YLC has created an emergency planning resource to support attorneys and advocates working with transition age youth and their families during this crisis. The resource focuses on planning with TAY in foster care, but much of the content applies more broadly to all young people and their families. We hope that this resource can provide an initial set of topics to cover with clients, as well as useful resources for specific issue areas. Some of our partners have already adapted the document to their specific jurisdiction.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

8/2021

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

August-2021-Update-TAY-Emergency-Plan.pdf

This toolkit provides education-related information and resources regarding the rights of juvenile justice system involved youth and the responsibilities of system stakeholders. Stakeholders can use the toolkit to understand their obligations in meeting the education needs of youth with juvenile justice system involvement. Parents and advocates can use it to support youths' education-related rights and to hold system stakeholders accountable. The information is organized by each stage of juvenile justice system involvement--detention, transition and release, reentry, community placement, and home supervision.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

11/2019

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Ed-Rights-Responsibilities-Toolkit-Nov-2019.pdf

Youth Law Considerations for Civil Legal Services

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

6/2019

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Civil-Legal-Services-for-Children-TAY-Resources-YLC-June-2019.pdf

Pathways to Justice Conference session – Caring for Someone Else’s Child (materials packet)

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

6/2019

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Caring-For-Someone-Elses-Child-Materials-Packet-P2J-060519-Ramiu.pdf

This Youth Law Center report describes the benefits of extracurricular participation for youth, families, and communities; highlights the legal and policy supports for extracurricular participation for system-involved youth; lists system barriers to extracurricular participation; explores ways to overcome those barriers; and makes recommendations to increase extracurricular participation for system-involved youth. The report notes that extracurriculars are crucial for access to higher education, not only to have a competitive college application and help secure funding, but also to build the skills and connections youth need to succeed in college.

Author(s):

Youth Law Center

Date:

1/2019

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Closing-the-Extracurriculars-Gap-2022.pdf

Ensuring Accountability and Transparency for Out-of-State Facilities

Author(s):

Maria Ramiu

Date:

6/2018

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

062918-Ensuring-Accountability-and-Transparency-for-Out-of-State-Facilities.pdf

Job Announcement - Director of Finance and Administration

Author(s):

Jennifer Rodriguez

Date:

12/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Director-of-Finance-and-Administration.pdf

Job Description for Development and Communications Coordinator

Author(s):

Jennifer Rodriguez

Date:

12/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Development-and-Communications-Coordinator.pdf

Letter to Governor Brown requesting signature on AB 2813, a bill to protect children and youth in foster care from being needlessly detailed in juvenile hall solely due to their foster care status.

Author(s):

Virginia Corrigan

Date:

8/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

AB-2813-Bloom-Request-for-Signature.pdf

Letter to Governor Brown requesting signature on AB 1849, a bill intended to reduce barriers to foster youth receiving uninterrupted Medi-Cal services as they exit care. YLC co-sponsored this bill.

Author(s):

Virginia Corrigan

Date:

8/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

AB-1849-Gipson-Request-for-Signature.pdf

Letter requesting Governor Brown's signature on SB 2306, a bill to give students transferring from juvenile court schools the same options to meet the state high school graduation requirements providing in existing law for foster youth.

Author(s):

Cat McCulloch

Date:

9/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

AB-2306-request-for-signature.pdf

Letter to Governor Brown requesting his signature; a bill limiting use of solitary confinement for juveniles in detention in California.

Author(s):

Virginia Corrigan

Date:

9/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

SB-1143-YLC-Request-for-Signature-Letter-9.2.16.pdf

YLC Letter to Senator Mitchell sponsoring SB 1466, a bill to ensure that trauma screening is incorporated into EPSDT services provided to at-risk youth receiving Medi-Cal benefits.

Author(s):

Robin Goldfaden

Date:

3/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

SB-1466-Sponsor-letter-to-Mitchell-3.29.16.pdf

Article in Chronicle of Social Change about SB 1466, a bill to ensure that trauma screening is part of EPSDT benefit for children under 21 enrolled in Medi-Cal.

Link:

https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/opinion/good-health-starts-with-smart-screening/21444

Fact Sheet on AB 2005; a bill that will put restrictions on out of state foster care placements for youth under the supervision of probation.

Author(s):

Robin Goldfaden

Date:

9/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

AB2005-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Letter to Governor Brown Requesting Signature on AB 2005, a bill which will ensure that youth under probation supervision are placed in facilities outside of California only as a last resort.

Author(s):

Jennifer Rodriguez

Date:

9/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

AB-2005-Request-for-Signature.pdf

Letter of support to SSA regarding extension of window for foster youth to apply for SSI benefits when transitioning out of foster care

Author(s):

Juvenile Law Center

Date:

2/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Foster-Care-SSI-Sign-On-Letter-2-4-16.pdf

Letter by Coalition of 177 children's rights, civil rights, faith based and immigrant rights' groups urging AB to halt government's practice of pursing immigration proceedings against children who do not have counsel

Author(s):

Bruce Lesley

Date:

4/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Letter-to-AG-Lynch-re-counsel-for-immigrant-youth-4.29.16.pdf

Final report by the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities.

Author(s):

Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities

Date:

3/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

CECANF-final-report-Within-Our-Reach-A-National-Strategy-to-Eliminate-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Fatalities.pdf

Final report by the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities.

Author(s):

Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities

Date:

3/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

CECANF-final-report-Within-Our-Reach-A-National-Strategy-to-Eliminate-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Fatalities.pdf

Report by the Youth Law Center of the of the barriers to education for youth confined to detention facilities within California’s juvenile justice system. In the report, Youth Law Center examines areas of challenge for the system and fundamental ways in which court schools have missed opportunities to support youth in reaching their goals and having healthy futures. The report also offers recommendations for improvement and discusses innovative, replicable programs that engage youth and enable them to advance their educational outcomes and enroll in higher education. The report was funded by the California Wellness Foundation.

Author(s):

Date:

3/2016

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

EDUCATIONAL-INJUSTICE.pdf

This paper surveys state policies that restrict congregate care for children and youth in the foster care system and makes recommendations based on our research and experience.

Author(s):

Alice Bussiere

Date:

10/2015

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

State-Policies-on-Non-Family-Foster-Care-Settings-July-2015.pdf

YLC Announcement for a Staff Attorney with with a minimum of seven years of experience in the juvenile justice and/or child welfare system.

Author(s):

Maria Ramiu

Date:

10/2015

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Staff-Attorney-Position-2015.pdf

Proclamation by President Obama naming May 2015 National Foster Care Month

Author(s):

Barak Obama

Date:

4/2015

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

President-Proclaims-May-2015-National-Foster-Care-Month.pdf

Letter from YLC to Santa Clara Board of Supervisors opposing use of pepper spray in juvenile hall.

Author(s):

Sue Burrell

Date:

9/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Santa-Clara-Pepper-Spray-Letter-to-Board-of-Supervisors-9-25-14.pdf

Letter to Senate Judiciary Committee in support of SB 12, a bill to provide a support net to vulnerable former foster youth under the age of 21, who were excluded in prior legislative efforts to extend foster care to youth who require the assistance and protections of the child welfare system in a healthy transition to adulthood. SB 12 will ensure that foster youth who cross over to the juvenile justice system, who research shows have the most challenging experiences of all young adults who have exited foster care, retain access to the education, case management and housing resources through AB 12 that provide a critical support net for former foster youth.

Author(s):

Cat McCulloch, Jennifer Rodriguez

Date:

4/2015

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

SB-12-Support-letter-to-Senator-Jackson-4.8.15.pdf

This is a demand letter to the Ventura County Office of Education challenging its failure to comply with the provisions of the California Education Code concerning Independent Study. Their practices resulted in juvenile justice youth being involuntarily placed on Independent Study when they attempted to enroll in the county community school.

Author(s):

Franchesca Gonzalez, Deborah Escobedo

Date:

7/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Demand-Letter-to-VCOE-07-14-14.pdf

This is a template for a letter that advocates and community stakeholders can send to county boards of education asking for a hearing on the implementation of SB 1111 and inquiring about the need to update policies to comply with the new law.

Author(s):

Deborah Escobedo

Date:

1/2015

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Final-Template-for-School-Board-Hearing-Request-SB-1111___COE.pdf

This is template for a letter that advocates and community stakeholders can send to local school district boards asking for a hearing on the implementation of SB 1111 and inquiring about the need to update policies to comply with the new law.

Author(s):

Deborah Escobedo

Date:

1/2015

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Final-Template-for-School-Board-Hearing-Request-SB-1111.pdf

This is a sample Public Records Act request that advocates can send to County Offices of Education to determine to what extent they are implementing the provisions of SB 1111 which governs transfers to county community schools.

Author(s):

Deborah Escobedo

Date:

1/2015

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Sample-Public-Records-Request-SB-1111.pdf

This is a letter submitted to Governor Brown urging him to sign AB 420, a bill that would reduce the use of EC Section 48900(k) (willful defiance) as a grounds for suspension and expulsion in California schools. The letter was signed by YLC’s Director, Jennifer Rodriguez, and 21 other Civil Rights and legal directors, including Jesse Jackson, Cruz Reynoso and Dolores Huerta.

Author(s):

Jennifer Rodriguez, Jesse Jackson, Cruz Reynoso, Delores Huerta

Date:

8/2013

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

AB-420-Civil-Rights-Letter-to-Gov-Brown-FINAL1.pdf

Letter from children's advocacy coalition to CDHCS regarding problems enrolling former foster youth in Medi-Cal through the single Streamlined Application on-line portal and urging programming changes that prioritize foster youth immediately.

Author(s):

Jessica Haspel, Alice Bussiere

Date:

2/2015

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Advocates-letter-re-Former-Foster-Youth-CalHEERs-and-IAP-roadmap.pdf

Public Comments from Youth Advocates on Department of Health and Human Services' Interim Final Rule to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment Involving Unaccompanied Children.

Author(s):

Dana Schoenberg, Alice Bussiere

Date:

2/2015

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

DHHS-ORR-PREA-Comments-Youth-Organizations-Final-Letter-with-Sign-Ons.pdf

The purpose of this All County Welfare Directors Letter (AWCDL) is to provide County Department of Social Services (Counties) with guidance on the handling of the former foster care youth in the Mandatory Coverage Group and Optional Coverage Group.

Author(s):

State of Calfornia -Dept. of Health Care Services

Date:

12/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

ACWDL-14-41-enrollment-in-former-foster-care-childrens-program-for-mandatory-coverage.pdf

Report by the Justice Policy Institute outlining the costs of juvenile incarceration.

Author(s):

Justice Policy Institute

Date:

12/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

sticker_shock_final_v2.pdf

Letter to Assembly Member Wesley Chesbro co-sponsoring SB 388

Author(s):

Maria Ramiu

Date:

3/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

AB-388-sponsor-letter.pdf

Letter in Support of AB 2276, a bill addressing the re-enrollment rights of juvenile justice youth.

Author(s):

Deborah Escobedo

Date:

8/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Support-Letter-to-Governor-AB-2276.pdf

Letter by YLC Staff Attorney Deborah Escobedo requesting the Governor's signature on SB 1111. This bill addresses the transfer rights of students referred to county community schools, makes the statute consistent with state and federal laws governing the educational placement rights of foster care and homeless youth, and closes an existing loophole in the discipline code which allows students who have won their expulsion hearing to be denied their right to return to a comprehensive school.

Author(s):

Deborah Escobedo

Date:

8/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Letter-of-Support-SB-1111-Governor-Brown.pdf

YLC staff attorney Sue Burrell, wrote an op ed piece for the CT Mirror, Incarcerating Disturbed Youth is a Flawed Response (LINK to uploaded article), published September 22, 2014. The piece follows Connecticut's decisions to lock a transgender teenager, first in an adult women's facility in Connecticut, and then in a boys' institution. The piece discusses the important of preventing cross-over into the juvenile justice system of youth whose problems, like Jane Doe's, stem from chronic abuse and mental health issues. It points to the negative impact of incarceration on these youth, urges the importance of developing individualized non-institutional services to meet their needs, and offers several resources to assist in that goal

Author(s):

Sue Burrell

Date:

9/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Incarcerating-Disturbed-Youth-is-a-Flawed-Response-CT-Mirror-9-22-14.pdf

Press Release Regarding Opposition to Closure of Santa Barbara Juvenile Court.

Author(s):

Virginia Corrigan

Date:

9/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

PRESS-RELEASE-Final.pdf

Letter to Court Executive Officer Darrell Parker of Santa Barbara, detailing the problems associated with the proposed closing of the Santa Barbara Juvenile Court.

Author(s):

Virginia Corrigan

Date:

9/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Letter-Opposing-Santa-Barbara-Juvenile-Court-Closure.pdf

First Progress Report to the President by the My Brother's Keeper Task Force Initiative on fatherhood. Report reference work of YLC's Baby Elmo Program.

Author(s):

My Brother's Keeper Task Force

Date:

5/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

MBK-Report-to-the-President-May-2014.pdf

Letter to Senate Public Safety Committee opposing SB 828, a bill that would create a new crime for "sexting" and impose mandatory minimum sentences.

Author(s):

Sue Burrell

Date:

4/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

SB-838-Letter-to-Senate-Public-Safety-Committee-oppose.pdf

Letter to Assembly Public Safety Committee Opposing SB 838 - a bill that would create of new crime for "sexting" and impose mandatory minimum sentences.

Author(s):

Sue Burrell

Date:

5/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

SB-838-Letter-to-Assembly-Public-Safety-Oppose.pdf

Flyer on Medi-Cal for former foster youth in San Bernardino County (do I quality, how to sign up, what is covered)

Author(s):

Children Now

Date:

4/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Coveredtil26_YouthFlyer-SanBernardino.pdf

Flyer on Medi-Cal for former foster youth in Imperial County (what is covered; how to sign up)

Author(s):

Children Now

Date:

4/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Coveredtil26_YouthFlyer-Imperial.pdf

Letter to Senators Reid and McConnell, signed by 100 advocacy organizations, urging support of new initiative designed to encourage states and tribes to reduce the inappropriate use and over-prescription of psychotropic medications to children and youth in foster care and instead provide evidence-based psychosocial interventions.

Author(s):

First Focus, numerous

Date:

4/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Psychotropic-Sign-On-Letter-4-15.pdf

Flyer on Medi-Cal for former foster youth (Santa Clara County)

Author(s):

Children Now

Date:

2/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Coveredtil26_YouthFlyer-SantaClara.pdf

Flyer on Medi-Cal for former foster youth (how to sign up in Los Angeles County)

Author(s):

Children Now

Date:

2/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Coveredtil26_YouthFlyer-LA.pdf

This letter supports passage of S. 1992 and H.R. 4016, bipartisan, bicameral bills, also known as the Quality Foster Care Services Act of 2014.

Author(s):

Foster Family-based Treatment Association

Date:

2/2014

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Letter-supporting-bicameral-TFC-definition-bills.pdf

These are public comments from youth advocates on proposed standards for the implementation of the National Prison Rape Elimination Act. Although the organizatons support many of the draft regulations, they recommend several revisions that are necessary to fulfill PREA’s mandate and protect youth in secure custody. This publication includes recommendations for the following key issues: • PREA Coordinators • Staffing • Employee training • Definition of “sexual abuse” • Searches of transgender and intersex residents • Housing decisions for transgender and intersex residents • Limits on cross-gender viewing • Victimization of LGBTI and gender nonconforming youth • Sexual harassment • Isolation • Discipline • Accommodations for youth with limited English proficiency • Exhaustion of administrative remedies • Audits • Youth in adult facilities

Author(s):

Several Advocacy Organizations

Date:

4/2011

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

PREA_Youth_Comments_0.pdf

This letter expresses YLC concerns regarding proposed changes to pepper spray regulations in Texas. It has a lot of background on legal and professional standards as well as the damage to youth caused by pepper spray

Author(s):

Sue Burrell

Date:

11/2013

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Ltr-to-Texas-Juv-Justice-Dept-re-changes-to-pepper-spray-regs-11-8-13.pdf

In a question and answer format, the California Department of Health Care Services Medi-Cal Eligibility Division answers advocates questions regarding the Affordable Care Act and Former Foster Youth.

Author(s):

YLC/DHCS

Date:

10/2013

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

FFCCAdvocates.pdf

This letter urges the senate to: -Protect S.744’s pathway to citizenship for the 11 million, including the DREAM Act, and ensure that the youngest DREAMers have access to the same 5-year pathway to citizenship as older DREAMers -Support efforts to provide equal access to health services and programs that are critical to children’s health and well-being, and defend against efforts to further limit children’s access to these programs -Defend access to critical income supports for children and families, such as the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and defend against efforts to prevent low-income immigrant families from accessing the path to citizenship and income supports -Support proposals that would promote family unity and protect the provisions in S.744 that keep families together, including improvements to the family-based immigration system; the ability of immigration judges to consider hardship to children in removal and inadmissibility decisions; and the provision that would provide a means for certain removed immigrants, such as parents of U.S. citizen children and DREAM-eligible youth, to return to the U.S. and apply for citizenship -Protect the provisions in S.744 that would ensure that immigration enforcement measures no longer needlessly separate families or cause harm to children -Defend the provisions in S.744 that would improve protections for unaccompanied immigrant children, including access to legal representation and improved screening and training mechanisms for immigration enforcement personnel, and support efforts to further ensure that immigration enforcement actions duly consider the best interest of the child

Author(s):

Several Advocacy Organizations

Date:

6/2013

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Children-Senate-Immigration-Reform-Letter-FINAL.pdf

The First Focus Campaign for Children (FFCC) is committed to advocating for passage of immigration reform that addresses the specific needs and interests of children. As the Senate continues deliberation of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744), FFCC will be working to defend the provisions in the bill that keep families together and promote children’s well-being, defend against attacks on children and families, and support amendments that will improve outcomes for children. This is a list of amendments that FFCC has determined could benefit or harm children and families. This list will be updated accordingly as amendments are filed.

Author(s):

First Focus Campaign for Children

Date:

6/2013

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Child-Amendments-to-S744-2013-06-18-1252.pdf

This is the letter we faxed to the Senate Budget Committee in February 2013. The Governor’s current budget proposal would basically block grant Foster Youth Services, thereby essentially eliminating it.

Author(s):

Deborah Escobedo

Date:

2/2013

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Foster-Youth-Services-Letter-to-Senate-Budget-Com-.pdf

The Youth Law Center was one of 46 national organizations and 23 state and local organizations that signed on to these joint comments submitted to the Centers for the proposed regulations for ensuring Medicaid to age 26 for eligible former foster youth.

Author(s):

National and State and Local Organizations

Date:

2/2013

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Medicaid_to_26_for_Foster_Care_Youth_Proposed-Regs-SIGN-ON-2-21-13.pdf

YLC submitted comments on proposed rules to implement the extension of Medicaid to former foster youth up to the age of 26 under the Affordable Care Act (ACA.) The ACA provides Medicaid to former foster youth who are in foster care when they emancipate from foster care (at age 18 or older at state option) and were enrolled in Medicaid while in foster care. YLC’s comments, submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on February 21, were generally supportive of the proposed rules but expressed concern about a proposed limitation on eligibility for children placed across state lines and a requirement that youth be enrolled in foster care on their 18th birthday (or other emancipation date.)

Author(s):

Alice Bussiere

Date:

2/2013

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

YLC-Comment-ACA-Rules-022113.pdf

Two page document advocating the following: - A direct, clear, and reasonable pathway to citizenship. Any pathway to citizenship must be open, affordable, safe, and accessible to children in need of status, including beneficiaries of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), undocumented children under the age of 21, and unaccompanied immigrant children. - Protection and promotion of children’s fundamental rights. Our immigration system must uphold children’s constitutional rights and ensure equal access to critical public services, programs, and economic supports for children and their families. The protection of fundamental rights also includes ensuring all children receive legal representation before all immigration authorities and, for all unaccompanied children, the appointment of an independent child advocate from the moment of detention throughout the course of any immigration or other related court proceedings. - Ensure that enforcement efforts have appropriate protections for children. In all enforcement actions, including those along the border, the best interests of the child should be a primary consideration and children must be given the benefit of the doubt during any investigation, inquiry or detention. There should be appropriate and accountable training policies and protocols for interacting with and screening children that reflects a humanitarian and protection-oriented approach, prohibits the use of force with children, and creates reasonable and safe conditions for children while in or released from the custody of all arms of the federal government. - Keep families together. All policies regarding admissibility, enforcement, detention, and deportation of children and their parents must duly consider the best interests of children, including enabling immigration judges to exercise discretion in admission and removal decisions based on the hardship to U.S. citizen and lawful permanent resident children. The immigration system must be updated by resolving current backlogs and ensuring family-based immigration channels are adequate for future migration without lengthy family separation.

Author(s):

First Focus Campaign for Children

Date:

2/2013

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Principles-for-Children-in-Immigration-Reform-and-Organizations-FINAL.pdf

This press release is about more than 200 organizations representing children, immigrants, academia, faith traditions, and civil rights who released on February 5th a set of principles for immigration reform legislation that meets the needs of children. The bipartisan children’s advocacy organization First Focus and the Women’s Refugee Commission led the effort to develop these principles, which have also been endorsed by the National Latino Children’s Institute, Southern Poverty Law Center, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, MomsRising, the National Immigration Law Center, and a total of 205 organizations. The First Focus Campaign for Children urged U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee members to take these concerns into consideration during today’s immigration policy hearing.

Author(s):

First Focus Campaign for Children

Date:

2/2013

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Childrens-Principles-Press-Release-Final-2.pdf

Public Interest Law Project's comments on USDA's proposed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulation which would implement eligibility requirements for the fleeing felon provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill.

Author(s):

Patti Prunhuber

Date:

10/2011

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

PILP-Comments-to-FNS-Proposed-Fleeing-Felon-Rules.pdf

Comments of the National Senior Citizens Law Center and the Western Center on Law and Poverty on proposed United States Department of Agriculture rules that deny Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps) to individuals categorized as “fleeing felons.” Final rules have not yet been issued.

Author(s):

Gerald McIntyre and Antionette Dozier

Date:

10/2012

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

NSCLC-WCLP-Comments-SNAP-Regs-111018.pdf

This letter contains LSNC's comments to the proposed regulations to Clarify the Eligibility of Fleeing Felons.

Author(s):

Jody Berger

Date:

12/2012

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

LSNC-fleeing-felon-final.pdf

YLC writes to support the effort to clarify the SNAP eligibility criteria and to make eligibility determinations more uniform but strongly recommend that FNS adopt the criteria established in Martinez v. Astrue and Clark v. Astrue.

Author(s):

Alice Bussiere

Date:

10/2011

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Letter-to-Angela-Kline-re-FNS-Proposed-Rule-10.17.11.pdf

Letter requesting that the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission broaden the recommended language with respect to juvenile justice youth in the forthcoming Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) guidelines by removing the language limiting juvenile justice youth to those who are "at first point of contact" with the justice system.

Author(s):

Sue Burrell

Date:

3/2007

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Letter-to-Mayberg-Steinberg-re-MHSA-Early-Intervention-Guidelines.pdf

These comments are directed at one small, but important area - the language with respect to children at risk of or in juvenile justice. There are several places in the proposed guidelines where a few words would vastly improve the guidance and clarify the intentions of the Mental Health Services Act.

Author(s):

Sue Burrell

Date:

8/2007

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

MHSA-PEI-Comments-Youth-Law-Center-August-3-2007.pdf

Article about why it is critical that the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Guidelines be written flexibly enough to permit the use of funds for youth who may be past the front door of juvenile justice. Youth of color are particularly at risk of entering juvenile justice for mental health related behavior that is not immediately recognized.

Author(s):

Sue Burrell

Date:

5/2007

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

MHSA-PEI-Racial-Issues-in-Early-Intervention.pdf

Op ed piece about Prop. 187, which would only allow services for children who can demonstrate that they are citizens, permanent residents, or lawfully admitted temporary residents

Author(s):

Sue Burrell

Date:

10/1994

Document Type:

Advocacy Materials

Document:

Oakland-Tribune-10.28.94.-Prop-197-Violates-Our-Beliefs-About-Caring-for-Children.pdf