Did you know that foster youth have unique rights? In California and Los Angeles County, foster youth have legal rights related to their LGBTQ+ identity, access to education, and so much more! Download the tools for LGBTQ+ youth below or view the entire Bills of Rights for LA County and State of California.
Remember, you have rights to protect your SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression). You have the right to:
- live in a home or other placement based on your gender identity
- be called by your chosen name and pronouns
- see a doctor or counselor who is gender affirming
- have clothing, grooming, and hygiene products that respect your gender identity
and expression - have a caregiver, social worker/probation officer, and lawyer that have been trained on SOGIE and how to care for LGBTQ+ youth
- keep your SOGIE information private
As the largest child welfare system in the country, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recognized that it should create its own Foster Youth Bill of Rights and Services materials to ensure that youth in the foster care system are provided every reasonable resource to facilitate their development as “healthy, educated, and self-sufficient” young adults.
You can now visit the Los Angeles County Foster Youth Bill of Rights and Services website at LAYouthRights.com. It will provide necessary information about services, programs, and legislative mandates to youth and resource families in Los Angeles County.
In 1998, youth advocates from California Youth Connection (CYC) recognized the need for an agency that would advocate for the voices of youth in the foster care system. As a result of that advocacy, the California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO) was formed. In 2001, the Foster Youth Bill of Rights was created and became one of the most important pieces of legislation for the office to oversee. In 2020, the Foster Youth Bill of Rights was updated to include over 41 foster youth rights.