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Fostering Parenthood

Talking to our teens about their sexual health journey and reproductive rights is a multi-faceted conversation and can be intimidating, but with Fostering Parenthood, you're not alone. Together, we will talk about these important conversations through lived experience and provide helpful ideas, best practices, and resources. The end goal? Helping our children and youth in foster care become informed, strong, and confident individuals. Watch our episodes at https://rhep.info/fosteringparenthood-watch!

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Fostering Parenthood

Wait, foster youth have a Bill of Rights?

September 01, 2022 • National Center for Youth Law • Season 1 • Episode 6

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Navigating the process of becoming a foster parent or caregiver can be complex. Fortunately, there's a foster youth Bill of Rights, which sounds daunting, but provides a blueprint for caregivers looking to better understand their role as foster caregivers, and ensure the safety of their youth. Our guest Jasmine Harris is a foster youth and foster youth advocate who served on the Foster Care Ombudsperson’ Committee that established the new foster youth bill of rights.

Guest on the show: Jasmine Harris, foster youth and foster youth advocate, served on the Foster Care Ombudsperson’ Committee

*This episode incorrectly stated that youth have a right to go to the doctor on their own starting at age 12. According to the Foster Youth Bill of Rights, at any age, youth have the right to consent to or decline services regarding contraception, pregnancy care, perinatal care, abortion services, and health care services for sexual assault without the knowledge or consent of any adult.

Resources: Foster Care BOR
*The Foster Care BOR link has been updated.

Foster Youth Helpline: (877) 846-1602
Youth Ombudsperson office: (877) 846-1602

Calls To Action (23:29)

Read the bill of rights with your foster youth (23:40)

Educate and prepare for how the rights will apply and at what age (24:00)

Be patient with your youth (24:40)

About Fostering Parenthood:

Fostering Parenthood is a podcast by caregivers for caregivers promoting the healthy sexual development of foster youth, brought to you by the National Center for Youth Law and the Reproductive Health Equity Project.

The laws and policies discussed in our show are specific to LA County and California. However, any out-of-state or international listeners should check the regulations specific to their state or country.

Watch our episodes at https://rhep.info/fosteringparenthood-watch!

Learn more about Fostering Parenthood at www.fosteringparenthood.buzzsprout.com.

Email us with questions, comments, and feedback at email@fosterreprohealth.org.

Fostering Parenthood is fully supported by grant number 1 TP2AH000066-01-00 from the HHS Office of Population Affairs. Contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Population Affairs.

People on this episode

Dorothy Daniels

Host