Testimony Before the Judicial Proceedingscommittee

Advocates for Children and Youth is a statewide non-profit focused on improving the lives and experiences of Maryland’s children through policy change and program improvement. We champion solutions to child welfare, education, health, and juvenile justice issues, positioning us to influence the full spectrum of youth experiences. This multi-issue platform helps us to improve the entirety of children’s worlds—the systems they touch, the people they interact with, and the environment where they live.

Testimony before the Judicial ProceedingsCommittee

In SUPPORTwith Amendments of

Senate Bill 787- Children in Out-of-Home Placement-Rights

Rachel White, Child Welfare Director, Advocates for Children and Youth

February 21, 2018

Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on Senate Bill 787- Children in Out-of-Home Placement-Rights. Advocates for Children and Youth (ACY) supports this bill with amendments.

SB 787 would require the Department of Human Services to provide youth 13 years of age or older information on their rights related to tuition assistance, health care benefits, housing, job training, internship opportunities, the right to reenter care and procedures for reentering care. Youth being provided this information is extremely integral as youth are transitioning into adulthood.

In addition to foster youth age 13 and older being provided information on services available to them as they prepare to transition into adulthood, ACY strongly recommends that all youth in care also have access to a Foster Care Bill of Rights. Youth in foster care have a variety of supports and services available to them while in care. To be successful and thrive, youth must be aware of their rights. To support youth in making informed decisions about their lives, they must be educated about the choices they have. ACY would support an amendment to SB 787 that would also require DHR to create a Foster Care Bill of Rights for children in foster care. Foster Care Bill of Rights are designed to inform youth in foster care of their rights within the child welfare system. Currently, Foster Care Bill of Rights have been enacted in 15 states and Puerto Rico. Many children bill of rights provide that they must be posted in a place where children will see them and include provisions requiring foster children to be informed about why they are in foster care and how the process will proceed. In addition, participation in extra-curricular or community activities, efforts to maintain educational stability, access to guardian ad litems, access to mental, behavioral and physical health care, access to or communication with siblings and family members.[1]A Foster Care Bill of Rights example has been attached to our testimony.[2]

We urge this Committee to issue a favorable report with amendments on SB 787 to ensure that youth in foster care are made aware of their rights and the supports and servicesavailable to them while they are in care.

One North Charles Street, Suite 2400, Baltimore, MD 21201 / / 410.547.9200 /

[1]National Conference of State Legislators, Foster Care Bill of Rights, 8/25/2016

[2]Texas CPS Bill of Rights