Foster Youth Bill of Rights
Becomes Law

By Marketa Garner Walters, Secretary
Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services

When our children come into the foster care system, everything they know and love quickly changes through no fault of their own. Any dreams and aspirations may seem so out of reach when they don’t have to be. During its 2021 session, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 151, also known as “The Foster Youth’s Bill of Rights,” which spells out in clear language the fundamental rights every 14 to 18-year-old foster child deserves, no matter the situation.   

The law is the result of a two-year collective work effort of State Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, who is a champion for our state’s children, their families, our department, and the efforts of the Louisiana Elite Advocacy Force (LEAF) board, including current and former members Tiffany Cruz, Antonica Frazier, Htet Htet Rodgers, Jarvis Spearman, and Aliyah Zeien. LEAF is a coalition of former foster youth who advise DCFS.  

Giving youth a voice has been the impetus behind the LEAF Board. The Bill of Rights was written by former foster youth, who worked over two years to get the bill to the Legislature. We’re thankful for all the youth who have continued to share their experiences and perspectives with us.  Their voices helped shape policy and practice, and we are inspired daily by their stories.  Our youth are clear: being in foster care is not all of their story.  Their lives before and after their experience in the foster care system also shape and form who they are.  But while they are in care, many youths feel “branded” and treated as “different” from their peers.  This bill addresses the issues most critical to lifting their voices and allowing them to participate in the everyday activities other youth take for granted.  

I am incredibly proud of our staff, who not only supported the youth through this process but have made a commitment to continue to put the children of Louisiana first in their daily work.

This bill will protect youth’s rights to:

• Maintain the youth’s privacy
• Attend court hearings
• Be provided a safe, stable, and supportive placement
• Participate in case planning as well as include the youth’s choice of supportive adults in planning
• Receive adequate medical and mental health services
• Receive contact information of involved parties in planning for the youth, i.e., CASA, attorney, caseworker
• Have access to approved family and friends through telephone calls and/or visits
• Have access to materials necessary for school and to further the youth’s education
• Participate in extracurricular activities, driver’s education, and employment
• Attend the youth’s school of origin
• Refuse or participate in religious activities, according to the youth’s traditions and belief systems
• Be free from discrimination of any kind
• Be notified, attend and have transportation to events provided by the Independent Living Skills Program within the youth’s region
• Be provided the entire amount of the monthly allowance as outlined in the policy
• Express youth’s needs, concerns, and desires about foster care
• Be notified, attend and have transportation to events provided by the Independent Living Skills Program within the youth’s region
• Be provided the entire amount of the monthly allowance as outlined in the policy
• Express youth’s needs, concerns, and desires about foster care

Self-advocacy is such an important life skill. It develops one’s decision-making capacity and helps build confidence and resilience. Through this Foster Youth’s Bill of Rights, our former foster youth have made their voices heard and have enshrined in our law the rights necessary for all our foster youth to become effective self-advocates.