Writing for Teenagers in Foster Care About Their Legal Rights/

Abstract

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Children's Administration, The Mockingbird Society, http://independence.wa.gov/ pdf/YourRightsbooklet.pdf These, and other similar handbooks, introduce teenage readers to their rights and responsibilities, as well as mentioning such things as the structure of the department, the fair hearing/grievance procedure, skills for daily living, and a list of helpful resources. Some of the greatest needs identified were related, but not exclusive to legal rights within the foster system, including creating a written transition plan; compiling a file of important personal documents and phone numbers; information about addiction and substance abuse; obtaining a high-school diploma or GED; and, advocating for mental health services.2 In general, those resources that acknowledge each youth as a whole person seem to be most accessible and useful, in part because they communicate that someone really cares about that youth's legal rights.