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    A New Voice and Resource for Youth in Foster Care

In August 2003, the first meeting of Youth in Progress, the New York State Foster Care Youth Leadership Advisory Team, was held in Herkimer. The Advisory Team was made up of youth leaders who resided within the foster care system and their staff mentors. This group was an initiative of the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to provide youth in care with a chance to voice their concerns regarding the foster care system and to offer them a chance to work side by side with staff from OCFS to help to create positive ways to better meet the needs of youth in foster care.

One of the goals set by Youth in Progress was to create an updated handbook of youth rights in foster care. "Handbook for Youth in Foster Care" was written for youth placed within the foster care system through local departments of social services to explain their rights and responsibilities while in foster care. Through a joint collaboration with OCFS, it was released in August 2004.

The handbook contains language easy for youth to understand. It explains what foster care is and the roles of various service providers such as case workers and law guardians. Chapters include topics such as “Legal Issues” and “Leaving Foster Care.” It also includes a glossary of key terms and a page to list contact information such as numbers for case workers, law guardians, and foster parents. The goal of Youth in Progress and NYS OCFS is to provide a handbook to every youth currently in foster care and every youth entering care. A video to introduce the handbook to youth is also being created by the members of Youth in Progress.
For a copy of the handbook or information about Youth in Progress, contact the State Association.

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