Under the Constitution and under the law, children dependent on child welfare systems have rights — and Children’s Rights is dedicated to protecting them.

Children in foster care and others dependent on public child welfare systems have important legal rights under the United States Constitution and federal and state law, including:

• The right to be protected from abuse, neglect, or other maltreatment in foster homes, group homes, and other placements. Foster parents and facility staff must be properly monitored and screened. Any alleged maltreatment must be quickly and thoroughly investigated.

• The right to adequate food, clothing, and shelter.

• The right to an appropriate, stable placement in the least restrictive situation possible.

• The right to regular medical and dental care, and any necessary mental health services.

• The right to needed developmental and educational services.

• The right to case-planning services and a permanent home consistent with the purposes of your custody.

• The right not to deteriorate while in state custody.

• The right not to be discriminated against based on race, religion, or gender.

Children’s Rights can help enforce these rights.

Successfully bringing legal claims for violations of the rights of children dependent on child welfare systems is very challenging. It is critical that the attorneys leading the case have a great deal of experience with the details of both child welfare systems and standards and children’s rights law.

Children’s Rights has been successful in establishing and defending the rights of hundreds of thousands of children in more than a dozen states across the country.

For more information, please contact our legal team:

• By telephone at 1-888-283-2210
• By e-mail at legal@childrensrights.org