foster youth rights

The Imprint is tracking key bills on child welfare making their way through California’s legislative session. Below are of the some of the most significant bills being debated. Easing Access to College Financial Aid for Foster Youth In California, foster youth are 29 percent less likely than non-foster youth to persist at least one year at community college.

After passing two new bills in January and February of this year, state legislators say New Mexico is leading the way in ensuring educational stability for students who have been affected by homelessness and the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Last month, California State Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino) introduced a bill aimed at decreasing the rate of unintended pregnancies for the state’s foster youth. “California has undergone a significant demographic change, with a full one in four youth in foster care age 16 or older,” said Amy Lemley, executive director of John Burton Advocates for Youth, a co-sponsor of the bill.