Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to ensure foster youth in Minnesota have a comprehensive set of rights that protect their well-being, safety, personal development, and connection to family and community. These rights are designed to guarantee foster children receive care equivalent to or better than non-foster youth and to maintain their personal dignity and growth while in the foster system.

Main Provisions

1. Physical and Emotional Safety: Foster youth have the right to be free from abuse, neglect, discrimination, and unwarranted discipline. This includes the prevention of physical discipline, seclusion, and excessive use of restraints.

2. Basic Needs and Normalcy: Ensures foster youth have access to essentials such as sufficient food, appropriate clothing, and personal belongings. They must live in a clean and safe environment and have the opportunity to experience a normal childhood and adolescence similar to their non-foster peers.

3. Privacy: Foster youth have the right to privacy in communication, personal data, and health records. Searches and surveillance must be minimal and justifiable.

4. Health and Wellness: Timely access to healthcare services is guaranteed, along with the right to be informed about and make decisions regarding their health care.

5. Family and Relative Connections: The bill emphasizes the importance of maintaining relationships with family and siblings, providing support for regular contact and involvement in each other’s lives.

6. Community and Cultural Connections: Foster youth have the right to stay connected to their community and culture. This includes access to culturally appropriate resources and the support to maintain relationships and activities that reflect their identities.

7. Religious and Spiritual Practices: They can participate in religious and spiritual practices of their choice and should not be forced to participate against their will.

8. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: Rights related to sexual orientation and gender identity are protected, including the right to gender-affirming care and freedom from conversion therapy.

9. Education: Ensures a stable and quality educational experience, supports school continuity, credit transfers, and protection from discrimination on the basis of foster status.

10. Transition to Adulthood: Offers support for the transition to independent living, access to essential documents, educational and vocational resources, and ongoing medical assistance until age 26.

11. Feedback and Grievances: Foster youth can confidentially lodge complaints, provide feedback, and seek intervention if their rights are violated, ensuring accountability within the system.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill introduces a detailed Foster Youth Bill of Rights in Minnesota Statutes chapter 260C, potentially adding new responsibilities and accountability measures for those involved in the foster care system. It strengthens protections against discrimination, supports cultural and identity affirmations, and sets guidelines for accommodation and transition to adulthood resources. This includes ensuring legal and family support structures are in place to uphold the rights and development of foster youth.

Relevant Terms

• Foster youth bill of rights
• Abuse and neglect
• Cultural and gender identity
• Physical and emotional safety
• Privacy and autonomy
• Education and transitional support
• Case management and planning
• Grievance procedures
• Discrimination and accommodation