ARTICLE 7 YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE
| Jurisdiction | Colorado |
19-7-101. Legislative declaration.
19-7-102. Protection against identity theft.
19-7-103. Access to extracurricular activities - legislative declaration - rules.
19-7-201. Short title.
19-7-202. Legislative declaration.
19-7-203. Foster care sibling rights.
19-7-204. Foster care siblings visits - contact plan - rules - definition.
■ 19-7-101. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that youth in foster care, excluding those in the custody of the division of youth services or a state hospital for persons with mental health disorders, should enjoy the following:
(a) Receiving appropriate and reasonable adult guidance, support, and supervision in a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment where he or she is treated with respect and dignity;
(b) Being free from physical, sexual, emotional, or other abuse or corporal punishment;
(c) Receiving adequate and healthy food, adequate clothing, and an adequate allowance, as appropriate;
(d) Receiving medical, dental, vision, and mental health services as needed;
(e) Being free of the administration of prescription medication or other chemical substances, unless authorized by a physician;
(f) Being free to contact those persons working on his or her behalf, including but not limited to, case workers, attorneys, foster youth advocates and supporters, court-appointed special advocates, and probation officers;
(g) Being free to contact the child protection ombudsman, county department of human or social services, or the state department of human services regarding any questions, concerns, or violations of the rights set forth in this article 7, and to speak to representatives of those offices privately, and being free from threats or punishment for making complaints;
(h) As appropriate, making and receiving confidential telephone calls and sending and receiving unopened mail in accordance with his or her permanency goals;
(i) Being free to attend religious services and activities;
(j) Being allowed to maintain an emancipation bank account and manage personal income, consistent with the youth's age and developmental level, unless prohibited by his or her case plan;
(k) Being free from being abandoned or locked in a room;
(l) Receiving an appropriate education, having access to transportation, and participating in extracurricular, cultural, and personal enrichment activities consistent with the youth's age and developmental level;
(m) As appropriate, being free to work and develop job skills that are in accordance with his or her permanency goals;
(n) As appropriate, being free to have social contacts with people outside the foster care system, such as teachers, church members, mentors, and friends in accordance with his or her permanency goals;
(o) Being free to attend independent living classes if he or she meets program and age requirements;
(p) Consulting with the court conducting the youth's permanency hearing, in an age-appropriate manner, regarding the youth's permanency plan, pursuant to section 19-3-702 (1)(a);
(q) Having a safe place to store personal belongings;
(r) As appropriate to his or her age and developmental level, being allowed to participate in and review his or her own case plan, if he or she is twelve years of age or older, and to receive information about his or her out-of-home placement and case plan, including being informed of any changes to the case plan;
(s) Confidentiality of all juvenile court records, consistent with existing law;
(t) Having fair and equal access to available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits based on his or her treatment plan and not being subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status;
(u) At sixteen years of age or older, having access to existing information regarding the educational options available to him or her, including, but not limited to, the course work necessary for vocational and postsecondary educational...
To continue reading
Request your trial