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Bill of Rights for Foster Children
EVEN more than for other children, society has a
responsibility along with parents for the well-being of foster
children. Citizens are responsible for acting to ensure their
welfare.
EVERY foster child is endowed with the rights
inherently belonging to all children. In addition, because of the
temporary or permanent separation from and loss of parents and other
family members, the foster child requires special safeguards,
resources, and care.
EVERY FOSTER CHILD HAS THE INHERENT RIGHT:
- Article I... To be cherished by a family of his own, either
his family helped by readily available services and supports to
reassume his care, or an adoptive family or by plan, a continuing
foster family
- Article II... To be nurtured by foster parents who have been
selected to meet his individual needs, and who are provided
services and supports, including specialized education, so that
they can grow in their ability to enable the child to reach his
potential.
- Article the III... To receive sensitive, continuing help in
understanding and accepting the reasons for his own family's
inability to take care of him, and in developing confidence in his
own self-worth..
- Article IV... To receive continuing loving care and respect as
a unique human being ....a child growing in trust in himself and
others.
- Article V... To grow up in freedom and dignity in a
neighborhood of people who accept him with understanding, respect
and friendship.
- Article VI... To receive help in overcoming deprivation or
whatever distortion in his emotional, physical, intellectual,
social and spiritual growth may have resulted from his early
experiences.
- Article VII... To receive education, training, and career
guidance to prepare him for a useful and satisfying life.
- Article VIII... To receive preparation for citizenship and
parenthood
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Every child may not need a lawyer, but every lawyer
needs to care about every child.
-Andrew
Horstman, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi |
