In Depth

"If I would have been allowed to attend a court hearing regarding my case, I don't think I would have been as scared or worried because I would have been able to see first-hand what [was] happening [to] me and my family. I would have also felt less resentful towards the system because I would have felt like I had some say."
— foster care alumnus, from "My Voice, My Life, My Future," a survey on youth participation in court conducted by Home At Last, May, 2006

Involving youth in their own court cases is crucial: Judges' decisions have far reaching consequences in their lives. Learn how some courts keep young people aware of the status of their legal cases:

California recently enacted Assembly Bill 408, which requires that children age 10 or older receive notice of, and have the right to attend, their court proceedings.

Montana law requires courts or entities conducting permanency hearings to consult with the young person in an age-appropriate manner.

Massachusetts introduced House Bill 121, An Act to Promote Youth Advocacy. The bill would require that all children age 12 and older attend all court proceedings concerning custody, visitation, permanency planning, and all other legal matters.

Various agencies and advocacy groups are working to educate youth in care about their legal rights and court processes. Washington developed a video to explain laws that govern child welfare. Narrated by several foster youth, the video was distributed to every youth in the state's foster care system, age 13 or older.

Resources for Engaging Youth in Court Proceedings

• "Youth Involvement in Case Planning, Court Hearings, and Administrative Reviews," (from the Department of Health and Human Services, Sacramento County, California)
• "Policy Recommendations to Facilitate Foster Youth Participation in Court Hearings" from California Youth Connection

National CASA's the Judges' Page Newsletter recently devoted an entire issue to children and youth involved in the court experience (February 2007). Find the table of contents here. In particular, see:

• “Online resources,” which addresses various strategies workers and systems can use to help young people feel more comfortable in court (page 39).
• “Explaining the court experience to children” (page 8).
• “Protecting and supporting children in the child welfare system and the juvenile court,” from the Winter 2006 Juvenile and Family Court Journal (page 15).