Study On Safety and Future of 13,000 Teens in New York City Foster Care Focus of Congressional Brief

PRESS RELEASE

WHEN: Friday, November 21 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

WHERE: Dirksen Senate Office Building , Room 628

WHAT: Congressional Briefing on Time Running Out: Teens in Foster Care , the first comprehensive qualitative research study of youth living in congregate care in New York City foster care. The study uses interviews with youth, social workers, judges, among others, to examine the experiences of youth age 12 and over living in group homes, residential treatment centers, maternity facilities, and mother/child facilities. Study findings and recommendations focus on six areas:

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*Placements-appropriateness of congregate care for youth;
*Services-overall quality of services in education, health, and youth development;
*Safety-how physically safe are youth and their belongings while in care;
*Permanency-movement toward reunifying with family, adoption, or independent living;
*Youth Involvement-participation in planning and decision-making;
*Transitioning from foster care-efforts to prepare youth to live independently.

WHY: Youth in congregate care in New York City experience threats to safety and well-being , lack permanent family connections, and age out of foster care without support and services vital to successful adulthood. The study was conducted by three child advocacy organizations, in cooperation with the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) to address concerns raised in the Marisol v. Giuliani lawsuit and reports by a panel of child welfare experts convened after lawsuit's settlement.

WHO: Overview of Report Finding and
Recommendations:

Marcia Robinson Lowry, Executive Director, Children's Rights

Barrie Goldstein, Lynne Echenberg , John Stewart , Juvenile Rights Division, Legal Aid Society

Karen Walker Bryce, Glenn Metsch-Ampel, Betsy Kramer, Lawyers For Children
Madelyn Freundlich, Policy Director, Children's Rights

Perspective of Young Adults in Foster Care system:

Fatima Plummer, who lived in foster care from age 13 to 16 and is an advocate on behalf of young people in the foster care system
Families for Teens Strategy

Lisa Parrish , Deputy Commissioner for Foster Care & Preventive Services, Administration for Children's Services, New York City

Children's Rights works throughout the United States in partnership with national and local experts, advocates and government officials to document the needs of children in the care of child welfare systems. Children's Rights helps develop realistic solutions and, where necessary, uses the power of litigation to ensure that reform takes place.