A Home Within:  A project connecting foster children with therapists for open ended psychotherapy.

California County Independent Living Program (ILP) Coordinators:  A directory of ILP contacts by county.

California Ombudsperson For Foster Care:  Focuses on foster youth rights and facts. Also a free Help Line 1-877-846-1602

California Kinship Navigator Program:  Information and referral line for Relative Caregivers across the state of California. 1-800-KIN-0047 (1-800-546-0047)

California State Care Providers Association:  Serving Children - Foster Parents - Adoptions - Guardianship - Kinship

California State Foster Parent Association, Inc.

California Youth Connection:  Foster youth who identify local issues, learn about the legislative process and then use grassroots and community organizing to create real change in the system.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates):  Committed to providing all abused, neglected and exploited children with a voice in the court process.

The Camellia Network:  A support net(work) for youth aging out of foster care.

DREDF (Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund):  DREDF Children and Family and Foster Youth for Resources programs provide information and training to parents, caregivers, social workers and others seeking to understand and secure education rights of special needs
children.  See DREDF Brochure (pdf) and DREDF Foster Youth Resources for Education flyer (pdf)

Foster Care to Success: College Funds for Foster Youth:  The only national organization specifically focusing on support, education and workforce development for youth aging out of the foster care system.

Foster Club:  The national network for youth and children in foster care.

Legal Services For Children:  Legal Services for Children provides free legal and social services to children and youth under 18 years old in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Marin Foster Parent Association (MFPA):  An organization comprised of licensed foster and adoptive parents in Marin County.

National Center for Youth Law:  A private, non-profit law office serving the legal needs of children and their families.

National Foster Parent Association

North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC):  NACAC creates and disseminates publications that provide resources, information, and support to adoptive families and prospective adopters, and provides phone consultations and materials to address parents’ questions about adoption subsidies for children with special needs.

Students Rising Above:  Students Rising Above invests in low-income, first generation college students who have demonstrated a deep commitment to education and strength of character in overcoming tremendous odds of poverty, homelessness, and neglect. Read more »

Voice for Adoption (VFA):  VFA develops and advocates for improved adoption policies. Recognized as a national leader in special needs adoption, VFA works closely with federal and state legislators, as well as other child welfare organizations, to make a difference in the lives of the 114,000 children in foster care who are waiting to be adopted and the families who adopt children from foster care.

 

Laws, Regulations and Legal Help

• Local Dependency Rules of Court (By County)

• Welfare and Institutions Code 

• Mandatory Reporting: Child Welfare Information (childwelfare.gov):
  Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect (pdf)

• California Senate Information
  Go to "Find my Senator" at the bottom of the page to find Your California State Legislative Representatives

• California Department of Social Services

• Know Your California Legislature
  Enter a California zip code to find what Legislators represent that area.

• Law Help California
  provides low-income Californians with easy online access to basic legal resources and attorney information.
  The site includes information about California foster care systems.

• California Superior Court Contact Information
  Find the location, phone number, or web site of a superior court.

 

Informational Brochures For Foster and Adoptive Parents

• California Foster Youth Education Fact Sheets
• Caregivers and the Courts: A Primer on Juvenile Dependency Proceedings for California Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers
• De Facto Parent Pamphlet
• Juvenile Court: How It Works
• Guardianship Pamphlet
• Visitation and Custody
• Information for Adoptive Parents 

 

Informational Brochures For Foster Kids

• When You Turn 18: A Survival Guide For Teenagers