Foster youth have rights that must be respected and protected. Thanks to the advocacy of foster youth, including California Youth Connection (CYC) members, the Foster Youth Bill of Rights (FYBOR) passed in California 25 years ago in 2001. This landmark legislation (FYBOR) formalized the legal rights of children and youth in foster care, and became a model for the country. The passage of the FYBOR proved that youth voice and lived experience are key in policymaking. Today, CYC members continue to advocate and hold systems accountable to ensure every young person knows and fully experiences their rights.
Why Foster Youth Advocacy Matters
Foster youth advocacy matters because the decisions made within the child welfare system directly impact every aspect of a young person’s life, from their education and relationships to their stability and future opportunities. Foster youth may be denied a consistent educational experience due to systematic issues. The Child and Family Services Reviews Statewide Assessment conducted in 2023 reported that foster youth had a school stability rate of 65.8% in 2019–20, compared with 92% for all students, meaning foster youth were substantially more likely to experience changes that disrupted their education. Many foster youth are incredibly motivated students, with 80-90% aiming to earn college degrees (“In Today’s Economy”, 2025), but lack of stability can make academic success a constant uphill battle.
In California, the four-year high school graduation rate for foster youth was only 58.2% in 2019–20, compared with 84.3% for students statewide (Child Welfare Council, 2022). It is crucial to acknowledge that this outcome is a result of disparities in the child welfare system, not an indication of a lack of motivation or intellectual ability. Foster youth must be centered in education advocacy because their firsthand experience allows them to pinpoint barriers that policymakers may overlook. Foster youth deserve to be recognized as leaders and experts in their own lives.
Youth Holding Systems Accountable
Foster youth advocacy is essential to ensure policies continue to progress. Current and former foster youth continue to bring attention to longstanding issues and pushing lawmakers to adapt protections and services to meet the needs of their generation. While the FYBOR originally passed in 2001, foster youth advocates recently pushed to update this bill in order to provide protections against racial, gender-based, and sexuality-based discrimination. Statistics show that around 30-34% of foster youth identify as LGBTQ+, which is roughly three times more than the general population of youth. According to a study performed in 2019, 44% of queer youth in state custody were reportedly displaced from their original homes due to reasons relating to their gender identity or sexual identity (“LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care”, 2023). Once they enter foster care, queer youth remain highly likely to face discrimination within the system. Another population that is greatly overrepresented in foster care is youth of color, specifically Black, Latino, and Native American youth (“Foster Care in U.S.”, n.d.). Much like LGBTQ+ youth, youth of color are likely to face discrimination within the foster care system due to their identities.
Thanks to youth advocacy, as of October 2020, the FYBOR was officially updated to protect foster youth’s rights to privacy regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, access to grooming and hygiene products regardless of cultural identity or gender identity or expression, rights to culturally-competent care, and access to cultural activities. These legal protections help preserve youth’s ability to express themselves, feel dignified, and maintain their individuality regardless of their identity.
Creating a System for Youth by Youth
Implementing and modernizing the Foster Youth Bill of Rights is just one of CYC’s many accomplishments, and the organization continues to empower foster youth making changes within the system. CYC is a statewide nonprofit organization with over 30 chapters across California. CYC members are current or former foster youth aged 14-24 in California. Members identify local issues and develop campaigns and advocate for system improvements that work for young people, by young people. CYC provides a paid leadership development program, Emerging Leaders, for system-impacted youth. This program is aligned with California’s legislative cycle, providing youth with the education and training to transform the child welfare system. The program consists of four committees that support local and statewide advocacy:
- Core Organizers help lead chapter meetings, build relationships with other youth, organize outreach and campaigns, support members in taking on leadership roles, and participate in local and statewide advocacy efforts. The role also provides opportunities to develop skills in public speaking, facilitation, community organizing, campaign strategy, and leadership through training sessions, meetings, and hands-on experience.
- The Statewide Policy & Legislative Committee role is a youth advocacy position focused on using lived experience to influence policies and laws affecting foster youth. Committee members research issues, identify problems and solutions, develop policy strategies, collaborate with government agencies and community organizations, and help shape CYC’s statewide legislative priorities. Members also have opportunities to meet with lawmakers, attend policy workshops and panels, testify at legislative hearings, and directly advocate for bills and policies that support foster youth. The role provides valuable experience in public speaking, leadership, policy research, legislative advocacy, and community engagement.
- CYC’s Y.O.U.T.H. Training Project (YTP) is meant to develop youth trainers, individuals who will learn to lead and create training sessions for fellow CYC members as well as adults working in child welfare. Members will have the opportunity to learn to design curriculums and lead training sessions, and they will acquire advanced knowledge on the child welfare system. Participants will gain experience in public speaking, facilitation, project management, and leadership. Team members will have opportunities to build their professional portfolios, network with youth leaders and child welfare professionals, and use personal experiences to help improve the child welfare system.
- The Member Experience and Communications Committee is a creative leadership role focused on using design, media, and digital advocacy to amplify youth voices and build community. Members will also have opportunities to provide live media coverage at events, serve as photographers, conduct interviews, write event recaps, and help create engaging experiences for CYC members.
CYC firmly believes that foster youth should lead efforts to improve foster care, and we are determined to support foster youth on the journey to a more just system.
References
California College Pathways. (2025). In today’s economy, education is the key to financial well-being and personal success. California College Pathways. Retrieved August 9, 2026, from https://cacollegepathways.org/
Child & Family Services Reviews. (2023, August 1). Statewide Assessment. CFSR Information Portal. Retrieved August 9, 2026, from https://www.cfsrportal.acf.hhs.gov/cfsr-reports
Children’s Rights. (2023, January). LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care. Children’s Rights. Retrieved July 28, 2026, from https://e1.nmcdn.io/assets/crsite/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CR-LGBTQ-Youth-in-Foster-Care-2023-Fact-Sheet.pdf
Child Welfare Council. (2022). Annual Report of the California Child Welfare Council. Child Welfare Council. Retrieved August 9, 2026, from https://www.chhs.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Child-Welfare-Council-ANNUAL-REPORT-2021-22.pdf
Foster Care in U.S. Statistics by Race. (n.d.). Penny Lane Centers. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from https://www.pennylane.org/resources/race-and-foster-care
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, & Children’s Bureau. (2025, September 5). The AFCARS Dashboard. An Office of the Administration for Children & Families. Retrieved July 28, 2025, from https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/2024-afcars-dashboard-printable.pdf