A Legal Health Check Up is a FREE personal meeting with a lawyer who will review all aspects of your life and help you determine whether you have current un?met legal needs. UPDATED 5.23 LEGAL HEALTH CHECK UP

Florida’s independent living laws offer terrific benefits for young people. But the laws are complex and basic placement decisions can have enormous consequences. The Independent Living Benefit Chart advises readers about the law and benefits available to young people based on placement type.  It is intended to help young people and the adults who work […]

“College for Students with Disabilities: A Guide for Students, Families, and Educators” and offers information for students with disabilities and their families to find resources to help with their dream of a college education. There are many pathways to achieve independence through higher education, and Maryville University has created this helpful “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) […]

This packet contains introductory information about two scales meant to help you measure youth empowerment and participation.  The Youth Efficacy/Empowerment Scale – Mental Health was designed to assess youth perceptions of efficacy with respect to managing their mental health conditions as well as utilizing services and supports.  The Youth Participation in Planning Scale assesses youth […]

This brief offers tips to increase meaningful youth participation in collaborative team planning meetings. Access Document Here

This tip sheet helps meeting facilitators and team members address common issues that occur during team meetings in order to promote meaningful youth participation. English Version          Spanish Version

This tip sheet offers suggestions and strategies to help young people become more involved in their team planning meetings. English Version       Spanish Version

The U.S. Department of Education today released a new toolkit to inspire and support current and former foster youth pursuing college and career opportunities. The Foster Care Transition Toolkit includes tips and resources intended to help foster youth access and navigate social, emotional, educational and skills barriers as they transition into adulthood. Currently, there are […]

This guide is designed to help you learn more about treatment for youth in foster care who have experienced trauma and are working to improve their mental health. Chapters 2 and 3 can help you better understand trauma and treatments for trauma. Chapters 4 and 5 talk about strategies for helping youth. Read: Supporting Youth In […]

View Making Healthy Choices: A Guide for Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care

This report highlights the research on the disparities that exist between LGBTQ foster youth and their non-LGBTQ peers, as well as the compounding effects these factors have in relation to other intersecting factors including race, ethnicity, culture and language. It also discusses successful policy strategies and state examples of efforts that are addressing system and practice obstacles. Out of the Shadows: […]

This law (SB 386) drops the automatic expunction age from 24 to 21. It also allows some young adults to seek expunction of their juvenile records prior to age 21 – if they haven’t committed a crime within the last 5 years. Additionally, it removes the 12-month limitation on seeking expunction of juvenile diversion records. […]

In March, 2016, the Board of the Governors of the Florida State University System realized the need to revise its Regulation that limited the use of the tuition exemption to a maximum of 120 credit hours in undergraduate courses – which was not correct according to current law. The revised Regulation will make it clear […]

Stolen Future -The foster care system in the United States serves approximately 700,000 youths. Every year over 26,000 of those children age out of foster care. As those youths transition into adulthood, good credit is essential. If a foster youth’s credit has been damaged by identity theft, then that young person may not be able to get a job, apply for student loans, obtain […]

This factsheet was written for foster parents to help them learn about LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth in the child welfare system, the unique risks they face, and the important role that foster parents can play in reducing those risks. The factsheet outlines specific actions that foster parents can take to create […]

The process to get approved for a job that requires a state of Florida background screening for people with criminal convictions. For all your questions and answers, click on the link below. Exemption from Disqualification

For all questions about how to go about sealing and expunging any criminal records, please click on the full PDF report below. Seal & Expunge Packet

Click here to view the full report

Alphabet Soup – Top Terms You Need to Know

Top Ten Actions Florida Can Take to Eliminate the Unnecessary Use of Psychotropic Medications

This paper dispels the myths that underlie the harmful practice of cutting off communication between adopted children and their siblings and other relatives.

The ABA Center on Children and the Law published this public policy brief to assist advocates and judges who work with children and youth who are prescribed psychotropic medication

This booklet informs pregnant and parenting youth in foster care of their Rights and Resources. Published by the National Crittenton Foundation

The National Crittenton Foundation supports girls, young women, and their families living at the margin of the American dream overcome major obstacles rooted in circumstances not of their own making

Our most recent publication! This booklet covers key issues for youth in out-of-home care: obtaining money, master trust accounts, and special concerns for youth with disabilities.

Children and young adults are entitled to a complete and accurate copy of their child welfare records under Florida Statute 39.00145. This publication explains the law and provides a form to help youth make a formal request for records.

Many young people are discouraged about adoption because they think they’ve missed the change to connect with forever family. But it’s never too late! This brochure explains the Florida law on adult adoptions. The separate appendix provides the documents and forms for adult adoptions.

This handbook helps youth understand what actions can get you in trouble with the law. It identifies the acts for which minors are often charged, illustrates the behavior that can result in arrest, and highlights the consequences of arrest and adjudication. This is a publication of the University of Florida Levin College of Law Center on Children and Families, March 2009, revised September 2010.

The mission of the Center on Children and Families is to promote the highest quality of advocacy, teaching and scholarship in the areas of child & family law and policy.

This FCF publication answers the most commonly asked questions asked by teens as they figure out their transition to adulthood. It explains the Independent Living services and benefits available to young people in state care and young adults who recently aged out of care.

This publication describes the services and supports that are available to youth with disabilities as they are preparing for adulthood. It is a must-read for anyone working with youth with disabilities who are in state care and provides numerous resources to help them start out on a path to success. Co-authored with Disabilities Rights Florida (formerly the Advocacy Center for Persons With Disabilities).

Inspired by Florida Youth SHINE, the Dept. of Children and Families issued this publication to inform children and youth of their rights while in state care or shelter care.

These materials contain many of the items used to obtain a name change and to update government documents.

This document describes all of the things that may or will happen to youth as a result of being arrested, pleading guilty or no contest to a juvenile or adult charge and going to trial. Prepared by the Law Offices of Miami-Dade Public Defender Bennett H. Brummer. 2008

The booklet defines the terms that are used in the criminal justice system. It explains expunging and sealing records and how to answer questions about your record on school and job applications. It was prepared by the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County. August, 2008

These are materials for use with the Name Change Packet.

Practical advice as to how to stay safe when you encounter police. Prepared by the Law Offices of Miami-Dade Public Defender Bennett H. Brummer. 2008.

This publication is geared toward young adults who recently aged out of state care. It provides information and resources on a variety of topics that will empower youth to become successful adults. Published by the American Bar Association with the assistance of Florida’s Children First.

This publication is intended to help youth understand the dependency court system. It answers youth’s most common questions about being placed into state care, describes all of the pertinent players, defines key terms and discusses the types of hearings that take place in dependency court. By the ABA Bar Youth Empowerment Project with Florida’s Children First. 2008

This publication by the Florida Institutional Legal Services is an important resource for parents or caregivers who are, or about to be incarcerated.

An informative, reassuring, and affirming guide for teens about how to get help from the mental health system. This booklet was written the teen and adult staff at Youth Communication.

This document answers some of the questions most commonly asked by former foster youth who are pregnant or parenting. It was prepared by the University of Miami Children and Youth Law Clinic. September, 2008.

FCAA’s mission is to “connect the alumni community and to transform policy and practice, ensuring opportunity for people in and from foster care.”

This website was designed to help high school students learn about living college life with a disability, though all high school students interested in college will find it useful. The site provides video clips, activities, and resources that can help students get a head

This pamphlet encourages youth to plan for and envision themselves in college. It provides practical information on financial aid and steps to take to get ready for college. It was produced by the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.