Child Advocates of Stetson Law announces Florida’s first comprehensive legal rights guide for teens in foster care
The student organization Child Advocates of Stetson Law announces the publication of “Know Your Rights,” the first comprehensive legal rights guide for teens in foster care. The program begins with introductions at 10 a.m. The guide, authored entirely by Stetson Law students, will be unveiled during a panel discussion with child welfare attorneys at 12 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the Tampa Law Center, 1700 N. Tampa St.
Stetson’s Child Advocates of Stetson Law presents “Know Your Rights.”
“This guide was created because there seemed to be a complete lack of awareness by teens in foster care of their legal rights,” said Child Advocates of Stetson Law student president Ciera Lipps. “If teens have access to this book and know what rights they have under the law, they can speak up for themselves, or find someone who can speak up for them to ensure that their legal rights are not being violated.”
The guide provides guidance on critical rights ranging from obtaining medical and mental health services to receiving allowances for Social Security benefits for teens in foster care.
The American Bar Association has provided a grant to print enough copies of the guide for every teen in Pinellas and Pasco county foster care, and Gulfcoast Community Foundation has supplied a grant to print copies of the guide for teens in Sarasota, Manatee and Desoto counties.
“The book is an invaluable resource not just for teens in foster care, but for anyone who works in the dependency system,” said Lipps, who is also a Guardian ad Litem who grew up in foster care.
The “Know Your Rights” guide was spearheaded as part of a social justice advocacy research project by Stetson Law alumna and Child Advocates of Stetson Law founder Taylor Greenberg J.D. ’18. Greenberg works as an Equal Justice Works fellow sponsored by Greenberg Traurig LLP and The Florida Bar Foundation to serve as an attorney for teenagers in group home foster care through the L. David Shear Children’s Law Center of Bay Area Legal Services.
Panelists include Donald Frenette, assistant general counsel at the Florida Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office; Jessica Rae, legal content manager of Florida Justice Technology Center; and Stephanie Zimmerman, Department of Children and Families Deputy Director and Statewide Director of Appeals. Retired family court and Stetson Law adjunct professor Judge Irene Sullivan will moderate the panel discussion on how to better protect the legal rights of teens in foster care.
RSVP to attend the event by Oct. 14: http://bit.ly/CASLKnowYourRights.
Post date: Oct. 1, 2018
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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