EVERY CHILD A Future

“Being a foster parent gives you a front row seat to utter brokenness. Broken systems, broken promises, broken laws, and all of this leads to broken children. I can’t walk away from brokenness. I have to believe there is a better way.”


– Aly Rau, foster parent and Chief of Staff of the Pelican Institute

Teacher Assisting a Student

The child protection system is broken. Every year, 20,000 children age out of the system without a family. Tens of thousands have gone missing. Foster children disproportionately end up in prison. Gen Justice fights for their futures.

MODEL LAWS


IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Federal law requires parental consent before a student can be evaluated for special education. Gen Justice model reform requires that the state must provide a foster child’s school with the contact information for a student’s biological parents. If the parents do not participate, the foster parent can consent and give their child the special education programming he or she needs.

Right to Consent Bill

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ACCESS TO BIRTH DOCUMENTS

Gen Justice worked with the state legislature to give teenagers in foster care access to their own birth documents that are needed to get a driver’s license, job, vote, pay taxes and go to college. Prior to this reform, children in foster care needed a parent’s signature to obtain these essential documents.

Access to Vital Records Bill

Gen justice INSIGHTS

Cash Accounts Can Help Youth Aging Out of Foster Care Succeed
Read Report

33 Reforms to Help Kids in Foster Care During the Pandemic and After
Read Article

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Hearings: With Mom Absent, an Education Plan Stalls

Read Article

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Some Special Needs Kids Falling Through the Cracks

Read Article