Even more than for other children, society has a responsibility along with parents for the well being of foster children. Citizens are responsible for acting to ensure their welfare

 Every foster child is endowed with the rights inherently belonging to all children. In addition, because of the temporary or permanent separation from and loss of parents and other family members, the foster child requires special safeguards, resources, and care.

---

EVERY FOSTER CHILD HAS THE INHERENT RIGHT

ARTICLE I- To be cherished by a family of his/her own, either his/her family helped by readily available services and supports to reassume his/her care, or an adoptive family or, by plan, a continuing foster family.

ARTICLE II- To be nurtured by foster parents who have been selected to meet his/her individual needs and who are provided services and supports, including specialized education, so that they can grow in their ability to enable a child to reach his/her potential.

ARTICLE III- To receive sensitive, continuing help and understanding in accepting the reasons for his/her own family’s inability to take care of him/her and in developing confidence in his/her own self-worth.

ARTICLE IV- To receive continuing, loving care and respect as a unique human being-a child growing in trust in himself/herself and others.

ARTICLE V- To grow up in freedom and dignity in a neighborhood of people who accept him/her with understanding, respect, and friendship.

ARTICLE VI- To receive help in overcoming deprivation or whatever distortion in his/her emotional, physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual growth that may have resulted from his/her early experiences.

ARTICLE VII- To receive education, training, and career guidance to prepare him/her for a useful, satisfying life.

ARTICLE VIII- To receive preparation for citizenship and parenthood through interaction with foster parents and other adults who are consistent role models.

ARTICLE IX- To be represented by an attorney-at-law in administrative or judicial proceedings with access to fair hearings and a court review of decisions, so that his/her best interests are safeguarded.

ARTICLE X- To receive a high quality of childcare services, including involvement of the child and the birth parents in major decisions that affect his/her life.