An unfortunate fact of life is that many foster care youth have been or will be homeless, or know other youth who are homeless.

The more foster parents know about homeless youth challenges and resources available, the more we can help beyond being foster care providers.

Foster care is evolving.  Many foster parents are taking on the role of being a "family resource" for former foster youth.  Just like a real family, these family mentors can be someone to call when the need someone to talk to, or place to take a shower, etc.

Foster care families can recruit others in the community to for a support network for youth who lack family support, and all too easily become victims, perpetrators to survive, or both.

This category will provide resources and information not only for our foster parent members but also for the youth they serve.


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The Homeless Youth Handbook = 10 Hrs

The Homeless Youth Handbook - California edition
PDF digital book, 250 pages, 18 Chapters plus one additional chapter from the Minnesota edition relating to special issues of Native American youth in Minnesota.

With the exception of state specific laws & resources, the 18 chapters of the California edition are identical to the other 9 state editions.  Chapter 19 is from the Minnesota edition. 

The Handbook is written in a way that a young person (a 15- to 16-year-old) can understand. No answer could be “it depends.” No impractical answers about what the written law might technically allow but the real practice does not withstand. No law journal–like citations. Each answer includes links to resources to help the youth or those helping them get more information.

We will add the other 9 state publications on here for credit soon.  These are the current 10 state editions of The Homeless Youth Handbook:  California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Washington, Washington D. C.

  • Chapter 1: Safety and Stability
  • Chapter 2: Status Offenses
  • Chapter 3: Foster Care
  • Chapter 4:Turning 18
  • Chapter 5: Housing and Contracts
  • Chapter 6: LGBTQ
  • Chapter 7: Education
  • Chapter 8: Employment and Jobs
  • Chapter 9: General Criminal Law
  • Chapter 10: Healthcare and Medical Rights
  • Chapter 11: Mental Health and Substance Abuse
  • Chapter 12: Pregnancy and Parenting
  • Chapter 13:Domestic and Dating Violence
  • Chapter 14: Identification
  • Chapter 15: Consumer and Credit
  • Chapter 16: Public Benefits
  • Chapter 17: Lawsuits in General
  • Chapter 18: Immigration
  • Chapter 19: Native American Youth (From the Minnesota edition)

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