Youth bill of rights would outline standards for foster care

Vivian Dudley said a foster bill of rights would have changed her childhood for the better.

Before she aged out of the foster system, Dudley said she was denied access to activities and opportunities, including the opportunity to be a young parent to her child. “The state that was supposed to be my parent took my child away from me. No one told me my parental rights.”

Minnesota is one of five states without a consolidated set of legal protections and standards for foster care youth.

HF3024, as amended, and sponsored by Rep. Jessica Hanson (DFL-Burnsville), would change that by establishing a foster youth bill of rights that would address a wide range of issues faced by foster children.

“Foster youth deserve to know what their rights are when they’re entering care and they should be able to easily and tangibly access them when concerns arise,” Hanson said.

The bill was laid over by the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee Wednesday.

Foster care rights are now spread across multiple chapters of Minnesota statutes, said Misty Coonce, the state’s ombudsperson for foster youth and a former foster youth. Standards also vary between counties. This has posed a challenge for the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson as it has reviewed around 400 foster concerns across 55 counties since the office first opened in 2024.

“This bill is not a fix for every problem in our system, but it is a huge step forward and sends a message that we want better for our foster youth,” Coonce said.

Testimony for the bill includes a letter undersigned by more than 200 foster advocates and organizations. “The lack of a consistent, accessible framework has left many foster youth feeling isolated and powerless, unable to advocate for themselves in situations that affect their safety, well-being, and future,” it reads.

Renee Carlson, general counsel for True North Legal, said some foster parents are concerned that the bill would afford children in foster care the right to obtain gender-affirming care including counseling, medication and other supportive services.

Rep. Nolan West (R-Blaine) said he believes there’s a need for this bill, but he is concerned it could get struck down in court because of the section protecting gender-affirming care.