Your Rights, Your Life is a resource for youth in foster care, ages 12 and older, including youth in group care facilities. The information in this manual is specifically written for youth ages 12 and older. Certain laws or policies may have different age applications and are specified within the manual as needed.

Youth living in foster care have their cases heard in Family Court, a court which deals with issues of families, children, and youth. You, like many others, may have questions about Family Court, what to expect there, how to present yourself effectively and what the terms used there mean. This pamphlet was designed to help you understand Family Court. After you’ve read this pamphlet, you can talk to your caseworker or attorney regarding any questions you may have.

Reports of suspected abuse and neglect of a child receiving care in certain facilities and programs that are operated, licensed or certified by the NYS Office of Mental Health, Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Office of Children and Family Services, State Education Department and summer camps for children with disabilities licensed by the Department of Health should be made -- at any time of the day or night and on any day of the week—by telephone to the Vulnerable Persons Central Register Hotline. 

The trained call center representative who answers your call will ask you for as much information as you can provide about the suspected abuse, neglect or maltreatment and the location where it occurred. Below are examples of some of the questions you might be asked when you call.  

• What is the victim’s name?
• What happened to the victim?
• Who caused the harm?
• Where did the incident occur?