Foster Care Handbook

  • Resources for Teens and Young Adults

This handbook is for youth placed in foster care through local departments of social services (DSS) (not the juvenile justice system). The handbook was written for youth entering foster care for the first time as well as youth already in foster care.

The handbook describes your rights and responsibilities while you are in foster care. It also describes what happens when you are older and leave foster care. 

The NYS Foster Care Handbook