Status:

Enacted

Foster Care

Health

Foster Youth Sexual Health Education Act (2017)

SB 89 (Leyva)

Location

California

In July 2017, California adopted a NCYL sponsored law requiring comprehensive sexual health education for youth in foster care and new training requirements for foster caregivers, social workers and judges.

Our Success & Impact

Get up to date on our latest work - from litigation and policy wins to new reports, resources, events and more.

Success and Impact

NCYL Leads the Movement To Promote Healthy Sexual Development For Youth In Foster Care

NCYL, through legislative and policy advocacy, litigation, storytelling, and innovative programming, is a consistent leader in the movement to...

Success and Impact

NCYL Efforts Lead to Big Budget Increases for California Kids

Oakland, CA – The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) played a leading role in increasing California’s budget for children, particularly those in...

Related Initiatives

Uphold Consent and Confidentiality

Laws and regulations that impact health consent and confidentiality for children and youth can facilitate or become a barrier to health care. NCYL helps youth, families and service providers understand these rules and how youth can advocate for their consent and confidentiality rights.

Empower Youth to Lead and Make Decisions About Their Sexual and Reproductive Health

NCYL’s RHEP normalizes, supports, and promotes the bodily autonomy and healthy sexual development of youth in foster care. We provide multiple resources so they feel empowered to make confident, informed decisions about their health.

Equip Health Systems and Professionals to Meet the Needs of Youth

Helping health professionals understand the complex challenges facing many system-involved youth who seek health care with tools to understand and navigate their legal obligations, implement the best standards of care, and provide trauma-informed, culturally competent care.

Related Resources

Report cover with title and photo of a diverse group of happy teens

Interview Survey of Adolescents in Foster Care in Los Angeles County Regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health Communication and Access to Resources

NCYL’s comprehensive study sheds light on the implementation of California’s Foster Youth Sexual Health Education Act, passed in 2017.

Related Cases

Tonisha Smith v. Alameda County

Filed on behalf of a youth in extended foster care who experienced more than two weeks of homelessness because the agency failed to provide her with a place to live.

D.S. v. Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families

This lawsuit alleges Washington has violated the rights of foster children with disabilities by denying them the most fundamental and basic of rights owed when a child is placed in government custody: a place to live and the support and services needed to return home.

M.B. v. Howard

Settled in 2021, this case will bring transformative, structural change to Kansas’s broken child welfare system by ending extreme placement instability and ensuring children receive the mental health care they need.

Related Laws & Policy

See All Laws & Policy

Supporting Students in the Foster System and Students Experiencing Homelessness (2024)

AB 2137 (Quirk-Silva)

Assembly Bill (AB) 2137 that would increase direct support for students, streamline services through better collaboration, and reduce gaps in financial aid application completion.

Expanding Access to Diplomas for Highly Mobile Students (2021 & 2022)

SB 532 (Caballero)

SB 532 builds bridges to a high school diploma and post-secondary educational success for highly mobile students.

Healthy Futures for Foster Youth (2021)

California Strengthens Reproductive Health Equity for Youth in Foster Care

Three significant investments were included in the 2021-2022 California State budget that improve upon existing laws to strengthen reproductive health equity for youth in foster care.