The Alliance for Children's Rights Foster Care Benefits Program works with minor's attorneys, social workers, judicial officers, and foster care providers to ensure that all children in the foster care system receive the monthly financial benefits to which they are entitled. We represent foster care providers at administrative fair hearings on inappropriate benefits denials. We also work with the Department of Children and Family Services to obtain the appropriate specialized care rates and services for the many children in foster care with special medical and emotional needs. Individuals interested in learning about this area of the law and in advocating on behalf of these children are invited to attended a two hour CLE training discussing the subtantive law and procedural rules related to these matters. Individuals interested in volunteering to work on a matter through this program would advocate for benefits and services on behalf of the children, help acquire the evidence necessary to bring matters to trial, prepare hearing requests and briefs, and represent clients at administrative fair hearings. Foster Care Benefits cases require a time commitment of approximately 35 to 45 hours over a period of approximately three months. Individuals interested in this field do not need to be licensed in California to undertake this advocacy.

Individuals interested in attending the training should contact Diego Cartagena at d.cartagena@kids-alliance.org or at 213-368-6010 to RSVP. Space is limited.