(a) All children placed in foster care, either voluntarily or after being adjudged a ward or dependent of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 300, 601, or 602, shall have the rights specified in this section. These rights also apply to nonminor dependents in foster care, except when they conflict with nonminor dependentsâ retention of all their legal decisionmaking authority as an adult. The rights are as follows: (1) To live in a safe, healthy, and comfortable home where they are treated with respect. If the child is an Indian child, to live in a home that upholds the prevailing social and cultural standards of the childâs Indian community, including, but not limited to, family, social, and political ties. (2) To be free from physical, sexual, emotional, or other abuse, corporal punishment, and exploitation. (3) To receive adequate and healthy food, adequate clothing, grooming and hygiene products, and an age-appropriate allowance. Clothing and grooming and hygiene products shall respect the childâs culture, ethnicity, and gender identity and expression. (4) To be placed in the least restrictive setting possible, regardless of age, physical health, mental health, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression, juvenile court record, or status as a pregnant or parenting youth, unless a court orders otherwise. (5) To be placed with a relative or nonrelative extended family member if an appropriate and willing individual is available. (6) To not be locked in any portion of their foster care placement, unless placed in a community treatment facility. (7) To have a placement that utilizes trauma-informed and evidence-based deescalation and intervention techniques, to have law enforcement intervention requested only when there is an imminent threat to the life or safety of a child or another person or as a last resort after other diversion and deescalation techniques have been utilized, and to not have law enforcement intervention used as a threat or in retaliation against the child. (8) To not be detained in a juvenile detention facility based on their status as a dependent of the juvenile court or the child welfare services departmentâs inability to provide a foster care placement. If they are detained, to have all the rights afforded under the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and all applicable state and federal laws. (9) To have storage space for private use. (10) To be free from unreasonable searches of personal belongings. (11) To be provided the names and contact information for social workers, probation officers, attorneys, service providers, foster youth advocates and supporters, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), and education rights holder if other than the parent or parents, and when applicable, representatives designated by the childâs Indian tribe to participate in the juvenile court proceeding, and to communicate with these individuals privately. (12) To visit and contact siblings, family members, and relatives privately, unless prohibited by court order, and to ask the court for visitation with the childâs siblings. (13) To make, send, and receive confidential telephone calls and other electronic communications, and to send and receive unopened mail, unless prohibited by court order. (14) To have social contacts with people outside of the foster care system, including, but not limited to, teachers, coaches, religious or spiritual community members, mentors, and friends. If the child is an Indian child, to have the right to have contact with tribal members and members of their Indian community consistent with the prevailing social and cultural conditions and way of life of the Indian childâs tribe. (15) To attend religious services, activities, and ceremonies of the childâs choice, including, but not limited to, engaging in traditional Native American religious practices. (16) To participate in extracurricular, cultural, racial, ethnic, personal enrichment, a
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