Focus area

Health

We work to ensure that all children have equitable access to whole-health care and support that meets their physical, emotional and psycho-social needs. We aim to dismantle the barriers to care that children and youth experience, including involvement in foster care or juvenile justice systems, implicit bias in the health system, and housing or economic instability.

Center Youth
NCYL convenes a Youth Advisory Board made up of current and former foster youth who lead strategies to ensure all young people in foster care receive appropriate sexual and reproductive health information and support. Additionally, our policy work engages youth through community-based partners, and we work directly with youth to file litigation.

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

Governor signs AB 665 into law, increasing mental health care access for low-income youth

No young person should ever be denied access to mental health care due to their income level. Thanks to California Gov. Gavin Newsom signing Assembly...

In win for youth, Supreme Court upholds individuals' ability to enforce rights

Supreme Court majority decision preserves the ability of children and other beneficiaries of federal spending programs to sue states that violate...

Advocates urge Supreme Court to uphold individuals' ability to enforce essential rights; decision could impact millions of children's access to food, healthcare

Read our brief to the Supreme Court urging them to preserve the longstanding legal framework critical to enforcing children’s statutory rights.

Our 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.

Advocate for Improved Mental Health Access and Equity

All children and youth should be able to access mental health care services and support in their communities. NCYL works to normalize and improve access to quality mental health care for all children and stop harmful, traumatic practices that impact far too many children and youth.

Legal Advocacy & Impact Litigation

See All Cases

Planned Parenthood V. Promesa Behavioral Health

Filing date

2016-02-19

Alleges group home staff denied foster youth access to reproductive health care services, forced youth to waive their right to confidential medical care, confiscated foster youths’ contraceptives, and forced foster youth to allow staff into youths' exam rooms during gynecological appointments.

Inactive

T.R. v. Dreyfus

Filing date

2009-11-24

In Washington state, Medicaid-eligible children with serious mental health issues are often forced to seek the intensive care they need in state institutions and foster care.

Active

Clark K. v Willden

Filing date

2006-11-30

This lawsuit charged the defendants with causing serious harm to children in the child welfare system, and called for sweeping, system-wide reform on behalf of the more than 3,600 children in the legal custody of Clark County.

Inactive

Laws & Policy

See All Laws & Policy

Reducing Unequal Access to Mental Health Services (2023)

AB 665 (Carrillo)

All children in California deserve access to mental health services to live full and thriving lives, and care for their emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. Under current statute, youth ages 12 and older who receive health care through Medi-Cal are blocked from accessing mental health

Active

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.

Enacted

Mental Health Education (2021)

SB 224 (Portantino)

SB 224 ensures that middle and high school health courses include instruction on mental health and wellness, and requires the state to develop a plan to expand mental health instruction in California public schools by January 1, 2024.

Enacted

Related Resources

RHEP - Cash Assistance and Other Benefits (cover)

Reports

Cash Benefits and Other Assistance: The Experiences of Expectant and Parenting Youth in California Foster Care

Expectant and parenting youth (EPY) with current or prior involvement in foster care experience multiple educational, health, and financial stressors...

Providing Mental Health Education to Students is Critical — and Achievable

Since the 2021 enactment of California's Senate Bill 224, public middle and high schools that offer health courses are required to include mental...

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

Reports

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.

Minor Consent for Mental Health Care — Implementing Assembly Bill 665

AB 665 was signed into law by Governor Newsom and will go into effect on July 1, 2024, amending Family Code section 6924. This FAQ will cover...

Reports

The Urgent Need for Child-Centered Artificial Intelligence Policies

Never before in all of human history have the sleek threads of technology been so tightly woven into the tender fabric of a child’s daily existence...

Where We Focus

National Center for Youth Law is committed to achieving large-scale, lasting change across multiple government systems and public agencies. Explore all the areas of our work to Center Youth.

Education

Foster Care

Immigration

Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Youth Justice

Contribute Today

You can be part of the mission to Center Youth and create a world where every child thrives.