Recent news

In an important win for children who may face transfer to adult court, the Oregon State Supreme Court today interpreted the state’s transfer statute to require juvenile courts to consider juveniles’ unique emotional and intellectual capacities before they may be transferred to adult court. In doing so, the Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remanded the case of State v. J.C.N.-V. back to the juvenile court for consideration under the proper interpretation of the standard.

Youth homelessness is multifaceted, complex, and very different from adult homelessness. A major contributor to youth homelessness nationwide is the failure of the child welfare system to find permanency for all youth in care. Older youth, regardless of age, need and deserve to be connected to a permanent family and support system that both lifts them up and cushions them if they fall.

On April 28, 2016, President Obama signed a proclamation to recognize May as National Foster Care Month. This year, the theme for Foster Care Month is "Honoring, Uniting, and Celebrating Families."

Foster youth have plans for their future similar to all youth: college, vocational school, getting a good job. The vast majority of foster youth face extreme barriers to achieving these aspirations: only half will graduate from high school, and fewer than 10% will earn a bachelor’s degree by the time they turn 25 (compared to 38% of the general population). Law and policy should support foster youth as they prepare for, attend, and complete college or vocational school.

Over 600 colleges and universities use the Common Application, which includes a check box asking applicants about any past juvenile crimes. Although research shows that most schools don’t deny admission based on this information, the vast majority of youth with records who see this check box will not complete the college application.