Foster Care & Extended Foster Care

Oral Argument in Leonard v. Wagner

The California Court of Appeal (1st DCA) has scheduled oral argument in Leonard v. Wagner for August 9. The case concerns foster care funding for youth with disabilities who turn 18. California provides foster care benefits to age 19 for youth in foster care who are still in high school or an equivalent program but only if they are able to show they are reasonably expected to graduate or complete the program by 19. The Superior Court ruled that this “completion rule” discriminates against youth with disabilities who cannot demonstrate compliance because of their disability, and the California Department of Social Services appealed. YLC is co-counsel along with the Alliance for Children’s Rights, Neighborhood Legal Services, the Public Interest Law Project, and the Western Center on Law and Poverty.