Legal Rights of Teens

Child Support Information for Teen Mothers
How do I establish paternity? Why should I file for child support?

Child Support Information for Teen Fathers
How do I establish paternity? Can I have visitation rights?

TFA – Cash Assistance for Teen Parents
Can I get cash assistance to help me take care of my child?

Connecticut Department of Social Services (website)
To apply for help with money, food or medical

Social Security Administration (website)
To apply for benefits if you are disabled or your parent passed away

How to Keep your Lights and Heat Turned On

Free Legal Help – Asistencia Legal Gratuita
Free legal help to get your record erased, get your driver’s license or ID, stay in school or get back into school, get benefits like food and cash assistance

Stopped or Arrested?
Know your Rights in a Police Encounter

Do I Have a Record? Can I get my Record Erased?
Juvenile Records, Youthful Offender, Adult Records

Online tool to find out if you can get your record erased
Connecticut Legal Services

Life After Manson – Getting Back to School
Ages 14 – 17
Over Age 18

Your Legal Rights in DCF Care
Your legal rights in DCF programs

Book: Speak Up! Your Legal Rights in Care 
Videos: I Need to Reach Someone   Getting Heard   Moving On   Now What?
Video: Legal Rights in Group Care

DCF Adolescent Policies
DCF programs and rules for teens

DCF Bill of Rights and Expectations
DCF and Connecticut Youth Advisory Board, 2015

Turning 18: Can You Stay in DCF Care?

What Happens When I Turn 18? 800 from DCF? Watch this video. 
Info Flyer about Support for Youth who Receive an 800 Form   
Form for Youth to Request Continuing DCF Involvement

DCF to DMHAS – What Happens When I Turn 18?
Aging out of DCF Care. 

If DCF is Your Legal Guardian
Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut (LARCC)

Youth Who “Age Out” of Foster Care Eligible for HUSKY Health Coverage Until Age 26
Connecticut Voices for Children

Social Security Income (SSI) for Youth Leaving DCF Care

DCF Adolescent and Transitional Services  (website)

Foster Care Alumni  (website)

National Network for Young People in Foster Care  (website)

What can I do if my boyfriend/girlfriend is hurting me?
Is your boyfriend/girlfriend hurting you, screaming, stalking or sending threatening messages?

Sexting is Against the Law
Read this to find out what could happen to you!

Sexting and Bullying
PPT presentation “Think before you send that sext.”

Break the Cycle (English or Spanish) (website)

Center for Adolescent Health and the Law (website)

Heathersvoice.net (English or Spanish)  (website)
Teen dating violence – where to call for help

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

CCADV – website and hotline to find help

Teen Dating Violence: Identification and Information

Stopped or Arrested?
Know your Rights in a Police Encounter

Can I Get My Record Erased?
Police Records, Court Records, School Discipline Records

Connecticut Juvenile Justice System
A Guide for Youth and Families

Legal Rights in Juvenile Detention
What are your rights in Juvenile Detention?

Back to School from CJTS or Pueblo
Does your school have to let you return?

Free Legal Help – Asistencia Legal Gratuita
Free legal help to get your record erased, get your driver’s license or ID, stay in school or get back into school, get benefits like food and cash assistance

How Can I Get Emancipated?
What are my rights and responsibilities if I get emancipated?

How to Get your Birth Certificate
The law can help you

A Teenager’s Guide to Emancipation
Legal Resource Center of Connecticut (LARCC)

HUSKY Health Care
Information about State health insurance

Is it Confidential? (English)  (Spanish)
Can you see a doctor without your parent’s or guardian’s consent?
Information on reproductive health care, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, birth control, abortion, safe havens for newborns.

Statutory Rape – Definitions and the Law
If your boyfriend or girlfriend is 3 years older than you, can you get in trouble with the law?

Youth Who Age Out of Foster Care are Eligible for HUSKY Health Coverage until Age 21
Healthcare Benefits – Connecticut Voices

Center for Adolescent Health and the Law (website)

Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition (website)

English Language Learners (ELLs)
What are your rights at school?

ELL Legal Rights – Spanish and English brochure

Driver’s License – How to Get your License if you’re Undocumented
The Department of Motor Vehicles website offers information and a link to schedule your appointment.
Be sure to download the materials or get the app from this website and STUDY BEFORE YOU GO!

Immigration – What are my rights? What are my options?
Can I go to school? Can I become a legal permanent resident of the US?

Inmigracion – Cuales son mi derechos? Que opciones tengo?
Puedo ir a la escuela? Como me convierto a un residente permanente legal?

What to do if you are Approached by ICE
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Center for Children’s Advocacy 2017)

FREE Immigrant Legal Advice Hotline: 800-798-0671
Connecticut Legal Services staffed M-F 9-5; message can be left anytime.

Living in Connecticut: Immigrants and Refugee Teens (English, Spanish, Karen)
Information about school, work, ID cards for immigrant and refugee teens.

“Deferred Action” for Youth brought to the U.S. as Children (USCIS.gov)

Supporting Undocumented & Unaccompanied Youth In School (NAEHCY Report)

How to Renew/Replace Permanent Resident Card  (English)   (Spanish)

Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (website)

Education Resource Guide for Undocumented High School and College Students

American Civil Liberties Union – Immigrants’ Rights  (website)

Immigrant Legal Resource Center  (website)

National Immigration Law Center  (website)

National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild  (website)

LGBT Teens – What are my rights? 
Are you being bullied or discriminated against? Your legal rights in school, foster care, detention and home.

Know Your Rights: Trans or Gender Nonconforming Legal Rights
Unchanged: Trans and Gender Nonconforming Legal Rights, Center for Children’s Advocacy, 2020

Legal Protections for Transgender People
GLAD, Know Your Rights

A Place of Respect
A Guide for Group Care Facilities Serving Transgender & Gender Non-Conforming Youth

Getting Down to Basics
Lambda Legal

Connecticut Chapter of GLSEN
(Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network)

Connecticut GLAD Resources
(Gay and Lesbian Advocates & Defenders website)

Forced Out?
Couch surfing? No stable place to live? Check out  your legal rights.

Gender Designation Change Form (DMV)

Name Change Form (CT)

Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective  (website)

New Haven Pride Center  (website)

The Trevor Project (website)
Crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth

True Colors  (website)

True Colors Resource Guide

Have you been Forced Out?
Couch surfing? No stable place to live? Check out your legal rights.
How to Get your Birth Certificate
The law can help you

What Happens When I Turn 18? 800 from DCF? Watch this video. 

Programs Serving Runaway & Homeless Youth

Directory of Connecticut Liaisons to Homeless Students 

Connecticut Runaway and Homeless Youth Team (Contact list)

National Network 4 Youth (website)

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth (website)

National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (website)

English Language Learners (ELL)
What are your Rights at School?

Bullying
How do you define “bullying” ?  If I’m being bullied at school, what are my rights?

Detention – Life after Manson
Getting back into school – for youth ages 14-17
Getting back into school – for youth ages 18+

Push Out
If my school wants me out, what can I do?

State Department of Education Link to Information for ELL Students

Financial Aid for College If You Are Not Living with Your Parents
How do I apply for financial aid if my parents won’t help me?

Federal Student Aid for Homeless Youth  Can I go to college if I’m moving around? 

Scholarships for Students in Greater Hartford

Searches in School
Can I be searched in school? What are my legal rights?

Special Education
Can I get special education services to help me learn?

Life After Lockup: What’s Up With School? 
Your legal rights when you return to school and the community.

Rules, Rights and Regulations in School 
Legal Resource Assistance Center of Connecticut (LARCC)  (website)

School Expulsions
Legal Resource Assistance Center of Connecticut (LARCC)  (website)

Starting College: Tips for Special Education and Disabled Students

College for Students who are Homeless
Federal Aid for Homeless Students 
NAEHCY website (National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth)
CSCU and DSS offer free classes to anyone eligible for SNAP at 12 community colleges. Click here for information.

Information provided is intended as a reference only and should not be interpreted as legal advice in an individual case.