Do you need help? Do you need answers to legal questions?
The answers in these materials reflect the law in Connecticut but are very general.
If you need help, contact Attorney Stacey Violante Cote.
Benefits (Money, Food, Medical)
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
Husky Healthcare (website) Connecticut Medicaid program
Bullying
If I am being bullied, what are my legal rights?
Check back by August 2025 for an updated version of the anti-bullying brochure.
Sexting is Against the Law
Read this to find out what could happen to you!
Sexting and Bullying
Think before you send that sext.
Criminal Record
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
DCF Care
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)
Dating and Abuse
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!
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
Detention, Delinquency and Juvenile Justice
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
Emancipation
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)
Health Care and Mental Health Care
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, and safe havens for newborns.
Moving Around A lot? Couch Surfing? No Stable Place to Live?
Video about CCA’s Mobile Legal Office to Help Youth Who are Homeless
Moving Around
Do I have to change schools if I move around a lot? If I am on my own, what are my rights?
How to Get ID if You Do Not Have It
How to Get your Birth Certificate
The law can help you.
Guide to College for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Housing, food, basic needs, health care
Your Legal Rights (Video on McKinney-Vento Law)
Connecticut State Department of Education resources for homeless students
The Right to Choose Your School (Video on McKinney-Vento Law)
FAFSA Policies for Homeless and Foster Youth, School House Connection, Jan 2021
Federal Student Aid for Homeless Youth Can I go to college if I’m moving around?
What Happens When I Turn 18? Did you get an 800 from DCF?
Watch this video.
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.
Identification (ID)
How to Get ID if You Do Not Have It
How to Get your Birth Certificate
Immigration
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; messages 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)
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)
LGBTQI
LGBT Teens – What are my rights?
Are you being bullied or discriminated against? Your legal rights in school, foster care, detention and home.
Trans and Gender Nonconforming Legal Rights
Legal Protections for Transgender People
GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders
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)
Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective (website)
New Haven Pride Center (website)
The Trevor Project (website)
Crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth
Pregnant and Parenting Teens
Child Support and Teen Fathers
How do I establish paternity? Can I have visitation rights?
Child Support and Teen Mothers
How do I establish paternity? Why should I file for child support?
TFA Cash Assistance for Teen Parents
Can I get cash assistance to help me take care of my child?
Safe Havens for Newborns
CT Department of Children & Families
CT Dept of Health and Human Services: Maternal and Child Health Programs
Teenager’s Guide to Child Support
Legal Assistance Resource Center of CT
Center for Adolescent Health and the Law (website)
Runaway and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Are You Moving Around A lot?
Couch surfing? No stable place to live? Check out your legal rights.
How to Get Your Birth Certificate
The law can help you
No Place to Put My Stuff This video is about teenagers who left DCF care when they turned 18 and the problems they faced while on their own.
Directory of Connecticut Liaisons to Students Experiencing Homelessness
National Network 4 Youth (website)
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth (website)
School
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?
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)
Information provided is intended as a reference only and should not be interpreted as legal advice in an individual case.
Do you need more information about your own situation?
Attorney Stacey Violante Cote
860-570-5327
sviolante@cca-ct.org
Attorney Nate Fox
860-570-5327 ext. 261
nfox@cca-ct.org
SpeakUpTeens.org for more info
