Religious Rights of Youth in Out-of-Home Care

This publication examines State laws and policies that affirm the right of youth who are in out-of-home care to have their choice of religion respected by their caregivers. The responsibility of child-placing agencies to find placements that either match the youth's religious affiliation or have foster caregivers, including foster parents or staff in group care facilities, who are willing and able to support the youth's connection to their faith community is also discussed. This publication presents a general overview of this aspect of child welfare law. Summaries of laws on this topic for all individual States and U.S. territories are available from the State Statutes Search page.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

This publication is a product of the State Statutes Series prepared by Child Welfare Information Gateway. While every attempt has been made to be as complete as possible, additional information on these topics may be in other sections of a State's code as well as agency regulations, case law, and informal practices and procedures.