Are you a Youth 12-18 years old?

We will do our best to help you, we will:

• Listen.
• Give you information about how you can solve your own situation.
• Help you say what you want to say.
• Call someone for you and explain what you want or need.
• Assist you in participating in decisions that affect your life.

We also may:

• Arrange a meeting with all the people involved and try to sort things out.
• Work to change the system for all children and youth having the same problem.
• Work with the community to promote and support advocacy for all children and youth.

What the Children's Advocate Cannot Do

An advocate cannot promise that you will get what you want, but we can help to make sure you are heard and taken seriously. We cannot make decisions about your life or tell your social worker, foster parent or parents what to do. We can try to help you find a solution.

What Happens When you Call

You are your own best advocate, when you call you will be asked:

• What do you need help with?
• What have you tried so far?
• How do you want us to help?

You may be nervous or afraid to call us, but each year hundreds of people call us asking for help. No one has to know you called. If you need help calling us ask someone you trust to call for you. If you are in a foster home, group home or placed outside your home by a child and family service agency you have the right to contact the Office of the Children's Advocate.

Always remember that when a decision is being made about you, you have a right to say what you think, be listened to and be a part of making that decision.

If you don't agree with a decision, or feel that your views weren't taken seriously you have a right to be heard. You also have the right to have someone you trust help you say what you need to say.