Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 57 resources
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Access to public education and school rights
A Guide for Public School Students in WA
(Separate Website)
This guide provides general information on students' rights in Washington state public schools. It is not meant to provide legal advice. This guide does not address the rights of students in private schools tribal schools public colleges or universities.
By: ACLU
Educating Homeless Children and Youth
(Separate Website)
2005 Guide to their rights. Link to PDF file.
By: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
Education of Homeless Children and Youth
A short fact sheet about the federal McKinney-Vento Act which protects the rights of children and youth in homeless situations to attend and succeed in school, including pre-school.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Independence for Foster Youth
(Separate Website)
Lots of great information for foster youth on education, housing, employment, etc.
By: DSHS
Make a Difference in a Child's Life - Education Advocacy Manual
(Separate Website)
A manual for helping children and youth get what they need in school.
By: TeamChild
Parent's Guide to School Board Advocacy in WA
(Separate Website)
Th is publication is designed to serve as a tool for parents who want to communicate and advocate before their school board. It is not meant to provide legal advice.
By: ACLU
School Rights of Immigrant and Refugee Children and their Parents in Washington State
All children living in the United States have a right to go to public school for free regardless of their immigration status. This publication explains this and other school rights.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
Students and Parents! Know Your Rights in Disciplinary Proceedings**
This publication lists your rights with regard to school discipline and disciplinary proceedings.
By: TeamChild
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Truancies and School Attendance
Information about what happens when your child does not attend school and the school files a truancy action.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Equity Education
(Separate Website)
The equity education program is designed to ensure all students have equal opportunities in education regardless of their race, national origin, gender or special needs. Equity education staff provide technical assistance to district officials to help them better understand and implement state and federal equity laws, and monitor their activities for compliance with those laws.
By: Superintendent of Public Education
How to File a Discrimination Complaint with the Office for Civil Rights
(Separate Website)
Anyone who believes that an educational institution that receives Federal financial assistance has discriminated against someone on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age, or who believes that a public elementary or secondary school, or State or local education agency has violated the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, may file a complaint. The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination, but may complain on behalf of another person or group.
By: Office for Civil Rights
Emancipation of Minors If you are a resident of Washington and are at least 16, but not yet 18, and you want to be legally considered an adult, you can use this packet to ask the court to order that you be emancipated (legally declared an adult).
By: Northwest Justice Project
Independence for Foster Youth
(Separate Website)
Lots of great information for foster youth on education, housing, employment, etc.
By: DSHS
Child Advocacy Central - Helping People Help Youth
(Separate Website)
Lots of useful information for foster care parents, adoptive parents, relative care providers, parents and child care providers.
Foster Care Publications
(Separate Website)
This web site offers many publications on the topic of foster care including "Assessing the Affects of Foster Care" and "Federal Tax Benefits for Foster and Adoptive Parents" and "A Guide to SSI and Social Security Benefits for Children and Youth in Out-of-Home Care".
By: Casey Family Programs
Independence for Foster Youth
(Separate Website)
Lots of great information for foster youth on education, housing, employment, etc.
By: DSHS
Educating Homeless Children and Youth
(Separate Website)
2005 Guide to their rights. Link to PDF file.
By: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
Education of Homeless Children and Youth
A short fact sheet about the federal McKinney-Vento Act which protects the rights of children and youth in homeless situations to attend and succeed in school, including pre-school.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Independence for Foster Youth
(Separate Website)
Lots of great information for foster youth on education, housing, employment, etc.
By: DSHS
Mediation: Should I Use It?
(Separate Website)
3226EN - Mediation is an informal way to resolve disputes without going to court. The parties attempt to negotiate a mutually agreeable settlement with the help of a neutral mediator. Mediation can be used in many types of disputes.
By: Legal Voice
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Office of Public Defense - Spokane County
(Separate Website)
Office of the Public Defender - King County
(Separate Website)
Information on where to go and how to request an attorney for a criminal matter at public expense.
Sealing Juvenile Court Records in Washington State In Washington, juvenile court records do not automatically disappear when an individual turns 18. In fact, almost all your juvenile records remain open for the public to view unless you ask a court to “seal” them. This packet contains the forms and instructions necessary to help you do this on your own.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Washington: An assessment of Access to Counsel and Quality of Representation in Juvenile Offender
(Separate Website)
The first-ever report assessing the quality of attorneys representing children in Washington’s juvenile offender cases will be released today. The report finds that, while there are successes and failures in every county, many counties fail to enact and follow professional standards of public defense, that defenders often are not adequately trained or supervised, and that excessive caseloads inhibit proper representation.
By: American Bar Association
A Kinship Caregiver's Guide to Consenting to Health Care A kinship caregiver is a relative who is taking care of a child but is not the child's parent. This guide provides a child's kinship caregiver information about consenting to health care options.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Application for Children's Medical Benefits
(Separate Website)
Application form for persons under the age of 19 who want medical benefits.
Basic Health Plus - Medical Coverage for Children
(Separate Website)
Basic Health Plus is a Medicaid program for children in qualified households. If you are eligible for Basic Health your children may be eligible for Basic Health Plus. They must be under age 19 and U.S. citizens or legal residents who arrived in the U.S. on or before August 22 1996. If your children are not living in your household you may be able to enroll them in Basic Health but not Basic Health Plus.
By: DSHS
DSHS Apple Health for Kids Medical Programs
Medical programs in Washington provide full medical and dental coverage for children whose families have incomes up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Read this publication to find out who qualifies.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
DSHS Application for Children's Medical Benefits
(Separate Website)
Department of Social & Health Services application for children's medical benefits.
Good News! The Children's Health Care Program is back in 2006 Medical coverage for children of low-income familes is available.
By: Healthy Kids Now!
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Health Care Rights of those Under 18 Years of Age
This publication outlines what health care services you may receive without the consent of a parent or guardian.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Healthy Ties: The Grandparent's and Other Relatives Guide to Health Insurance for Children
(Separate Website)
What you need to know about Medicaid and The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
By: Children's Defense Fund
Independence for Foster Youth
(Separate Website)
Lots of great information for foster youth on education, housing, employment, etc.
By: DSHS
Living Will Registry
(Separate Website)
The Washington State Living Will Registry allows you to store your living will documents in a secure, online database. A living will gives you the power to record your medical decisions in the event you're unable to communicate and gives your physician vital information about your treatment wishes. Only authorized health care providers may access and view your documents in the registry. The registry also stores your emergency contact information so that family and next of kin can be contacted.
By: Department of Health
Providing Health Care to Minors Under Washington Law A summary of health care services that can be provided to minors without the consent of their parents or guardians.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Make a Difference in a Child's Life - Education Advocacy Manual
(Separate Website)
A manual for helping children and youth get what they need in school.
By: TeamChild
Parent's Guide to Public School Discipline in WA
(Separate Website)
Th is guide provides nuts-and-bolts advice for parents and guardians whose children are facing disciplinary proceedings in public schools.
By: ACLU
Parents' Guide to Truancy in Washington
(Separate Website)
Th is guide is designed to help parents understand their children’s rights in the truancy process. It is not meant to provide legal advice. Students who want to learn more about their rights can also use this guide, but we recommend that they ask a trusted adult or youth advocate to help them through the process.
By: ACLU
Students and Parents! Know Your Rights in Disciplinary Proceedings**
This publication lists your rights with regard to school discipline and disciplinary proceedings.
By: TeamChild
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Truancies and School Attendance
Information about what happens when your child does not attend school and the school files a truancy action.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Independent Educational Evaluations
(Separate Website)
A student's eligibility for special education and related services is determined through an educational evaluation, a process of gathering information about the student's strengths, interests, and needs and whether the student has a disability requiring specially designed instruction.
By: Disability Rights Washington
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
(Separate Website)
If your child is eligible for special education and related services, the school must prepare an IEP for your child. An IEP is a written education plan, individualized to meet your child?s needs. It describes educational goals for your child, the programs and services that the school will provide, and how your child?s progress toward the goals will be measured.
By: Disability Rights Washington
Other Formats:
PDF File
Make a Difference in a Child's Life - Education Advocacy Manual
(Separate Website)
A manual for helping children and youth get what they need in school.
By: TeamChild
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.
Home Page
(Separate Website)
