Helpful Links

The following is a collection of links, divided by topic, that provide useful information for youth in care and their advocates.

General

http://www.youthsuccessnyc.org

This link provides a listing of resources on a variety of issues common to youth in care.  Additionally, it links to Represent! Magazine, a magazine written by youth in care and dealing with issues they face in their daily lives.

Sex & Sexuality

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/teen-talk/

This website provides information on a variety of topics dealing with sexuality for teens.  Information is neatly organized into easy to search topics.

http://www.scarleteen.com/

This site provides practical information on sex, sexually transmitted diseases, practical questions from young people on sex, and a variety of other related topics.

http://www.sexetc.org/

This site also provides practical information on sex, as well as a section on various state laws regarding sex.

http://www.loveisnotabuse.com/web/guest/home

This site provides information regarding domestic abuse, and also has a list of resources available to teens who are victims of domestic abuse.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/tcny/dv_resource_directory.pdf

This is a directory of domestic violence counseling centers and shelters available in New York.

www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/fhs/pdirectory.pdf

This site provides a listing of birth control clinics in New York

Money Matters

www.annualcreditreport.com

This website allows you to request one free credit report per year from each of the major credit reporting agencies.

http://www.smartaboutmoney.org

This site provides practical financial advice and information about managing money.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

This is the FTC’s site on identity theft, providing resources to prevent ID theft, find out when your identity may have been stolen, and fight back when identity theft occurs.

Legal Resources

http://lawhelp.org/NY/

This site provides a listing of free legal resources available in New York, even specifying what help is available for particular legal issues.

www.legal-aid.org/selfhelp/

This website provides answers to legal questions frequently asked by youth in care.

Housing Issues

www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/tenants/section_8.shtml

This provides information on Section 8 housing in New York.

www.nyc.gov/html/housinginfo/html/home/home.shtml

This site provides general information on affordable housing in New York.

Entitlements

https://a858-ihss.nyc.gov/

This site provides information as to what benefits you may be entitled to receive, and how to apply for them..

Education

www.opt-osfns.org/osfns/meals/lyfe.aspx

This site provides information on the LYFE program, which provides daycare for parents in foster care wishing to continue their education.

http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/AlternativesHS/LearningtoWork/default.htm

This site provides information on alternative education methods that prepare foster youth to enter the work place directly following high school.

www.fafsa.ed.gov

This site provides information on free applications for federal student aid.

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html

This site deals with federal programs for student aid.

https://www.statevoucher.org

This site provides information on New York’s Education and Training Vouchers (ETVs)]

http://www.hesc.com/content.nsf

This site provides information regarding New York state programs for student aid.

www.cuny.edu

This site contains information on all of the City University of New York programs.

www.suny.edu/

This site contains information on all of the State University of New York programs.