News Release
California Tribal Families Coalition
Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria
Jenner & Block
With pro bono support from Jenner & Block, the California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC) and Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria filed a lawsuit this week against Humboldt County and the State of California for discriminatory treatment of tribal foster youth.
The litigation targets Humboldt County’s practice of improperly denying resources to tribal youth after they leave the foster care system at age 18. Tribal youth are the only group of foster youth being denied these resources by the County.
“Native children are already overrepresented in the foster care system in Humboldt County. Adding to this inequity, Humboldt County instituted an improper policy that specifically singles out and denies tribal youth the supportive services that other foster youth receive to help them transition to independent living when they turn 18 years old,” said Chairperson Josefina Frank of the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria.
“Humboldt County officials have ignored our communications for eight months seeking to reverse this discriminatory practice, leaving us with no option but to file a lawsuit to compel the County to provide tribal youth the support they have been promised,” said Kimberly Cluff, Legal Director for the California Tribal Families Coalition.
Studies show that former foster youth are at dramatically higher risk for suicide, homelessness, incarceration, substance abuse and pregnancy in comparison to non-foster youth. Social services agencies and advocates determined that abruptly cutting off support resources to foster youth when they turn 18 exacerbated these outcomes.
In response, California and other states created programs to provide ongoing resources to assist foster youth in their transition to independent living, which have shown to improve outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Humboldt County provides these extended resources to foster youth from other groups but has enacted a specific policy that improperly denies tribal youth access to these resources. The County’s action appeared to be based on an erroneous 2013 direction from the State of California, which was subsequently rescinded after the state determined it was discriminatory. However, the state has not taken action to require Humboldt County to follow the law and end this discriminatory practice.
The complaint was filed in Humboldt County Superior Court in Eureka, CA.
About the California Tribal Families Coalition
Comprised of tribes and tribal leaders from across the state, the California Tribal Families Coalition’s mission is to promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of tribal children and families, which are inherent tribal governmental functions and are at the core of tribal sovereignty and tribal governance. For information, please visit https://www.caltribalfamilies.org
About Jenner & Block
Jenner & Block LLP is a law firm with global reach, with offices in Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. The firm is known for its prominent and successful litigation practice, global investigations practice, regulatory and government controversies work, and experience handling sophisticated and high-profile corporate transactions. Its clients include Fortune 100 companies, technology companies, large privately held corporations, emerging companies, Native American tribes, and venture capital and private equity investors. The American Lawyer has recognized Jenner & Block as the No. 1 pro bono firm in the United States in 11 of the last 15 years.
