Cerebral Palsy

"What helped me get through it is my strong faith in God." Over the years, Garcia lived in four foster homes and one group home.

When she complained about abuse, Garcia said, her caseworker didn't believe her.

She was prescribed medications for depression and anxiety that made her feel like a zombie.

Throughout her foster life she had inadequate knowledge about her legal rights, which included the right to consent to some or all of her medical care once she was 16 years old.

Had she known about her rights, she said she would have refused some of the drugs.

"I knew I had an attorney, but I wasn't told that I could contact her at any time, and I didn't even know how to contact her," Garcia said.

"Plus she didn't really know me, she just knew my name on paper." 'Respect and hope'Senate Bill 805, which passed the Senate earlier this month and sits in the House Human Services Committee, empowers foster youth by educating them about their rights.

The bill, by Sen.

Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, establishes the foster children's bill of rights.

"All children have a bill of rights, but foster kids are special kids," Uresti said.

"They are the children of Texas, and Texas is responsible for them." In 2006, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services esti...

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