I'm speaking to age of adulthood. Prior to age of adulthood none of those things can happen unless, you become emancipated from your parents, or the govt. decided to try a 13 y.o. as an adult (although, technically, they are not an adult, until age 18).
What you may be asking about is the Equal Protection clause, of our 14th Amendment. There are also state laws, and federal laws, enacted to protect children. However, a child is considered a person, of whom, the parents have the right to exercise control. If they do not do so, then that is when the state steps in, to protect the child. In other words, the way I understand it, it's my job to protect my child, and their rights, and if I fail to do so, the govt. will step in. IANAL, but, in seeing the "system", and foster parents, and parent plans, to try to mend a family, this is just my take on the subject. I will say this, it is unimaginable, how many young people are grimin on the streets. Literally couch surfing from night to night. Unless we address some of these root causes, in this country, we will never get anywhere. There is so much going on in the streets, and in the underbelly of these little towns that look a white picket fence dreams, that no one ever sees. Reminds me of Eminem's song, White America. No one cares til it reaches the middle class neighborhoods...
No one should be without a home or love in that home, IMO.
