As I reflect on my journey from a youth in foster care to social worker, I am reminded of the pivotal moments that shaped my path. Growing up in the child welfare system, I experienced firsthand the challenges and triumphs of navigating a world filled with uncertainty and instability.
National Foster Care Awareness Month this May holds profound significance for me. It’s a time to shed light on the critical issues facing children and families within the foster care system and to challenge the misconceptions and stereotypes that often surround them. Foster parents play a crucial role in shaping the lives of these young individuals, offering them love, stability, and guidance during times of upheaval.
I was in fourth grade when I was placed in foster care, along with my sisters; it was a traumatic experience that, to this day, shapes my view of what we, as a society, can do better to support our youth.
Now, as a social worker with the Children’s Village, I am driven every day by a passion to advocate for the well-being of youth in foster care, drawing upon my own experiences to guide and support others on their journey.
My decision to pursue a career in social work was deeply rooted in my personal experiences in the child welfare system. I believe that to enact meaningful change, one must be actively engaged in the systems they seek to transform. As a social worker, I work directly with families—both birth parents and foster parents—affected by the system, providing them with the support, resources, and guidance they need to navigate the complexities of their circumstances.
I often share my own story with foster care parents, emphasizing the importance of empathy, understanding, and resilience in supporting foster youth. By encouraging open communication and cultivating a sense of belonging, foster parents can empower these youth to thrive and succeed despite the obstacles they may face.
To those considering becoming foster care parents, I offer this advice: Do it for the right reasons, recognizing the profound impact you can have on a child’s life. Understand that every child comes with their individual challenges and traumas, but also with immense potential and resilience. Your decision to open your heart and home to a foster child can make a lifelong difference.
Throughout my career, I have witnessed the damaging effects of stereotypes, which unfairly label youth in foster care as “bad” or “troubled” instead of the reality that they have experienced traumatic experiences in their lives. These harmful perceptions, which don’t recognize that many of these youths’ parents often have encountered traumas of their own, and need more resources and support themselves, not only perpetuate stigma but also hinder the opportunities for these young individuals to thrive and succeed.
Witnessing this cycle underscores the urgent need for intervention and support to break the cycle of trauma and create healthier family dynamics. By addressing the underlying issues that contribute to family separation, such as poverty, housing insecurity, and underperforming education systems, we can empower families to heal and thrive together.
In my role, I engage in community-based case planning and collaborating with families to develop comprehensive strategies for reunification and stability. This involves conducting home visits, facilitating family meetings, and advocating for the best interests of the children in our care. Every interaction and every decision holds significant weight and shapes the trajectory of these youths’ lives.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this work is witnessing the resilience and strength of the families I serve. Despite facing immense challenges, they demonstrate an unwavering commitment to overcoming adversity and building brighter futures for themselves and their children.
As we observe National Foster Care Awareness Month, let us reaffirm our commitment to advocate for the rights and well-being of youth in foster care, break down bias and barriers, and enlist more caregivers to welcome these youth into their homes to create more stable, loving environments.
Leslie Washington is a social worker with the Children’s Village.
this article made me think, “is this the only article ive read in a long time on the concerns and context of foster youth?” The fact is it’s true. The only print media to bring the issue up as if print media were something other than a “grab hag” institution. (one of many social institutions primarily focused on survival only, or money) I am a product of the California child protective services and being brown and not black put me in a very different context. I still can’t contextualize my experience in a way that’s positive or useful to myself or society. Mainly because there is no dialogue on the institution. Unless I became a social worker which would put me under the economic boot of the institutions once again. This comment is meant to commend this paper for doing the right thing with print
media.