Young Adult, Formerly in Foster Care: This Is My Family, Where I Call Home

Desiree is an alumna of the foster care system. She lived with the same foster care family for 14 years. She entered foster care with three of her siblings, and wants to use her experiences growing up in foster care to make a difference for those still in the system.

Publication year: 2017

Author:

Capacity Building Center for States

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Description

Shares Desiree's story about living with the same foster family for 14 years, the stigma associated with being in foster care, and the importance of building and sustaining relationships for children and youth in foster care.

Questions to Promote Discussion

What images throughout Desiree’s story illustrated healthy development and normalcy?
What did normalcy feel like for Desiree?
How does the label “foster care” impact children and youth’s ability to feel normal?
How can you encourage relationships with children and youth?
How can social workers promote normalcy for children and youth in their caseloads?
What kinds of strategies do you currently use that can create long-lasting connections?
Desiree was fortunate to experience placement stability. How did that impact her healthy development?

Print these materials for use in your next training.

This Is My Family, This Is Where I Call Home

About Normalcy and the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard

More From This Series

Authentic Voices Video Series: Sharing Our Perspective

Adoptive Family: DNA Doesn’t Define a Family—Love Does

Adoptive Family: Negotiating “Normal”

Community-Based Provider: Empowering Caregiver Decision-Making

Kinship Family: Creating a Sense of Belonging

Kinship Family: He Is an Extension of Me

Kinship Family: They Are My Daughters

Kinship Family: You Get a Call, Do You Want These Kids?

Perspectives on Normalcy Handout: DNA Doesn't Define Family, Love Does

Perspectives on Normalcy Handout: You Get a Call, "Do You Want These Kids?"

Special Needs Family: Supporting Autistic Persons

Training Resources and Information

Young Adult, Formerly in Congregate Care: Treat Me Like a Normal Child

Young Adult, Formerly in Foster Care: Having the Right People Ask the Right Questions

Young Adult, Formerly in Foster Care: My People Heal Us

Young Adult, Formerly in Foster Care: Reclaiming My Name

Suggested Citation

Capacity Building Center for States (2021). Young Adult, Formerly in Foster Care: This Is My Family, Where I Call Home. Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Capacity Building Center for States.

Perspectives on Normalcy Handout: This Is My Family, This Is Where I Call Home

Facilitates discussion about the normalcy issues raised in the Young Adult Formerly in Foster Care: This Is My Family, This Is Where I Call Home video, which is part of the Center for States’ Perspectives on Normalcy: Videos and Discussion Questions product.

Publication Year 2016

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