February's Support Group topic

Inclusion

Foster Care is diverse within both the population of foster children in care and the adults who choose to become foster parents. A growing understanding of how you can help your child or teen feel included and valued will strengthen your bond. The following resources embody Hope and Home’s desire to assist families towards relational unity, a sense of belonging, and respect for everyone.  

Doctor examining child's throat in clinic

Hair Love

Hair love shows a playful depiction of a father who is stepping into the role of the home “hairdresser” in place of her mom. 

As foster parents we often step into roles that are unexpected and potentially uncomfortable. While these roles may feel out of our comfort zone this story reminds us that even the day-to-day duty — like caring for your little one’s hair — can hold emotion and weight.

  • What specific interests are important to your foster child’s development?
  • We encourage you to lean into diversity with an inclusive mindset. How can you help curate and develop a sense of belonging to the child in your home?

Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging

Check out the Venn Diagram (below). Consider how the three topics of Diversity, Inclusion and Equality lend towards the feeling of Belonging. Each are essential in their own way.

  • Can you think of a time where one or more of these areas was not present in a social setting?
  • How did this effect the interactions of the group?
venn diagram

Articles on Diversity in Family and Foster Care

  1. Embracing Family Diversity is an excellent resource for foster parents who are seeking to be aware of diversity in their own home. While the article focuses on holidays and inclusivity the spirit of this resource is an encouragement to seek to know your child’s background from many angles.
  2. Supporting Cultural Identity for Children in Foster Care uses statistics and a case example that builds the argument for the importance of building stronger cultural identity in foster children. The study explains many benefits to the inclusion mindset of foster parents. Including:
    • Improving your child’s social well-being
    • Developing strong core values
    • Supporting healthy coping mechanisms
    • Interacting well with others

Lessons My Daughter with Autism has Taught Me

Diversity is more than just our race, ethnicity or culture. Diversity values the inclusion of adults and children with disabilities. This TedTalk is given by a father with a daughter who is diagnosed with autism. He beautifully describes the perspective shift he experienced in allowing his daughter to teach him about her world.

Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth

Check out this resource on Supporting LGBTQ + Youth: A Guide to Foster Parents. This guide gives parents tips on how they might support, affirm and love their foster child well. “Gaining that trust takes time, patience, and consistency. That’s what [my foster mother] gave me.”
—LGBTQ+ youth in foster care

Did you know that “LGBTQ youth who reported having been in foster care had three times greater odds of reporting a past-year suicide attempt compared to those who had not.” This heartbreaking statistic illustrates how important it is for foster parents who are an affirming safe place to land for children and teens in foster care.