Supporting Expectant And Parenting Youth with Jordan Otero, Episode 85

"If you can find what that person is struggling with and really address it there, then they're going to be able to want to help themselves and push forward."—Jordan Otero, FosterClub

Supporting expectant and parenting youth in foster care requires coordinated, relationship-centered support from professionals, caregivers, peers, and community partners. In this episode, Child Welfare Information Gateway's Gabriel Foley speaks with Jordan Otero of FosterClub about challenges young parents in care may face, including uncertainty about independence, access to services, and concerns about whether their own children could become involved with the child welfare system.

The conversation highlights the importance of helping youth understand available supports, including independent living services. Jordan emphasizes that professionals should educate themselves about available services and create safe spaces where youth can ask questions and seek help without fear of judgment. 

The episode also explores the power of peer support, including peer navigator programs and youth groups for expectant and parenting youth. Jordan encourages young people and professionals to advocate for these supports where they do not already exist and to draw on examples from other States. 

For foster parents and other caregivers, Jordan offers a practical framing: support the young person as the parent of their own child while taking on a role similar to a grandparent—providing guidance, normalcy, and encouragement without overstepping. The episode closes with a reminder that supporting young parents in care takes a village. 

The following individual is featured in this episode:

Jordan Otero, FosterClub, is a lived expert and intensive foster care case manager with experience advocating for youth at the State and national levels. His work includes leadership with the Indiana Youth Advisory Board and testimony before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. Jordan brings expertise in supporting transition-age youth, young fathers, and expectant and parenting youth in foster care. 

Topics discussed include the following: 

• How expecting or parenting while in care can affect a youth's pursuit of independence or permanency
• The importance of understanding the needs met by services available to youth in foster care
• How professionals can create safe, nonjudgmental spaces for youth to seek support
• The role of peer navigators, peer groups, and lived experience engagement in supporting expectant and parenting youth
• Ways foster parents and other caregivers can support young parents without overstepping their parenting role
• How a youth's broader support network can work together to meet immediate needs and strengthen long-term stability