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Resources for Youth
You should have the opportunity to achieve your potential, to go after the life you want, and to feel like you belong. Having a stable, committed, and loving family is an important piece of this journey and can provide you support as you process what has happened and guidance to help you reach your goals. Whether you are considering adoption or guardianship, it is important that you express yourself. What does family mean to you? Share your thoughts, needs, and feelings—especially your concerns—so that your caseworker can help you process them. Below are some resources to help you share your own unique story, explore permanency, and better understand how your past trauma and loss may affect your relationships.
Ensuring Positive Youth Development: Creating and Enhancing Youth Networks
Libertin, Stevens, and Ross (2018)
Adoptalk, 4
Discusses how an adult can support a youth network by providing a safe space for youth to discover themselves, helping them to share their stories, and teaching them essential life skills.
Strategic Sharing: Using Personal Stories for Child Welfare Advocacy [Webinar]
VanDyke & Stevens (2017)
North American Council on Adoptable Children
Addresses why personal stories can make a difference in addressing system change and how groups and agencies can plan for parent and youth advocacy efforts.
Tools for Success: A Toolkit for Child Welfare Professionals to Achieve Permanency and Stability for Youth in Foster Care (PDF - 7,250 KB)
Youth Fostering Change & Juvenile Law Center (2018)
Includes the definition of and legal obligations for permanency planning as well as tools and best practices for professionals who work with youth on permanency planning.
Training and Equipping Young Leaders
Foster Youth in Action
Offers training and services to build leadership and organizing skills for youth currently or formerly in foster care nationwide.
Training for Youth
Foster Club (2018)
Provides resources that focus on engaging youth in child welfare policy and systems change, including conferences, workshops, panel presentations, and more.
What Is Complex Trauma: A Resource Guide for Youth and Those Who Care About Them (PDF - 1,076 KB)
Spinazzola, Habib, Blaustein, Knoverek, Kisiel, Stolbach, et al. (2017)
Defines complex trauma and how it can impact youth and provides coping strategies. Clinicians, caregivers, and other adults can also use the guide to have conversations with youth about complex trauma.
Youth Are Never Too Old to Be Adopted
Flynn & Welch (2017)
North American Council on Adoptable Children
Discusses the experiences of two older youth who were adopted, why they decided to go through the adoption process, the best and worst part of being adopted, and why it worked for them.
Youth Led Organizing: A Strategy for Healing and Child Welfare Systems Change (PDF - 16,600 KB)
Rosen, Gennari, and Mandic (2018)
Foster Youth in Action
Provides a report championing youth-led organizing as a powerful strategy for engaging youth in foster care.
Explore what family means to you and the questions you have about being adopted and discuss these issues with your caseworker and other trusted adults.
Ask your caseworker about ways to connect with youth and young adults who have been adopted from foster care, so you can hear about their experiences.
Consider what information you would feel comfortable sharing with prospective families. Look at the In-Depth Profiles for ideas.
Identify people who are important to you that you would like to reconnect with and ask your caseworker to help you.
