When I tell people I’m a Christian foster parent who specifically wants to take in LGBTQ youth, I usually get one of two reactions: confusion or outright hostility. How can a Christian specifically want LGBTQ kids? Isn’t that contradictory? Here’s what I tell them: I’ve seen what happens when faith-based agencies and foster homes prioritize…
Author: Christi Brown
What I Didn’t Say About the Foster Care Executive Order (And Why I Need To Say It Now)
This morning I wrote about the “Fostering the Future” executive order, comparing it to California’s existing programs. I deliberately kept that post politically neutral, focusing on the practical programs and resources available to foster youth aging out of the system. But I left something out. Something important. A facebook commenter called me out on it,…
Understanding Trump’s Foster Care Executive Order: What It Adds to California’s Existing Programs
Last week, President Trump signed an executive order called “Fostering the Future” with much fanfare in the White House. First Lady Melania Trump championed the initiative as a groundbreaking effort to help foster youth transition to adulthood. The press coverage was glowing. The ceremony was emotional. And as a foster parent with a daughter who’s…
When Good Intentions Meet Reality: Why Foster Parents Need to Meet Teens Where They Are
I’ve been mulling over a Facebook post I saw in a foster parent support group this week. A foster parent was venting about a difficult situation with a teen who had recently left their home. The details aren’t as important as the broader conversation it sparked—one that I think gets to the heart of a…
Your Foster Teen Isn’t ‘Lazy’ – Understanding Executive Dysfunction from Trauma
I need to tell you something that might save your placement: that “lazy” foster teen? Their probably not lazy at all. I know what it looks like. They can’t get out of bed in the morning. They leave their homework until the last minute (or don’t do it at all). Their room is a disaster….
The Rights Your Foster Teen Needs to Know (And Why You Need to Teach Them)
I need to talk about something that doesn’t get discussed enough in foster parent circles: Are you teaching your foster teen about their rights? Not just mentioning them in passing. Not just hanging a poster on the wall that nobody reads. I mean actually sitting down and going through the California Foster Youth Bill of…
Why Foster Teens Lie (And It’s Not What You Think)
Let’s talk about something that makes foster parents absolutely lose their minds: lying. Your foster teen looks you straight in the eye and tells you something you know isn’t true. Maybe it’s small – “I did my homework” when you can see the blank assignment sheet. Maybe its bigger – “I was at Sarah’s house”…