Mental Health Considerations for Foster Parents

As we reflect on Mental Health Awareness Month coming to a close, it's important to understand that addressing mental health challenges with our youth is a constant learning process.
Today I'm collabing with Jessica from United Friends of the Children (MSW and counselor) to showcase some considerations when supporting the mental health needs of kids impacted by foster care.
While this is not professional advice, it's crucial to always reach out to your child's worker or therapist for support.
Have you faced similar challenges? What mental health issues are you currently dealing with? Let us know in the comments below!
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #FosterCareSupport #MentalHealthMatters #fosterparent #fosterparenting #fostercare
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[@lisahines532]

Thank you so much! I am a therapist and these are all really good. I think all parents need to hear this, not just foster parents!

[@NovasYouTubeName]

I completely agree!!

[@anthropomorphicpeanut6160]

Yes!! I wish more people watched these videos

[@Janne_Mai]

Yes to the last one. Kids and teenagers who are acting out probably have something going on and could use some empathy, not minimizing or judgment.

[@chloebenson7118]

This is awesome, thank you both for sharing this information

[@KatTheo431]

I was in quite a few foster homes with inexperienced foster parents. In those homes (and especially one where I was their only foster placement and they quit fostering after they disrupted my placement), it seemed like other people where judging if they were (or weren't) good parents by my behavior and how I seemed. They wanted me to seem happy and glad to be there and were upset about me talking about going back to my mom (reunification wasn't possible, so these were foster-to-adopt type homes) because that implied I would rather go back to my "abusive" home than live with them, so something had to be wrong with them. This video just reminded me of all the sort of sickly positive, happy platitudes about putting on a smile and just seeming happy and ignoring my feelings that did entirely invalidate them. Honestly, I don't think those foster parents wanted me to feel that way thus didn't want to hear how I felt and thought they could make me change the way I felt by telling me to pretend to be happy and smile so it made them look good to others.

[@ashleydickison621]

Can you do a video on how you do/would handle kids that have extra curricular activities or sports?

[@deascorner]

as a mentally ill teen that's about to start college, the point about asking your youth about fear/concerns about college made me cry cuz ive been so scared of going to college

[@PredictableEnigma]

I know everyone's experience is different but for me I really struggled in high school and loved college since there was so much freedom and I had control of my situation and my life for the first time instead of others doing it for me. It was still a lot of difficulty and adjustment, but I felt empowered like never before. I hope you enjoy the time after high school to learn to settle into yourself too, no matter where you go ❤

[@NovasYouTubeName]

Thanks for this!!