May is National Foster Care Month, so before it ends, I’ve updated my list of resources for LGBTQ people considering becoming foster parents—useful all year ’round!
- The official National Foster Care Month site, from the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has lots of great information, including some specifically for LGBTQ foster parents, and also offers a guide for foster parents caring for LGBTQ youth.
- Raise a Child is a non-profit advocacy organization that is a leader in recruiting and supporting LGBTQ and all prospective foster and foster-to-adopt parents. They offer a personalized parent advocate program to help prospective parents navigate the foster/adoption process with their partner agencies, a nationwide referral network, and numerous events and public education campaigns.
- HRC has a good overview of the steps involved in becoming a foster parent, along with tips on finding an LGBTQ-friendly agency, plus a list of agencies that have achieved all of their All Children – All Families Benchmarks of LGBTQ+ Inclusion.
- Want to know whether your state has laws that may restrict LGBTQ people from fostering? Check out the maps from the Movement Advancement Project and AdoptUSKids.
- Gays With Kids offers a lot of information about fostering, aimed at queer men (but perhaps useful to others, too).
- If you want to talk with other foster parents, but don’t know any (or want to know more), you may want to explore some LGBTQ parent groups: Family Equality has a list of LGBTQ parent groups around the country (although not all of the parents there are foster parents). It also offers a glossary of terms related to foster care and adoption.
- The National Foster Parent Association also offers much general information on foster care. While it includes some LGBTQ-specific resources, most are the same as above (but indicate the organization is LGBTQ friendly).
- Finally, check out the books for kids and adults on fostering and adoption in my database.
I hope these resources help to get you started. Best wishes as you continue your journey!