Views on Foster Care and Adoption in North Carolina
Resiliency in Child Welfare
Every day in North Carolina there are countless examples of resiliency being shown by children,
youth, families, resource parents, and professionals. The majority ofthese examples go unseen and
are done without praise or recognition. Resiliency can be hard to describe. Forthose living through
a challenging time what may seem like resiliency to us may just feel like "surviving" to them.
In this issue of Fostering Perspectives, our contributors wanted to share all the different ways that
people can teach, demonstrate, and build resiliency. Through a variety of viewpoints people share
their experiences, tips, and strategies all with the ultimate goal of trying to help others overcome
their own challenges. Hopefully this issue inspires, educates, and enlightens you to think of all the
different ways resiliency can be shown, and what you can do to build resiliency in yourself and
others. We hope you find it helpful.
Beauty Marks: The Power of Mental Health
Awareness and Resiliency for Youth in Care By Lashaunda Lucas PhD, MSW, LCSW
In this Issue
Building Resilient Resource Parents 3
Nurturing Foster Youth with Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities Through Understanding 4
Nurturing Reunited Families:
The Journey of Fostering After Reunification 5
The Role of the Guardian ad Litem in Child Welfare 6
Messages from Foster Family Alliance of NC 7
Keeping Children and Youth
Connected to their Culture While in Care 9
Resilience In Child Welfare: Two Points of View 10
Housing's Influence on Resiliency 11
Understanding and Nurturing Young
Children who Have Experienced Trauma 1 2
SaySo's Young Adult Leadership Council
Shares What Supportive Caregiving Means to Them 1 3
IAFT in Foster Care:
Building Resilience in Children and Youth 15
The journey for youth in foster care may include experiences marked by
challenges and adversities that can leave imprints on their mental well¬
being. These not only include reasons for coming into care (abuse, neglect,
and dependency), but might also include experiences while in care such
as involvement with child welfare, reduced familial connections, and
experiencing multiple placements. These experiences may lead to the onset
of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, abandonment, rejection, and
challenges with self-esteem. This could lead youth to develop a negative sense
of self, plagued by invisible scars, wounds, and a brokenness that inhibits
successful outcomes. However, when caregivers and professionals engage in
mental health awareness and support youth through a culturally responsive
lens, they can empower youth to change their narrative to one of resilience
and strength.
It is imperative for anyone who supports youth in care to understand
that their adverse experiences can create what I call "Beauty Marks." Beauty
Marks are the evidence of resiliency and strength. They reveal the beauty
in the human experience: that we bend, but don't break. This concept does
not subscribe to the narrative that negative life experiences inevitably leave
us with scars or wounds. It is possible that they leave us with Beauty Marks.
Beauty Marks are the attributes that help shape our identities and forge paths
towards healing and empowerment. Caregivers and professionals can support
the development of Beauty Marks by offering support in navigating adversity,
embracing mental health awareness, building supportive communities,
cultivating self-compassion, and empowering youth's voices.
Youth in care face several adversities, from the trauma of separation from
their families to the instability of shifting placements. These challenges can
significantly impact their mental health. Often, we misunderstand the capacity
youth have to employ coping skills when facing challenges. It can be easy to
become frustrated or discouraged when youth struggle to overcome.
However, when caregivers and professionals are aware of mental health
challenges that impact a youth's ability to navigate adversity (anxiety,
helplessness, hopelessness, depression, etc.) and support youth through these
challenges, they learn strategies and skills to navigate adversity throughout
multiple domains of their lives. With support, what was previously perceived
as hardships for youth, can now become areas of perseverance and strength.
Navigating adversity can be taught through:
• Dialogue: Talk to youth about what it
feels like to face adversity and how they
perceive overcoming that adversity. Offer
validation and empathy. Engage in these
conversations often, including processing
after facing adversities.
• Modeling: Use opportunities in your life
to model how to navigate adversity. When
you are experiencing a hardship, consider
how you speak about it and the coping
skills you employ.
• Coaching: Navigate adversity with theyouth. Journey with them! Process
each moment to gain an understanding of the youth's challenges, offer
praise and validation, and offer support and guidance along the way.
• Beauty Marks gained through this experience: Resiliency, determination,
perseverance, strength, and hope.
Embracing mental health awareness for youth in care is vital to improving
outcomes of mental and emotional well-being. By fostering an understanding
of their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, youth can develop the tools
necessary to cope with the challenges they face. Mental
continued next page
