Vol. 20, No. 1 • November 2015

Parenting Special Populations in Foster Care

"Special population" is a term generally used to refer to a disadvantaged group. People with disabilities, economically disadvantaged families, and children in foster care are often considered to be special populations.

So if you're a foster parent, you already parent children who are part of a "special population." But there are also special populations within foster care, such as children who identify as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning/queer), those whose parents are in prison, and those who have conditions such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

If you're not prepared for it, caring for a child who's in a special population can be confusing and challenging.

Thank goodness resource parents don't shy away from a challenge! Nor do they pass up a chance to learn something helpful or put another tool in their parenting tool box. In recognition of this fact, this issue of Fostering Perspectives explores ideas and strategies for understanding and parenting children who belong to special populations.

We hope you find it helpful!

Download or print a pdf of this entire issue

Contents
Learning to Support, Include, and Empower LGBTQ Youth in Substitute Care
Reflections from a Father and Son
About LGBTQ children in foster care
Parenting Children Who've Experienced Trauma
Reflections from an adoptive father

Parenting a Child with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Suggestions and Resources

Parenting a Child of a Different Race

Recognizing and Responding to Disclosure or Signs of Sexual Abuse
Advice for resource parents

Caring for Children with Nonsuicidal, Self-Injurious Behavior

Maintaining Connections . . .
Perspectives from youth in foster care

Shelby and Me: Our Journey through Life Books
Book Review

When a Parent Is Incarcerated: A Primer for Social Workers and Foster Parents
Navigating Reasonable and Prudent Parenting
Foster Care Alumni Reflect on NC's New "Normalcy" Legislation
Parenting a Child with FASD
SaySo Announces New Executive Director
A Reader Asks
What to tell our friends when children reunify?
North Carolina Child Treatment Program
Have You Heard about NC Reach?
Help Us Find Families for These Children
Writing Contest

References cited in this issue

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