Get Grief-Informed for Youth in Foster Care
Whether a death or non-death loss, most youth in foster care are grieving. We know that grief is a natural and normal response to loss, and how we support youth in foster care can be life-changing.
Make a commitment to better serve youth in foster care who are grieving. Learn what it means to be grief-informed, and put that understanding into action.
What does it mean to be grief-informed?
The majority of child welfare professionals are trauma-informed; however, most are not grief-informed. It is critical that the child welfare community be aware of grief-informed best practices and how to best support youth in foster care who are grieving.
Below are some grief-informed resources for child welfare professionals and continuing education opportunities for professionals which offer foundational knowledge on grief-informed best practices.
Get Grief-Informed: Loss, Grief, & Youth in Foster Care
The Bill of Rights for Youth in Foster Care Who are Grieving
Tips for Supporting Youth in Foster Care Who are Grieving
Becoming Grief-Informed: A Call to Action
Becoming Grief-Informed: Foundations of Grief Education
An online asynchronous course teaching the fundamentals of grief education
Grief Education Webinars
Online trainings that provide professionals with grief education on specialized loss and grief topics
Language Matters
The language we use to talk about youth in foster care shapes the way we perceive and support them. Youth in foster care can feel supported or disregarded based on how people respond to them, the words they use, and the questions they ask. When speaking with youth about loss, grief, and other sensitive topics, it’s important that we use language that is not only compassionate but also demonstrates our investment in respecting the dignity and worth of all youth.