Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) began its journey with unaccompanied refugee children with a youth from Cambodia 50 years ago, marking the start of what has become a cornerstone program of our organization. Today, LSSNCA continues to serve unaccompanied refguee children and youth with a range of vital services, including foster care, educational aid, legal service connections, and more.
In this blog, we feature reflections from Brittany Livingston, LSSNCA’s director, foster care services D.C. Brittany shares her insights into working with unaccompanied children, highlighting the impact of our work - work you recently supported through our 50 for 50 campaign where we raised nearly $40,000, including a matching gift from our board of directors.
Since I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a social worker. This aspiration was fueled by family members who dedicated their lives to the field. My nearly decade-long journey working in the domestic foster care system deepened my commitment to advocating for vulnerable populations. In 2022, I joined LSSNCA, and its Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) foster care program in the Children, Youth, and Family Services department. I was excited to step into a role where I could be a strong voice for those who are often not heard.
My passion for working with children and families started in a school setting, where I realized the critical role a stable family foundation plays in a child’s development. In my current role, I’m able to advocate and support the needs of some of the most vulnerable youth. This includes identifying warm and loving foster (resource) families, creating educational and job opportunities, securing transportation funding, and keeping my colleagues motivated and engaged. I’m fortunate to work with a dedicated team, and thanks to the relationships we build with the youth, the kids feel comfortable and safe sharing their needs. This, in turn, allows me to be innovative in empowering them and addressing any gaps in resources.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is witnessing the remarkable grit of the youth we serve. These young individuals have faced significant challenges early in life but demonstrate incredible strength and determination to turn their lives around. Their ability to advocate for themselves and work toward success despite unimaginable hardships is nothing short of inspiring.
For instance, one youth called and requested an in-person meeting with me. He found a well-paying job in Washington, D.C., but his foster placement was in Maryland. He wanted to brainstorm new placement options and discuss how we could help finance his commute. Ultimately, we decided it would be best to connect him with a family in D.C., which we were able to do thanks to a foster family offering to welcome him at the last minute. Later, he came to me and said, “I’ve found my home,” underscoring how this new placement was the perfect fit for him. He is excelling in school, work, and has developed a positive relationship with his foster parents.
Taking initiative is common among the youth we serve. Many of them have fled severe adversity in their home countries, such as inadequate medical care, extreme poverty, financial instability, and limited educational opportunities. Their journey to the U.S. often involves traversing multiple countries or even continents, enduring violence and hardship, and risking everything for a chance at a safer and more stable life. Upon arrival, they are typically exhausted but hopeful, eager to start anew.
Despite their optimism, many of these youths are also burdened with the responsibility of earning an income, still shouldering the idea that they must be the breadwinners and send back funds once they get a job here. Through collaboration with our social workers, foster families, teachers, and others in the community, we help them gain skills and knowledge to obtain an income that allows them to support themselves while also ensuring they thrive in their new environment. We strive to balance their connection to their families at home with their need to live a healthy childhood in their new homes, enabling them to pursue their goals with the love and support of their foster family and social work team.
The wait for long-term foster family placement can range from a few weeks to a year due to a shortage of foster homes in our program and throughout the country. During this interim period, our focus is on providing task-oriented support and building strong, supportive relationships to minimize disruptions. This includes connecting youth to local schools and supportive services, such as tutoring or English language support, and ensuring access to medical care, insurance, and ongoing assessments. Our team provides financial literacy education, connects youth to relevant programs that facilitate access to employment workshops and vocational services. We also offer referrals to immigration attorneys for any legal support these youth might need.
To encourage support and learning among foster parents and unaccompanied children, we launched the Harmony Heights retreat which aims to nurture understanding between parents and youth, with the child at the center. In July, seven foster families came together for a weekend retreat, forming closer connections with one another. Although there were some language barriers, everyone enjoyed themselves. The retreat offered a valuable opportunity for families to share their thoughts in a safe and supportive environment, which is especially important for children and youth who have experienced severe trauma or violence.
I believe that safe and stable environments are essential for fostering connection and healing. One particularly emotional activity involved families creating photo books that chronicled their foster journeys and sharing them with the group. The experience was deeply moving, leaving no dry eyes in the room. The weekend showcased a powerful sense of community and mutual support.
To support unaccompanied children effectively, there is an urgent need for more foster parents. LSSNCA can serve up to 30 children and youth in each of our D.C. and Virginia programs, but due to a lack of foster homes, we can only accommodate half that number at this time. To learn more about becoming a foster parent, sign-up here, and a team member will be in touch!
