Every May, during National Foster Care Month, we recognize the extraordinary people who open their homes to children and youth navigating some of life’s most difficult circumstances.
Foster parenting is more than providing shelter — it offers safety, consistency, compassion, and hope to young people carrying experiences of trauma, displacement, grief, and uncertainty. For decades, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) has worked throughout the D.C. metro area to help children impacted by family disruption or displacement find safe, supportive homes where they can begin to heal and rebuild their lives through the traditional foster care services as well as the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) program.
For many foster families, the journey begins with a simple but powerful belief: Every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and loved.
That belief led Gail* to become a foster parent with LSSNCA.
A clinical social worker with many years of experience in mental health and substance use care, Gail has long been committed to social justice. As a lesbian, she felt especially drawn to supporting refugee youth who may face intersectional oppression, vulnerability, and isolation.
“I knew at some point in my life I wanted to be a mom in some way,” she said. “With everything happening in the world — especially the treatment of immigrant and refugee families — I wanted to do something meaningful.”
After going through the necessary training and preparations with LSSNCA, Gail was matched with a young refugee overseas preparing to come to the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admission Program (USRAP). The paperwork was completed, travel arrangements were finalized, and they were only weeks away from meeting each other.
“It was heartbreaking,” Gail said. “I wanted him to know it wasn’t because I didn’t want him, but because of the overnight policy change.”
After taking time to process the loss, Gail reopened her home and was eventually matched with another refugee teen already living in the United States and in need of a more supportive placement.
Since then, the experience has transformed both their lives.
“It has been beautiful, and it has been painful,” she said. “But I am 100% committed to him no matter what.”
Gail said her foster son is now attending school, recently started a job, and has begun building meaningful relationships and community connections. He has met her family and friends, who have welcomed him warmly.
More than anything, Gail emphasized that healing begins with emotional safety and unconditional support.
“I feel honored to be able to play a mother’s role in his life,” she said. “Sometimes all I’m doing is giving emotional support no matter what.”
Refugee and immigrant youth often carry profound trauma caused by separation from family, persecution, displacement, discrimination, or instability. Foster parents cannot erase those experiences, but they can create environments where young people feel respected, valued, and safe enough to begin healing.
Even though she is a clinical social worker — a background she said has helped her support her foster child through the trauma-healing process — Gail credited much of her success to the strong network surrounding foster families, including LSSNCA social workers, legal advocates, and school support staff, as well as other community organizations that help youth navigate complex systems and transitions.
Gail encouraged individuals and families of all backgrounds, experiences, and makeups to consider becoming foster parents for youth seeking safety and stability.
“For prospective parents who are survivors of trauma themselves and have done their own healing work — human to human, you don’t need special schooling to connect and help,” she said.
That message is especially important during National Foster Care Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. Foster families are not expected to be perfect. They simply need to be willing to show up consistently, listen openly, and care deeply.
This month, we honor foster families and parents, like Gail, who create space for healing, belonging, and hope.
As Gail put it: “Sometimes, the most powerful thing a person can say to a young person is, ‘You are safe here. You matter here. You are not alone.’”
We invite and encourage anyone with an open home and heart to consider fostering a child in need.
If you are interested in learning more about how to become a foster parent with LSSNCA, please complete the foster parent inquiry form.
*Name has been changed to protect privacy.
