November 2024Vol. 25, No. 9Cultivating Connections: A Message From Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston

Written by Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston

Each November, we celebrate National Adoption Month by raising awareness of the many children in foster care awaiting loving, permanent homes. This month is also a time to celebrate the professionals who support these young people on their paths to permanency and the families who provide loving, lasting bonds. The theme for this year's National Adoption Month is all about those connections: "Honoring Youth: Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds."

Connections are crucial on the path to permanency. They can help youth stay linked to their cultures and traditions, nurture a sense of belonging, and provide guidance as youth mature into adulthood. For many young people, having someone they trust can buffer the effects of trauma. When we think about connection, we should view it through the lens of a kin-first culture and promote young people's relationships with relatives, their communities, and those who share their racial and ethnic identities. These include parents, grandparents, siblings, friends who feel like family, mentors, and peers. Connections should not be limited to legal permanency only; for many young people, relational permanency—lifelong connections with supportive adults—can be just as important.

Within a kin-first culture, nurturing youths' connections also means supporting their supporters. We know that many families' challenges stem from unmet needs. To help them be there for the young people in their lives, we must address the root causes of their challenges. We can holistically support the whole family unit by improving equitable access to economic and concrete supports, combatting disparities and disproportionality driven by discrimination and systemic racism, removing barriers for kin caregivers, and partnering with community-based services and programs. These efforts can promote family preservation, permanency, and stability.

In our pursuit of lasting bonds, we must not forget that professionals can be an important source of connection for young people involved with child welfare. During our National Adoption Month webinar in September, we learned from youth with lived experience that the relationship with their caseworker is sometimes one of the strongest relationships a young person has. By showing up and believing in a young person, we can help them learn to trust and rely on others. We can be the person who listens, who celebrates accomplishments, and who asks questions like "What does permanency look like for you?" or "What goals would you like to achieve?" Caseworkers can also help youth nurture or identify connections that can offer lifelong support and could even become permanency options. Demonstrating love, consistency, and support can prepare youth to build caring and reliable support networks. We should treat it as one of our most important jobs.

I encourage you to explore the resources on the National Adoption Month webpage to learn more about how we can support youth on their journey to permanency, including key statistics, stories from youth and adoptive families, and an outreach toolkit to raise awareness. The webpage includes links to helpful tip sheets, webinars, discussion guides, and more to inform your work supporting young people and their families. Join me this month and throughout the year as we elevate efforts to holistically support all children and families.