Becoming a Parent Through Foster Care Adoption

Have you thought about foster care adoption?

Did you know there are 100,000 kids in the foster care system waiting to be adopted and that 20,000 of those kids are likely to age out without finding a family? Did you know that nearly 40% of those children identify as LGBT? Here’s what LGBT foster parents should know about helping LGBT foster children.

LGBT foster parents and children

If you’re interested in adopting children, providing a safe, supportive home for a foster child, LGBT or otherwise, is one of the greatest gifts you can give. The foster care system is welcoming to the LGBT community, encouraging any adult with the potential to offer a loving family.

Jillian Johnsrud is the creator of Montana Money Adventures, an online platform that helps people custom build a lifestyle that reflects their values, passion and purpose. She also happens to be the mother of six children, four of whom were adopted through the foster care system. Remarkably, Jillian and her husband adopted their first foster child when she was only 22-years-old. Since then, she has had two biological children and adopted a sibling group through the foster system.

Today, Jillian joins us to share her passion for helping foster kids, discussing what LGBT foster parents should know, the expenses associated with foster care adoption and the potential to foster or adopt LGBT kids specifically. Jillian explains the process of becoming a foster parent and the key differences between foster care and private adoption. Jillian offers insight around the challenges of working with birth parents and what it means to foster kids with ‘high needs.’

Hear about LGBT foster parents and LGBT foster kids:

Topics covered on LGBT foster parents

Jillian’s passion for helping foster kids

A loving family = greatest gift can give

The challenges around placing LGBT kids

Need for supportive community

What it’s like to be a foster parent

Kids dealing with trauma, neglect and abuse
Amazing to watch them become who meant to be

The technical side of being a foster parent

Training class
Home study

The difference between foster care and private adoption

Private—infants, mother plans to give up a child
Foster—removed from birth parents (not their decision)

The expenses associated with foster care adoption

State tries to make as low-friction as possible
Cost of home study, training and licensing covered
Average of $1K, otherwise like biological kids

The other expenses that may be covered by the state

Usually, provide healthcare to age 18
Small stipend to offset groceries, gas

The skills you need to adopt a foster child

Open to learning
Empathetic to trauma, abuse

How you can support foster kids without adopting

Short-term, emergency respite placement
Pair with other families to watch in emergency

The challenges of working with birth parents

Shame around having kids removed
ALL want what’s best for kids

The foster children with high needs

Any kids that are difficult to place
Includes sibling groups, different race
Educational delays, behavior issues and medical needs

The potential to foster or adopt LGBT kids

Caseworker builds file with needs, unique challenges
LGBT kids considered high needs in most states
Try to match with supportive family and community

The LGBT foster care adoption experience in red states

Foster system open-minded to any safe, loving home
May experience discrimination from subcontractors

Jillian’s advice to potential adoptive parents

Call and get started with a long process
See if a good fit for you

Other ways to help foster kids

Sign up to be a court-appointed advocate
Support, encourage potential foster parents
Donate to organizations like Help Us Adopt

Connect with Jillian about LGBT foster parents

Montana Money Adventures