National Policy Council Briefs Providers on Foster Youth Mental Health
Recently, National Foster Youth & Alumni Policy Council (NPC) members presented priorities on foster youth mental health and well-being to healthcare professionals from the University of Nevada, Reno/Renown Children’s Hospital. The audience included pediatricians, primary care doctors, and other healthcare providers who work with young people in care.
“Some people credit foster care for saving their lives, while others attribute it to severing relationships and causing a lot of hardships in their life.”
— Isabel Stasa (She/Her/Hers), 7 years in Michigan’s foster care system, NPC Member
NPC Members started by explaining what being in foster care actually means: separation from family, new schools, lost pets, living with strangers, lost belongings, constant questioning, stigma, court involvement, vulnerability, grief, and uncertainty.
“Even one day feels like a really long time when you’re in foster care.
- Rimy Morris (She/Her/Hers), 10 years in Indiana’s foster care system, NPC Member
Council member Michael Kelly addressed the need for preventing unnecessary entries into foster care due to mental health issues. He reminded healthcare providers that:
- Family separation often happens because of untreated mental health and substance use issues
- Early intervention in healthcare settings can keep families together
- Poverty and lack of resources are often mistaken for neglect
- Families need continued support even after crisis intervention
And he’s right — the numbers show it. Youth are more likely to enter foster care if their parent(s) has a mental health challenge . One study found they are 8 times more likely to be involved with child welfare. Some young people enter care simply because their parents can’t access the mental health support they need. One report says this happened to about 25,000 youth over a two year period. These young people didn’t necessarily need to be removed; their families needed support.
“With early intervention, we can prevent separation and keep families together… By focusing on long-term support, rather than crisis management, we can keep families together.”
- Michael Kelly (He/Him/His), 6 years in Minnesota’s foster care system, NPC Member
Council member Rimy Morris emphasized that youth in care are still just kids and teenagers who need to be treated as such. She shared the stories of Cedric Lofton, Cornelius Frederick, and Ma’Khaia Bryant, young people who were in foster care who lost their lives as a result of typical teen behaviors, and were not provided the support they deserved. Rimy specifically urged the audience to prioritize:
- Youth having a voice in their mental health treatment decisions
- Clear, youth-friendly information about healthcare rights
- Special attention to the overuse of psychiatric medications
- Recognition of the "adultification" bias, especially for Black and Brown youth
And the data backs her up. Youth in foster care are more likely to be given mental health medications than other young people. In some states, nearly 4 out of 10 youth in care were prescribed these meds — compared to just 1 out of 10 youth not in care. Some are given more than one medication at a time, even when there’s limited proof that this is helpful.
“Young people should have an understanding and a voice in decisions impacting them. And these should be true at the same time."
- Rimy Morris (She/Her/Hers), 10 years in Indiana’s foster care system, NPC Member
Council member Isabel Stasa focused on the challenges of maintaining healthcare while experiencing transitions in care, especially the transition to adulthood. She stressed that young people need:
- Training to navigate the healthcare system as adults
- Access to their complete health records before leaving care
- Continuous mental health support during transition
- Full information about healthcare options and rights
“I didn’t know that any of my decisions in healthcare would be respected because of my experience in foster care and not having the power to make decisions for myself."
- Isabel Stasa (She/Her/Hers), 7 years in Michigan’s foster care system, NPC Member
Important Policies & Resources
The Council highlighted several policies helping youth in care:
Important resources for healthcare providers working with foster youth:
- Neighborhood Navigator
- Harvard Implicit Biases test
- Health Related Social Needs Tool
- American Academy of Pediatrics Foster Care Resource Page
About the Council
The National Foster Youth & Alumni Policy Council operates under the partnership of Casey Family Programs, Foster Care Alumni of America, and FosterClub, bringing together members from across the US with lived experience in foster care. Since 2012, we've developed 20 policy priorities to inform policy, focused on improving the system for current and future generations of youth in care.
Last year, the National Foster Youth & Alumni Policy Council (NPC) hosted a roundtable about foster youth mental health and well-being. Council members Michael Kelly, Rimy Morris, and Isabel Stasa led discussions on key topics affecting youth at different stages of care, which inspired this presentation to Nevada healthcare providers.