Families Like Ours (FLO)—GLBTQ: SAFE program Placement Case Study: Family Rejects Gay Adopted Son

At just under three years old a little boy was adopted from the foster care system by his “forever” family. Fourteen years later the teen identified himself as gay. The adoptive family rejected him and tried to take steps to dissolve the adoption.

Sound beyond imaginable?

This is just one example of why a program like SAFE was created by Families Like Ours.

Upon re-entering the foster system again, the teen’s caseworker was referred to Families Like Ours for resources that would support this child in finding a temporary placement, and if needed, longer term permanency planning. The teen was also in need of specialized counseling support to help him through the grief and loss of his adoptive family and coming out process.

This case presented specific issues that the caseworker had never experienced before:

• How to find a family willing to take a GLBTQ youth
• How to support this teen’s grief and loss with an counselor in the GLBTQ field
• Permanency planning for a gay youth that was almost 18

In this case, FLO’s GLBTQ: SAFE program was able to assist this worker immediately by identifying a safe foster placement and referrals to an experienced counselor.

Throughout the case, FLO provided frontline support for this caseworker by answering questions and helping the worker educate the team working with the adoptive family in attempts to reunited the youth.

CASE UPDATE:

Youth stayed with his foster family beyond his 18th birthday; adoptive family and teen have been working on reuniting with the help of a therapist.

Case Issues

• 17 year old male identifies himself as gay to adoptive parents
• Adoptive family rejects child and he re-enters foster care system

FLO’s, GLBTQ: SAFE Program Results

• Foster placement support for the youth
• Permanency planning with a family pre-identified to support a GLBT&Q youth
• Referral for grief and loss support for the teen
• Resources for family to help reunification

For more information, contact Families Like Ours at 1-877-230-3055.