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Fostering Parenthood

Talking to our teens about their sexual health journey and reproductive rights is a multi-faceted conversation and can be intimidating, but with Fostering Parenthood, you're not alone. Together, we will talk about these important conversations through lived experience and provide helpful ideas, best practices, and resources. The end goal? Helping our children and youth in foster care become informed, strong, and confident individuals. Watch our episodes at https://rhep.info/fosteringparenthood-watch!

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Fostering Parenthood

Fostering open communication with neurodivergent, non-binary youth

May 15, 2023 • National Center for Youth Law • Season 2 • Episode 3

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This episode will bring the perspective of a caregiver currently fostering a neurodivergent, transgender male youth in care. Joyce opens up about her experience in guiding a conversation about her youth's menstrual cycle. A conversation that led to trust and open communication in the future.

Guests on the show:

Joyce Ma: Fostering UNITY’s Organizational Development Coordinator, foster parent for neurodivergent transgender youth

Resources:

-Neurodiversity definitions

-Sexual Education Resources

-Trainings and Classes

-Events and Webinars

-Virtual Support Groups

-Eligibility for services

- LA County Regional Centers

-National Institutes for Health - Autism Facts

-Down’s Syndrome Through the Lifespan

-National Institute for Mental Health - Getting Help

-National Alliance on Mental Illness - Kids, Teens, Young Adults

Connect with Fostering UNITY on Social Media:

Calls To Action: (32:08)

Don’t make assumptions (32:35)

Understand your youth’s love language (33:02)

Know the terms to use for their mental age (35:20)

About Fostering Parenthood:

Fostering Parenthood is a podcast by caregivers for caregivers promoting the healthy sexual development of foster youth, brought to you by the National Center for Youth Law and the Reproductive Health Equity Project.

The laws and policies discussed in our show are specific to LA County and California. However, any out-of-state or international listeners should check the regulations specific to their state or country.

Watch our episodes at https://rhep.info/fosteringparenthood-watch!

Learn more about Fostering Parenthood at www.fosteringparenthood.buzzsprout.com.

Email us with questions, comments, and feedback at email@fosterreprohealth.org.

Fostering Parenthood is fully supported by grant number 1 TP2AH000066-01-00 from the HHS Office of Population Affairs. Contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Population Affairs.

People on this episode

Dorothy Daniels

Host