Justin & Alexis Black

When it comes to serving foster youth, are you the hero or the savior? Actually, you’re neither… Like many other foster care alumni, Justin and Alexis Black’s journey through the foster care system internalized the abuse and neglect they experienced with their biological family. Both have been able to analyze how trauma has been normalized in families and in their upbringing, the foundational piece that children need growing up; are patient adults, supportive community members, and a healthy and reasonable standard of expectations. During this session, we assist advocates as they begin to understand the role they play in the foster care system and ways in which they must be self-reflective in order to serve as a complementary component to the success of the youth themselves. With a change in perspective and approach to building relationships, this workshop challenges foster care alumni, parents, and advocates to be aware and intentional about redefining the “normal.”

The Redefining, Rethinking, Reflecting: Developing an Intentional Community Environment for Those Who’ve Experienced Trauma workshop discusses strategies and techniques developed by foster care alumni, Justin and Alexis Black, as they combined the information they’ve learned from healthy foster parents, counselors, advocates, and ultimately their lived experience. By sharing their personal story of overcoming, they discuss the role of a foster parent and advocate as well as the necessary resources to surround themselves with in order to be a positive partner in the lives of the youth themselves. Our goal is to help advocates understand that fostering is a collaborative process for both the youth and the parent. We highlight the components of that relationship as well as the aspect of the community that needs to be formed in a healthy and loving environment.

• Prepare parents, adults, and other community members to establish a healthy environment that welcomes and nurtures the strength and abilities of youth.

• Instruct community leaders and advocates on ways to become better leaders for youth and those with trauma.

• Learning objective 3: Identify methods of self-care for advocates and community members while understanding their role in the success of the community.