"...I would have liked them to go through a training to understand their role for me and understand the trauma I was still experiencing, instead of them telling me I should be grateful to be with them instead of a "random family"..."

"I think that relative caregivers and the youth they are housing should be able to access all of the same trainings and resources that other foster or adoptive parents have. When I moved in with my aunt and uncle, everyone assumed I was happy and comfortable to be with my family. The reality was that I hardly knew them. At 14 years old I had only met them a handful of times and hadn't seen them at all in over 5 years. I would have liked them to go through a training to understand their role for me and understand the trauma I was still experiencing, instead of them telling me I should be grateful to be with them instead of a "random family"."

Family Voices United member shares thoughts on supporting relatives in navigating resources and services for the children they are raising.