“Foster” and “Fosters”?

Our Foster Community

Foster Advocates recognizes that lived experience in foster care creates a lasting cultural identity.

We use “Foster” and “Fosters” as neutral, lifelong identifiers for those who've been in out-of-home placement.

These terms affirm that the system's impacts continue—whether someone reunified, was adopted, or aged out—and that this identity exists alongside, not instead of, their many other identities.

This shared language builds solidarity, counters stigma, and positions Fosters as leaders driving systems change.