Program
Foster Care for Refugee Youth
Open your heart and home to a young person seeking safety, stability, and hope. Through our Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) Foster Care program, Spokane families help refugee youth heal from trauma, build a sense of belonging, and prepare for a successful future.
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Foster Care for Refugee Youth
Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) Foster Care
With the help of international resettlement agencies, we place refugee youth ages 14-17 in local Spokane area foster homes. As with traditional foster care, the goal of this program is to provide a safe home and a network of support for youth in need. This program serves minors seeking refuge from various overseas and Central American countries, who entered the resettlement process without a parent or guardian to care for them.
Our foster families and program staff work together to help youth heal from past trauma, learn English, continue their education and prepare for a future of independence. Though a youth’s placement in a foster home may only be for their teenage years, we ask our foster families to make a long-term commitment to a relationship with the child placed in their home.
During the placement process, foster parents receive parenting assistance, intensive case management, 24-hour on-call services, ongoing training, and financial compensation. In turn, we ask our foster parents to:
- Provide a safe and nurturing home environment.
- Offer emotional support while managing behavior.
- Provide transportation for education, medical appointments and extracurricular activities.
- Be willing to learn about the youth’s culture and incorporate it into your home.
- Provide opportunities for youth to establish meaningful, life-long relationships.
If supporting a refugee youth is something your family or others in your social network are interested in, we hope you will consider working with us.
In Partnership With
Ways to Get Involved
Become a Foster Parent
Open your home. Change a life.
Refugee youth need caring adults who can provide support, encouragement, and a safe place to call home. Help a youth find safety, stability, and a sense of belonging. Our team will guide you through every step of the licensing and placement process, providing training, ongoing support, and resources along the way.
Email us today to learn more and begin your journey as a foster parent.
Support a Program's Wishlist
Give Practical Items That Make a Real Difference.
Many individuals and families served by LCSNW rely on essential items during times of crisis, transition, or recovery. By purchasing needed supplies from a program wishlist, you can directly support clients and help meet immediate needs. Contributions may include household essentials, personal care items, comfort items, gift cards, and other resources that help individuals move toward safety, stability, and healing.
Youth Advisory Board
Empower Youth Voices. Create Community Change.
The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a free, inclusive, youth-led group that gives Spokane teens a voice in mental health awareness and advocacy. Participants learn leadership skills, help reduce stigma surrounding mental health, promote healthy coping strategies, and collaborate on projects that strengthen youth well-being throughout the community. Members also have opportunities to participate in community events, awareness campaigns, and peer-driven initiatives.
Become a Crisis Response Advocate
Stand Alongside Survivors When They Need It Most.
Volunteer Crisis Response Advocates provide compassionate support to survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Advocates assist through a 24-hour support line and may provide in-person medical advocacy at local hospitals when requested. LCSNW provides the training, supervision, and support needed to help volunteers confidently serve survivors during critical moments. This is a meaningful opportunity to make a direct impact while promoting healing, dignity, and hope.
Apply for an Internship
Learn. Grow. Make an Impact.
LCSNW is proud to be a teaching organization, offering internship opportunities within our Behavioral Health and Victim Advocacy & Education programs in Spokane, Washington. Interns gain hands-on experience, professional mentorship, and opportunities to contribute meaningful support to individuals and families in our community. Whether you’re pursuing a degree in social work, counseling, psychology, victim advocacy, or a related field, an internship with LCSNW can help you build valuable skills while making a difference.