Lesbians and Gay Men as Foster Parents

This groundbreaking work examines the realities of LGBTQ+ individuals navigating the foster care system, offering crucial insights into both the bureaucratic challenges and profound rewards of providing homes for children in need. Wendell Ricketts combines rigorous research with compelling personal narratives to create an essential resource for social workers, policymakers, and anyone considering foster parenting. The book confronts systemic barriers head-on while celebrating the resilience of families formed through foster care.

What sets this work apart is its balanced approach—neither minimizing the discrimination LGBTQ+ foster parents face nor overlooking the complex needs of children in the system. Readers will find both practical guidance for navigating the certification process and moving accounts of how these families transform children's lives. Ultimately, this book makes a powerful case that love and stability matter more than a parent's sexual orientation when creating safe homes for vulnerable youth.