How To Prepare for A Career Working in Foster Care: The Student Perspective

In the 105 years since the inception of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), occupational therapy practice has expanded from rehabilitating wounded veterans to working in pediatrics, hand therapy, and mental health settings, among others. An emerging practice area for occupational therapy practitioners is working within the foster care system. Foster children present with a unique set of needs encompassing, but not limited to, developmental and intellectual disabilities, mental health diagnoses, and inhibition of age-appropriate milestone development. Occupational therapists have the capability to intervene and facilitate positive strides for foster children who experience disruptions, through the promotion of milestone development, emotional identification and regulation, and mental health management. Here are four ways students can prepare themselves for a career working with foster children:

Seek out extracurricular opportunities. 
Participating in extracurricular activities allows students to be involved in the community while simultaneously refining their clinical skills. Some foster care–related activities include volunteering with foster children in clinical and community settings, working in communities with limited access to resources, partnering with your academic department to host speaking engagements with practitioners, and engaging in professional development opportunities that allow student participation. When applying for future jobs, employers often look for applicants who sought opportunities to self-educate on topics related to the practice setting. Oftentimes, university professors work dually in teaching and in practice, offering opportunities for students to shadow them or ask questions about their experiences. 

Educate yourself on the areas of practice that interest you the most. 
There are several subspecialties available for those interested in working within the foster care community, including trauma-informed care, mindfulness practices such as yoga and meditation, mental health first aid, and adverse childhood experience preventative care. Students may begin their education and training on these topics prior to graduation, becoming practitioners who are readily trained on foster care topics. Journal articles, poster presentations, books, fieldwork experience, mentorship, and continuing education courses are several examples of self-directed learning that will create informed mental health practitioners.

Network with individuals whose work and achievements you admire. 
The next step is to surround yourself with people already doing work in the mental health or foster care setting. Local foster care organizations, hospitals, clinics, and shelters are likely places to find mentorship opportunities from occupational therapy practitioners who are well versed in this area of practice, and their holistic approach provides a valuable perspective. You may also benefit from seeking individuals outside of the OT profession such as counselors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers; the most well-rounded practitioners are those who learn from a wide spectrum of specialties, while maintaining a focus on occupation. Experienced change makers in the foster care system may be able to serve as role models or mentors for you. 

Advocate for yourself! 
Occupational therapy in foster care is a relatively new practice area, and you may have to work harder to find opportunities and jobs in this setting. Over time, your accomplishments and experiences will speak for themselves and allow you to feel self-assured in your occupational therapy career. Working in mental health and the foster care system is an opportunity for new research and evidence-based practice recommendations. Remind yourself that as a future occupational therapy practitioner in mental health you are a change maker, and you will make a difference in the lives of others. 

Mackenzie Rachel Kent, BS, OTDS, (she/her) was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with an emphasis in Developmental Disabilities from the University of Nevada, Reno. Mackenzie is currently attending Touro University Nevada with the intent to graduate with her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy in 2024. Her areas of focus in qualitative research include foster care, LGBTQ+ issues, and youth homelessness. Mackenzie intends to apply for the LEND Fellowship focusing on Pediatrics after completing her degree and work in pediatrics, specifically with foster children and mental health populations.