The Power of Words: Seeing People, Not Labels
Language shapes perception. The words we use can empower or diminish others, reinforce stereotypes, or foster empathy. This is especially crucial in the foster care system, where youth are often labeled in ways that fail to honor their humanity and their potential for growth.
Melissaroshan Potter, a NYAP employee and advocate who experienced foster care, powerfully states:
"Youth in foster care are not 'Wards of the State,' 'Bad Kids,' or 'Foster Children.' They are children. We must stop using language like 'the foster kids' in meetings, reports, and emails. Person-first language allows us to see the individual first. Just as we say 'people experiencing homelessness' instead of 'homeless people,' we should say 'children in foster care' rather than 'foster children.' This shift is healing for foster care alumni and current youth alike."
She further reflects on the deep impact of these labels, having experienced 23 different homes during her time in foster care. "I wished I didn’t feel like a 'human stain' or 'damaged goods.' These are all things I heard growing up. I read an article that described me as…'a ward of the state.' All these labels. And the one I’d hear most often was 'Foster Child.’”
This serves as a critical reminder: the language used in reports, policies, and interactions can affirm a child's dignity or contribute to their alienation. Labels like “foster child” or “ward of the state” reduce a young person’s identity to their circumstances rather than their full humanity. Defining someone by their situation ignores their strengths and potential.
Person-first language—such as “a child in foster care”—centers the individual rather than their experience. It reinforces that they are, first and foremost, a child, deserving of love, respect, and opportunity. Affirming language fosters belonging and self-worth.
Professionals serving vulnerable people can lead by example with these steps:
Use Person-First Language – Say “a child in foster care” instead of “foster child”
Educate Colleagues – Make language awareness a core part of training”
Update Policies and Documents – Ensure official documents reflect person-first language
Advocate for a Cultural Shift – Encourage organizations to adopt humanizing language
Listen to Those with Lived Experience – Amplify voices like Melissaroshan Potter’s to inform meaningful change
Words matter. By choosing them wisely, we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for children experiencing foster care.
MelissaRoshan (Melro) Potter is an employee with NYAP, a fierce advocate for children, a professional model, and the mother of two successful young adults—one an engineer and the other an author and music producer. Melro will soon be a published author, and she is proud to share that her name, Roshan, means to give light” in Hindi. She might welcome that label: Light Giver.