Nathan LaChine is a professional speaker, trainer, published author, community advocate, long-time specialized foster parent, and enthusiastic collector of modern and historic queer art. He has served as a key volunteer and eventually board member for the nonprofit group MaleSurvivor for more than 20 years and is the founder of Evergreen Caregiver Support, a Washington-based Foster Parent & Kinship resource and discussion platform.
He has also served as a Foster Parent Mentor and Support Group Facilitator for the University of Washington. In all of his endeavors, Nathan centers his commitment to making a positive difference in the world and inspiring those around him to do the same. To discuss your training needs or calibration use the Contact Us Form.
Speaker
Nathan brings his considerable experience, training, and wit to his professional speaking engagements, offering both formal trainings and casual chats on subjects such as foster parenting, DEI, support for LGBTQIA+ youth, CSEC, youth internet safety, and more. To read more about his speaking topics or inquire about his services, Click Here.
Trainer
Nathan currently provides trainings in WA state through Apple Health Coordinated Care. He has been asked to provide trainings for foster care agencies, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, LGBTQIA+ community organizations, Crisis Clinics, and others.
As both a trainer and a foster parent, Nathan understands how challenges typically faced by caregivers are significant, and that in-depth, high-quality training can be a great source of support. Over the years he observed how trainings offered to foster parents often only offer a basic level of information or may not attend to certain difficult subjects. To help address these needs and challenges, Nathan created and expanded a wide range of training on topics such as providing support for LGBTQIA+ youth, racial equity and inclusion, support for sexually exploited children, and keeping youth safe online.
Foster Parent
Nathan and his husband have served as Therapeutic Foster Parents specializing in working with youth in the Behavioral Rehabilitative Services (BRS) and Extended Foster Care (EFC) programs for the last 18 years. During this time, their primary focus has been to serve youth with higher behavioral needs, at-risk teenagers, survivors of extreme abuse/neglect, and LGBTQIA+ youth. Nathan is passionate about providing some of WA state’s most difficult to place and care for youth a loving and supportive home that accepts them for who they are while providing tools for success to enter adulthood. He is proud to be considered a lifelong family member by many of the youth previously placed with him who aged out of care.
Community Advocate
Community advocacy is at the heart of Nathan’s life. This is reflected in his efforts and commitment to effect change at multiple levels, including providing testimony at state legislative hearings on bills supporting family and youth experiences in foster care as well as sharing about the needs and experiences of foster families via podcasts, published works, and engagement in local community forums.
Nathan has also served as a representative for local (WA Region 5) quarterly 1624 meetings which bring together DCYF staff and leaders, community partners, legislators, and caregivers to review current trends, policies, and issues from the caregiver perspective. Nathan has been a vocal, active leader in this role since 2018, focusing on sharing the lived experiences and needs of the fostering community with those directly empowered to help effect change within the system.
Volunteer
For the past 20+ years, Nathan has served as a key volunteer for NYC-based MaleSurvivor, the largest international nonprofit that delivers “hope, healing and support” to male survivors of sexual abuse. This leading nonprofit serves more than 15,000 male survivors and their friends and family members from more than 220 nations annually. Nathan has developed and expanded MaleSurvivor’s community education and outreach programs throughout his tenure as a Board of Director member. He was also the leader of MaleSurvivor’s partnership with Yale University’s PCORI Research “Facilitating Male Trauma Survivors’ Meaningful Involvement in Health Research.”
Founder – Evergreen Caregiver Support
In 2020, as other programs and social media accounts offering foster parent support started to shut down following some state contract changes, Nathan recognized the continued need for a space where foster parents could connect and share their resources and experiences. In response, he started the Evergreen Caregiver Support site, offering training, resources, and community connections via its linked social media account.
Queer Art Collector Nathan has gradually created a small but growing collection of original cultural art representative of queer artists and community. These include fine art pieces as well as cultural artifacts such as board games, books, artifacts and comics. Nathan aspires to gradually transform his collection, currently used in many of his online trainings to demonstrate signs of welcoming to LGBTQIA+ individuals, into a museum that offers virtual tours. To view the current collection Click Here