A Family Fosters Unaccompanied Refugee Minors

Murdoc and his wife Megan, both dedicated medical professionals, began their fostering journey in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges of the time, they began their training with Project 1.27 virtually. From the beginning, they felt drawn to open their home to teenagers and started by providing respite care. Eventually, their path led them to the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) Program, a specialized initiative that offers culturally and linguistically appropriate foster care and independent living support to refugee-eligible unaccompanied minors in the United States.

When asked what drew them to the URM program, Murdoc reflected on his time in the Big Brother Big Sister program. Having benefited from the mentorship of a “Big Brother” as a youth, he later returned to the program as a mentor himself. But he wanted to do more—more than just monthly visits. He and Megan were aware that many young people who age out of the foster system face significant challenges such as homelessness, addiction, and incarceration. They wanted to be part of a solution that offered deeper, long-term impact. The URM program felt like the right fit.

Murdoc shared that the first and most significant challenge in fostering refugee minors is the language barrier. Most URM youth enter the U.S. with little to no English, which makes daily communication, education, and community involvement difficult. The second major challenge is education—many arrive unable to read or write and are only familiar with basic math if that or have never had any education.  The third is cultural sensitivity, as each youth brings a unique background with specific needs, expectations, and traditions.

To meet these challenges, Murdoc and Megan have been intentional in their support. They’ve hired tutors from the youths' home countries to provide academic and language help. They've assisted the youth in navigating the complex process of obtaining work permits and visas. Many of their foster youth have become involved in extracurricular activities like soccer clubs and ROTC. Most importantly, they have fully integrated these young people into their family lives—sharing meals, family vacations, and holiday traditions, helping the youth feel included and supported.

As a foster father, Murdoc focuses on modeling positive behaviors: financial responsibility, mutual respect in marriage, shared household duties, and physical activity. He wants each youth who comes through their home to remember him as someone who was sincere, fair, a source of sound guidance, and a steady presence in their lives.

To date, the family has welcomed seven URM youth into their home. Some have graduated from high school and are now attending college or working; others have moved on to new homes or reunified with family members. Murdoc and Megan remain in touch with many of them, continuing to mentor and support them in their journeys.

Knowing that many foster parents leave the system after just one year, Murdoc shares heartfelt advice:
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“Adjust your expectations. Focus on the long-term rather than the short-term. Lean on your support team. You’re going to feel insecure in your abilities, and you won’t be good for a while—but it does get better. Be patient with yourself.”

By Marilyn Robinson, Family Care Director