Family of choice

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject. Please help improve the article by providing more context for the reader. (November 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article may lend undue weight to certain ideas, incidents, or controversies. Please help improve it by rewriting it in a balanced fashion that contextualizes different points of view. (November 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance. (November 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

A family of choice, also known as a chosen family, found family, or hānai family^[1] is a term that refers to a non-biologically related group of people established to provide ongoing social support.^[2]

A family of choice refers to a group of people bound by intentional and chosen relationships with a focus on mutual love, trust, and commitment. This is in contrast to a "family of origin", the biological or adoptive family into which a person is born or raised. Families of choice are especially significant within the LGBTQ community, where individuals may face estrangement from their biological families. Families of choice may also be significant among veterans, survivors of addiction or childhood abuse, and tightly knit friend groups. By fulfilling the traditional roles of a family (providing companionship, emotional support, and a sense of belonging), a family of choice can be an affirming support system for those who may lack connection with their families of origin.