Every youth in foster care deserves equal and equitable care, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Why it matters
LGBTQ2S+ youth often encounter discriminatory and inequitable treatment in the foster care system simply due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Improved policies and practices are not just important, but essential, and are most effective when led by LGBTQ2S+ LEx Leaders who have firsthand experience within the system. These targeted improvements serve to provide queer identifying youth with the specific support and protection they rightfully deserve.
Quick Facts
Over 30% of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ2S+, compared to 10% of the general population (source)
LGBTQ2S+ youth are twice as likely to report discrimination, and even more likely if they are Black or Brown (source).
In a 2019 FosterClub poll of LGBTQ2S+ youth, only 36% of youth agreed that they had an adult role model who affirmed their LGBTQ2S+ identity.
In the same poll, 75% of youth reported hearing negative messaging about their identities.
“Stopping youth from the ability to be in a loving family kind of defeats the purpose of why we have a foster care system.”
— Daysha, age 26, spent time in the Michigan foster care system
Want to Learn More?
LGBTQ2S+ Youth in the Foster Care System from Human Rights Campaign and FosterClub
LGBTQ in Child Welfare from the Annie E. Casey Foundation
How can child welfare agencies effectively support LGBTQ+ youth in care? from Casey family Programs
How we're working on this issue
Speaking with Federal Officials About SOGI Data Collection
LGBTQ2S+ FosterClub LEx leaders often meet with federal officials to discuss their experiences related to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) while in foster care. Conversations range from whether youth feel safe disclosing their SOGI, to the impact of coming out during their time in foster care.
Advocate for Laws to Fight Discrimination by Agencies
LGBTQ2S+ FosterClub LEx Leaders often engage with a coalition of national organizations focused on supporting LGBTQ2S+ youth and families in foster care. For example, upon learning about a new federal rule aimed at preventing discrimination against LGBTQ2S+ individuals by federal agencies, LEx Leaders got together and shared their insights. Their expertise underscored the importance of anti-discrimination protections in ensuring the well-being and success of LGBTQ2S+ youth within the foster care system.
Contributing to Government Reports
LEx leaders collaborated with the Government Accountability Office staff to share their personal experiences in foster care, specifically focusing on LGBTQ2S+ identity and religious experiences. Their input informed a comprehensive report that scrutinized the conditions facing young people in the foster care system. The report offered actionable recommendations for states, suggesting the importance of data collection, the implementation of nondiscrimination policies, and enhanced training for child welfare professionals to better support LGBTQ2S+ youth.
"As a bisexual biracial youth, I noticed that a lot of caregivers and staff don’t have a lot of training around handling LGBTQ2S+ youth. I feel like their personal opinions get involved and make it more complicated… So creating more training and creating more transparency will move things forward.”
— Keyona, age 22, spent time in the Arizona foster care system
Blogs on LGBTQ2S+ Youth
Supporting LGBTQ2S+ Youth in Congregate Care
"It was hard to express how I felt, or even be honest who I was. Everyone made jokes about homosexuals." -- former foster youth LGBTQ2S+ youth in foster care are at an increased risk of being placed in group homes or congregate care. TL:DR-- How to support LGBTQ2S+ youth in congregate care settings: LGBTQ2S+ youth in congregate care are at...
Policy Corner: How the Family First Act Impacts LGBTQIA2S+ Youth in Foster Care (Congregate Care Edition)
What is the Family First Act (FFA)? A bi-partisan law that was supported by FosterClub's lived experience leaders Passed in 2018, FFA included historic reforms that focus on keeping children safely with their families, when possible FFA achieved the following 1 Funding prevention services Providing support for kinship (relative) caregivers Establishing requirements for placement in residential treatment programs (congregate care)...
Supporting System-Involved Black LGBTQIA2S+ Youth and their Families
Black youth and youth who are LGBTQIA2S+ are both overrepresented in the foster care system, and Black families on average experience higher levels of involvement in the child welfare system than White families. Here are a few recommendations for child welfare professionals to aid them in supporting Black families and Black LGBTQIA2S+ youth. Advocate for policies and practices to support...
Practice Improvement Suggestions to Support Black LGBTQIA2S+ Youth in Foster Care
Black youth and youth who are LGBTQIA2S+ are both overrepresented in the foster care system. For youth who identify as both Black and LGBTQIA2S+, managing this intersection* of marginalized identities in the child welfare system can be difficult, and can result in negative outcomes including mental health challenges, housing and placement instability, and barriers to positive permanency. To help avoid...
Practice Improvement: Inclusive Language
Some agencies and organizations are encouraging the use of inclusive language in their spaces. But what is inclusive language and how do you use it? Keep reading to find out! What is Inclusive Language? Language that avoids certain expressions or words that exclude a particular group of people. Inclusive Language is meant to be inclusive to all aspects of a...
Policy Corner: Gender Affirming Care
In recent years, there’s been an influx in conversations around Gender Affirming Care. As some activists fight to ensure all youth have access to Gender Affirming Care, some states work to end access to Gender Affirming Care. Yet, many people may not know what Gender Affirming Care is or how it impacts LGBTQIA2S+ youth in foster care. We’re here to...
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