Working with LGBTQIA+ youth in the child welfare system:Perspectives from youth and professionals

Written through a constant exchange between LGBTQIA+ young people, researchers, professionals and foster families, this book offers a valuable tool to improve the practice with LGBTQIA+ youth at a personal, organizational, and policy level.This book shows the powerful influence of relationships and networks for the LGBTQIA+ young person growing up in child protection and welfare systems. LGBTQIA+ youth need meaningful connections with individuals within their communities in order to be able to heal, learn, and be authentically themselves.Child welfare professionals have a crucial role in creating these connections and cultivating supportive environments, free of additional trauma, where LGBTQIA+ young people can feel valued and loved

Creating Safe and Welcoming Residential Care Placements for LGBTQIA+ Youth

This chapter examines the special needs and challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ youth in residential child and youth care settings. The authors review data about LGBTQIA+ youth in care and describe two European programs that are striving to provide a secure, welcoming, and affirming living environment for LGBTQIA+ youth in child welfare systems. The Audre Project probed perspectives of LGBTQIA+ youth in residential and foster care placement as well the views of practitioners. Cornerstones Youth Care has been implementing an LGBTQIA+ focus within its Raising the Village model. The Raising the Village model is a framework for improving the quality of out-of-home care to young people through focusing decision-making around the individual young person and the carers and professionals involved

A Cross-National Review of Policies and Practices Affecting LGBTQ+ Youth in Child Welfare

This chapter analyses how policies and practices in the U.S. and the Netherlands affect the lives of LGBTQ+ youth. We first present an overview of the situation of LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system (CWS), and the national and administrative policies and practices in both countries. Despite the gains of the last years in terms of LGBTQ+ rights, we face a current backlash of anti-LGBTQ+ laws and an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. These anti-LGBTQ+ movements impact the well-being of all LGBTQ+ youth, but especially that of LGBTQ+ youth in care. Care professionals responsible for youths’ well-being are also exposed and influenced by this anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, affecting their willingness to offer affirmative care. Secondly, we explore recent studies with LGBTQ+ youth in the CWS in the Netherlands that shed light on the ways to create safe and affirming care environments. Thirdly, based on a study with LGBTQ+ youth in the CWS in the U.S., we explore youth perceptions and recommendations to create a safe and affirming environment. The chapter ends with a number of recommendations for policymakers, care professionals and agencies to ensure that care environments offer appropriate care for LGBTQ+ youth