CHILDREN AWAITING PARENTS

{ SHIFT+CONTROL }{ SHE HUSTLES TALKS }{ SHE HUSTLES TALKS }{ CHILDREN AWAITING PARENTS } LGBTQ YOUTH IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

“All young people, regardless of what they look like, which religion they follow, who they love, or the gender they identify with, deserve the chance to dream and grow in a loving, permanent home.” - President Obama, National Foster Care Month 2015 Presidential Proclamation The first thing you need to know is that there are a lot of youth in foster care.

It’s hard to pin down exactly how many youths are in foster care nationally, but experts estimate that there are nearly 400,000 children and youth in the system. Of these, ¼ are awaiting adoption and ¼ of those awaiting adoption age out of care without permanent families.

It’s no secret that LGBTQ youth are over-represented in the foster care system. This means that the percentage of youth in foster care who are LGBTQ-identified is larger than the percentage of LGBTQ youth in the general youth population.

LGBTQ youth also face disparities – differences in experiences in care or treatment by the system. Why are LGBTQ youth in foster care? They enter the foster care system for many of the same reasons as non-LGBTQ youth in care, such as abuse, neglect, and parental substance abuse. Many LGBTQ youth have the added layer of trauma that comes with being rejected or mistreated because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

BY MELINDA SPIRE

LGBTQ youth are more likely to be homeless and in foster care than their non-LGBTQ counterparts. The lack of affirming foster placement is one of the major reasons for this disparity. Even the most LGBTQinclusive agencies can struggle to find qualified foster parents who are ready and willing to welcome LGBTQ youth into their homes. Child welfare agencies must actively assess the readiness of current foster parents to affirm LGBTQ youth and include LGBTQ issues in foster parent training. Recognizing that LGBTQ adults are one potential group that could provide affirming foster homes for LGBTQ youth, agencies should engage LGBTQ adults who may be interested in becoming foster parents. So how do we prepare families to understand and support LGBTQ children? At Children Awaiting Parents, we help provide as much information and resources to a potential family as possible. We want to make sure that when you become a foster family for an LGBTQ youth, you are prepared.

Our goal is to make sure that each child in our care has access to the best possible care, whether it be through our programs or through the community. Having an open mind and understanding of the issues that LGBTQ youth face will help build a stronger bond between you and your foster child.

By understanding what it means to be an LGBTQ youth in foster care, we can work together to create change. So, lets clear up some misconceptions. Many people think that LGBTQ+ youth are different from other youth, but they’re not. They want to go to school, hang out with friends, and have fun like anyone else. They want to be loved and supported by their family, just like you.

LGBTQ+ youth are not “just a phase.” They do not need to be fixed or changed. Their identity is not something that can be reversed—it’s just who they are.

The fact that you love them does not cause someone else’s LGBTQ+ identity. Nobody can change what makes someone else who they are, and nobody ever will!

People who identify as LGBTQ+ are not more likely to have mental health diagnoses or behavioral problems than other people—they’re just as normal as everyone else!

It’s important to remember that we all have the potential to be whatever we want to be, regardless of our gender or sexual orientation.

LGBTQ+ youth in foster care need nurturing homes where they feel safe and affirmed. They make up the highest percentage of children and youth in the child welfare and foster care systems, and they face serious risks beyond those experienced by heterosexual and cisgender youth. Disrupted placements and rejection by their families and other caregivers further increases the challenges and