Child Welfare Programs

For gender variant and transgender youth an added obstacle to fair and individualized treatment is the absence of understanding that societal stigmatization can negatively impact adolescent development and directly lead to family rejection and school victimization. These factors can place these youth at increased risk of contact with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We provide training to help providers and administrators in child welfare systems address the needs of gender non-conforming and transgender children and adolescents.

Aligned with the Child Welfare League of America's (CWLA) Best Practice Guidelines on Serving LGBT Youth in Out-of Home Care, our trainings provide:

A basic understanding of gender identity development
Adopting and implementing appropriate policies to ensure equitable care for gender variant and transgender young people.
Guidance in incorporating professional standards in care
Helping adolescents within the family context
Assistance with classification and placement issues and concerns
Addressing gender issues in housing and foster home placements
Supporting caregivers of out-of-home youth

With few exceptions, policies and professional standards governing services to youth in out-of-home care have failed to consider young people’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Best Practice Guidelines: Serving LGBT Youth in Out-of-Home-Care