LGBTQ Youth in foster care:

Strengths
LGBTQ Youth in foster care

Before we begin, we want to let people from this population to have a chance to speak for themselves.

Watch the videos first.

Impressions?
Takeaways?

Strengths:

Resiliency: LGBTQ youth are more often delivered back into the system by their foster parents for being LGBTQ; they may go through multiple homes before finding a good fit, if ever. They live more often in group homes than other foster youth.

Independence: As a member of two marginalized communities (foster youth and queer youth), they learn to rely on themselves more than anyone else, including their social workers. Some social workers even condemn their kids for “being against God”; LGBTQ foster youth face discrimination even from those legally mandated to help them.

Self-determination: It takes a lot to decide that even living in care isn’t worth it.

Characteristics

At-risk

Secretive or stonewalling
Most LGBT adolescents have been socialized to fear revealing their sexual orientation; unless assured that they will be accepted and protected, many LGBT youth in the foster care system will continue to hide this aspect of their identity from the agencies that should provide them support.

Resourceful

Values
Family function
Community

Discrimination Issues

Homophobia
46% of homeless LGBT youth report running away from home due to family rejection of their sexual orientation
In a survey of 496 LGBT students from 32 states, more than 90% reported that they sometimes or frequently heard homophobic comments in school, and 61% reported outright verbal harassment.
Foster parent focus groups have shown a deep misunderstanding of LGBTQ needs: many concerns about crossdressing, sexually abusing other children in the home, and “being against god” surfaced

Homelessness
The National Network of Runaway and Youth Services has estimated that 20-40% of youths who become homeless each year are LGBTQ, and reports from urban centers serving runaway and throwaway adolescents likewise have shown similar percentages of LGBT youth among their clients.
17% of LGBTQ youth who have aged out of the systems end up on the streets
Youth who identify as LGBT were three times as likely to engage in survival sex than their heterosexual peers

Ageism
Foster families are more likely to want younger kids - LGBTQ foster youth are often 13+ by the time they discover themselves or come out

Laws
No state foster care agency currently maintains formal policies prohibiting discrimination against LGBT foster care youth.
Seven states encourage involvement/adoption for LGTBQ foster parents
Nine states prohibit LGBTQ persons from fostering/adopting

Abuse
LGBT youth are roughly 7.4 times more likely to experience acts of sexual violence than heterosexual homeless youth
LGBTQ youth are subjected to being kicked out, forced to commit to religious indoctrination, or even attend conversion therapy
These youth see themselves as isolated or different, making them more vulnerable to adult predators

Counseling Implications

Therapeutic alliance is especially important; LGBTQ youth have an inherent lack of trust and may stay in the closet until expressly told their identities would be supported

Family therapy may be necessary in cases of foster parents being unsure how to support

Therapists may want to be in contact with the school in cases of bullying, in contact with the social worker to ensure proper placement and adherence to legalities

Adolescent mental health counselors should be mandated to take LGBTQ awareness training to best support this community

LGBTQ youth may have greater issues of self-esteem, self-worth, anxiety and depression

Estimated that 30% of completed adolescent suicides are LGBTQ

Social Issues

Bullying
LGBTQ kids are more likely to be bullied; this increases in more rural/religious areas
LGBTQ kids are less likely to form strong social support networks as they may fear repercussions if they are discovered

Relationships
LGBTQ foster youth are more likely to receive a heavier punishment for statutory rape, even if consensual
LGBTQ foster youth are more likely to be sexually abused by teachers and other adults; they are often unaware of their worth as the system beats them down

Statement of Social Justice/What We’re Doing to Help
LGBTQ foster youth are a marginalized group more likely to suffer abuse, harassment, and discrimination from the time of their coming out to past their aging out.

Solutions

Comprehensive sex ed and open door policies in schools

Federally mandated legislation for LGBTQ awareness

Federal anti-discrimination policies for LGBTQ foster parents

Cultural competency seminars and continued ed learning for counselors/therapists

We pledge the following:
Raising awareness through letters, phone calls, and social media shares in support of mandated LGBTQ awareness training for adults intending to provide care of any kind and anti-discrimination laws
Taking action through providing a percentage of post-graduate counseling services pro bono for LGBTQ youth and their foster families
A desire to mentor, foster, and/or adopt an LGBTQ youth as our families grow

What We Learned

Andrew: I didn’t put a lot of thought into how dire a situation it could be for an LGBTQ foster youth. I didn’t know that they would even have trouble working with their SW, that their support persons could be damaging. It seems obvious now.

Erin: Growing up as an LGBTQ youth in a stable home in a liberal East Coast town was difficult enough.
The percentage of youth who get kicked out of their foster homes for being gay and becoming homeless is much, much higher than I anticipated. My bias showed.
seven states encouraged LGBTQ foster parents, and nine prohibited it, while the rest were silent. Updated data shows 4 states which explicitly restrict or prohibit LGBTQ couples from fostering and adopting, seven states who encourage, and 41 who are silent.
If all states encouraged LGBTQ foster parents and adoptions, there would be homes for all the children in our foster system.