LGBTQIA and the System
1 out of 3 youth in foster care identifies as LGBTQ+. This statistic is disproportionately high and these kids often experience the least amount of support from foster placements, caseworkers, bio families, and the state. LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to live in group homes than in a foster home, live in more placements than non-LGBTQ+ youth, and are more likely to deal with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
We strive to normalize asking pronouns, using preferred names, and affirming individuals as they are comfortable enough to share who they are with us!
While this video is over a decade old, it is still incredibly relevant in experience to many youth in care.
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This article discusses the high prominence of children in care who identify as queer but the lack of support for these children. Read this article here.
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This article provides perspective and ideas for supporting youth who identify as queer who are in the foster care system. Read this article here.
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Additional Resources
Kristopher shares his story as a gay child in foster care, experiencing complications with placements because of his sexual orientation.