Fostering LGBTQ Youth: Helpful Information for Foster Families
“Like all young people, LGBTQ youth in foster care need the support of a nurturing
family to help them negotiate adolescence and grow into healthy adults. However,
LGBTQ youth in foster care face additional challenges. These include the losses that
brought them into care in the first place, as well as traumas they may have suffered
while in foster care. They also include stressors unique to LGBTQ youth, including
homophobia or transphobia3 and the need to evaluate (often with little or no support)
the safety of their communities, schools, social networks, and homes in order to
decide whether to disclose their LGBTQ identity, when, and to whom.”
– from Supporting Your LGBTQ Youth: A Guide for Foster Parents,
a Guide written and distributed by the Child Welfare Information Gateway
Click here to download a copy.
The Human Rights Campaign website has a comprehensive guide to resources. Click here to access.
Visit the True Colors website for more information and support for Connecticut residents. From their website: True Colors is a non-profit organization that works with other social service agencies, schools, organizations, and within communities to ensure that the needs of sexual and gender minority youth are both recognized and competently met. The organization trains more than 2400 people annually, organizes the largest LGBT youth conference in the country with more than 2000 attendees and manages the state’s only LGBT mentoring program. True Colors has been spotlighted by both national and local media for their expertise in LGBTI youth issues, including most recently CNN.
Connecticut needs more families willing to foster teens who struggle with many issues, including issues related to their sexual orientation and gender identity. Families who can be welcoming and affirming are needed today and every day. Training is available from agencies with extensive experience working with LGBTQI populations. Please contact us to learn more about how you can help.