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E-Blast: Pride Month Wrap-up: ACF Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth and Families

July 2, 2021 11:57 AM

Show Your Pride! Share New and Updated Resources to Support LGBTQ+ Communities

Across the nation, people come together during Pride Month to honor and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ+) communities. LGBTQ+ youth and families have faced many challenges over the years, including marriage inequality, bullying and violence, and barriers in accessing needed mental and physical health services. We can improve the well-being and safety of LGBTQ+ communities by working to create welcoming and affirming agencies and organizations that acknowledge and support their needs.

Resources for Families

LGBTQ+ children and youth make up an estimated 30% of those in out-of-home care. These youth face unique challenges and need support navigating their specific experiences.

Resources for Professionals

As professionals work to recruit and maintain a diverse pool of potential parents, LGBTQ+ individuals and couples are an often-untapped resource of prospective parents for the thousands of children and youth in foster care. In addition to being highly motivated and qualified parents, they often have experience with some of the same issues foster children and youth may face, such as dealing with feelings of isolation or being "different." These are feelings that many foster and adopted youth—not only LGBTQ+ youth—experience.

For insight into the advantages of engaging LGBTQ+ families, helping LGBTQ+ families overcome barriers, and supporting these families, read Working With LGBTQ+ Families in Foster Care and Adoption.

Visit these webpages for even more resources to support LGBTQ+ youth and families:

 
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