Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth
This comprehensive training is designed to equip caregivers, caseworkers, healthcare providers, and child welfare professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to support LGBTQIA+ youth effectively. The curriculum moves beyond basic definitions to explore the intersection of identity, systemic disproportionality, and trauma-informed care, with a specialized focus on Indigenous and Two-Spirit perspectives.
Participants will explore why affirming a youth’s correct name and pronouns is a critical form of suicide prevention and learn how to foster “felt safety” through inclusive language and the open acceptance of feedback.
Learning Objectives:
- SOGIE Fundamentals: Understand the nuances of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) through developmental data and tools like the “Gender Unicorn” and “Genderbread Person”.
- Analyze Systemic Disproportionality: Examine the overrepresentation of LGBTQIA+ youth in foster care and juvenile justice systems, and the higher rates of homelessness and incarceration faced by this population.
- Decolonize Perspectives on Identity: Learn about the history and health of Two-Spirit individuals and the diverse gender traditions within Indigenous cultures, such as the Diné creation story.
- Identify Minority Stressors: Explore the unique stressors impacting LGBTQIA+ youth, including SGM-related victimization, internalized phobia, and SOGIE concealment.
- Navigate Legislation and Policy: Review Washington State laws—including the 2023 “Shield Law” and DCYF Administrative Policy 6.04 regarding the respectful treatment of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
- Apply Practical Allyship: Gain actionable skills for using trauma-informed language in healthcare settings, signaling allyship in hostile environments, and helping clients navigate challenging family gatherings.
Identity Development and Data
The training provides a deep dive into generational proportionality, noting that identification as LGBTQ+ has risen significantly with Gen Z. It explores identity milestones, such as the median age children first feel “different” or tell someone about their identity.
Two-Spirit and Indigenous Resilience
A significant portion of the course is dedicated to reclaiming Indigenous identities. This includes addressing gaps in data collection that render Two-Spirit people “systemically invisible” and exploring historical gender roles that were often highly valued within tribal communities.
System Involvement and Outcomes
Participants will review critical statistics regarding LGBTQIA+ youth outcomes:
- Foster Care: Approximately 30% of youth in care identify as LGBTQ+, compared to 9.5% of the general population.
- Criminal Justice: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are incarcerated at three times the rate of straight people.
- Education: 84% of transgender students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their gender.
Trauma-Informed Support and Resources
The course concludes with practical guidance on “The Gift of Feedback”—learning to apologize and grow when mistakes are made—and a comprehensive list of resources, including The Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline, and the Family Acceptance Project. “Recognizing a youth’s needs and using their correct name and pronouns is a form of suicide prevention.”
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