Challenges Faced by LGBTQ Foster Youth in Central Valley
Explore the struggles faced by LGBTQ foster youth in Fresno and Madera County, including identity conflicts and societal opposition. Delve into the disparities, adversities, and inadequate support these youth encounter within the foster care system.
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Presentation Transcript
Its one thingto be away from your biological family, but it s another thing to be doing it while struggling with your identity.
LGBTQ Foster Youth in Fresno & Madera County Laurel E. Barnett, MSW
Terminology LGBTQ SOGIE Gender Conforming & Gender Non-Conforming
Why LGBTQ Foster Youth? Intersectionality Adolescents in identity vs role confusion Out-of-home care SOGIE minorities LGBTQ in Central Valley 53% opposed to same-sex marriage
Literature Review: Family of Origin Physical Abuse LGB 2x Trans 4x Run away/kicked out 66% Trans vs 42% GC
Literature Review: Experience In Care Very Well 60% vs 51% Not Very Well 5% vs 12% LGBTQ Harassment 80% hetero
Literature Review: Disparities & Disproportionality 8.3% of general pop vs 19.1% Group home 2x Stay in care 7x Hospitalized 3x Double placement rate Psychiatric disorders & risky bx
Literature Review: Substitute Care Providers 78% youth & 88% SW felt GH unsafe enviro Implicit/complicit & direct harassment Double standards Gays molest & bisexual confused
Literature Review: Social Workers Non-discriminatory vs gay-affirming Assume reunification not option 50% unsupported by SW
Gaps in Literature Focus on GL & little-none on BT Studies in major cities (i.e., LA & New York) Largely quantitative No research on placement instability & consequences
Methodology One-on-one interviews w/ open-ended questions Explored SOGIE, placement types, placement change, peer response, SCP response, SW response, overall impact Data analysis: transcribed & placed into themed categories
Themes Peer/SCP Harassment SW Endeavor to Support Placement Instability Solidarity w/ LGBTQ Strength Through Adversity
Peers/Group Home ...as much as people can say, Oh, those words aren t going to hurt me; they re not going to hurt me, in all reality they will, eventually. I would walk through the hallways, or go to my room, or interact with them and I just felt like I didn t belong. I felt like I was less than, you know, less than normal. I felt different.
Foster Parents It s fine that I was gay; I just couldn t show it. Why do you have to put makeup on? Why do you have to have long hair? Why can t you just be gay? We had another foster son just like you and he was gay...we accepted him. ...he got really upset at me and told me, You re nothing but a lie. Everything that you are is a lie; that s the core of who you are .
Social Workers They were really supportive. They were kind and patient they treated me better like a child, not like an outsider. when it came to having meetings and things like that they would call me by my original name and it was he during the whole meetings I felt like I wasn t being heard or listened to all the way.
Placement Instability I don t want to have to start all over again because this will be the third time that I had started over, and this will be one of a million or many times that I had to come out to a group of people even though I wasn t comfortable doing it what if they were like, I don t want to be your friend because your LGBTQ ... And then I would be like an outcast. And that s one thing I didn t want to be I didn t want to be an outcast.
Solidarity w/ LGBTQ That program saved me...I suffered a lot prior to that. I thought about suicide...because I just didn t think that something was right the bible was saying that it was wrong ...even though we wasn t accepted and we were treated different...we kind of stuck together...we encouraged each other to move forward That s all we could have done.
Strength Through Adversity ...it was definitely a lifeline for me because I was suffering at home there was times where...I would try to commit suicide I m pretty sure I probably would have been gone...if I would have stayed there. I ve gone through a lot of hardships being in foster care and being who I am It s unfortunate to say that misery does turn people into good people...you either...grow from your hardship or you let it overcome you and you become someone you re not proud of I chose to take a better route.
Implications for Social Work Placement Insecurity Placement Instability CCR & STRTPs LGBTQ focused trainings LGBTQ FP recruitment
Thank you! Questions?
