Promoting the Wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Youth and Their Families

For an introduction to sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression check out our Learning About SOGIE animation and download the accompanying glossary for a list of terms commonly used in LGBTQ+ communities.

Cuyahoga County developed a robust three-phase approach to training and coaching that led to a shift in organizational practices serving LGBTQ+ youth and their families. Through these efforts, the county was able to identify the majority of their youth that identified as LGBTQ+ and offer them LGBTQ+ relevant resources. Following this, Cuyahoga County found themselves with waiting lists for all of their LGBTQ+ youth and parenting programs. This graphic was created to help other child welfare agencies replicate their efforts.

The Family-Centered Reunification Training is a 60-minute, easy-to-accessonline training that assists child welfare agencies in understanding a family-centered approach to working with families toward timely and safe reunification. Though this training is not focused on LGBTQ+ identities, the elements of the training are important to the family centered reunification of LGBTQ+ young people, their parents, and for LGBTQ+ parents involved in the child welfare system. Upon completion of the training, child welfare agency staff will have the tools necessary to create a foundation for authentic engagement with parents, families, and young people, which will support reunification efforts. The training has been approved by the National Association of Social Workers, and we are pleased to offer a CEU for completing the training, with a score of 80% or higher on the post-test and completing the evaluation survey. A certificate of completion that includes the CEU is automatically awarded by our learning management system: Ideas@TheInstitute.

Visit the QIC-R website for more information 

HRC Foundation’s Youth Well-Being Program is excited to offer this FREE online learning module for social workers, counselors, educators and other youth-serving professionals in partnership with the National SOGIE Center. This self-paced course takes approximately one-hour to complete and participants can earn one free CEU through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Promoting Emotional Well-Being for LGBTQ Youth provides an opportunity for youth-serving professionals to learn how to best promote safety, health, and well-being for LGBTQ youth at home, at school, and in systems of care.

Click here to sign-up and learn more!

 If your agency is interested in deepening your support with transgender and non-binary youth, please reach out to learn more about the Ruth Ellis Institute's Gender Affirming Care curriculum accompanying this film: training@ruthelliscenter.org.

The HRC Foundation's All Children - All Families program certifies child welfare organizations for their LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts and delivers expert LGBTQ+ training nationally.

Through its certification process, All Children - All Families promotes LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and affirming practices among child welfare agencies and celebrates those agencies that are leading the field with innovative approaches to inclusion in its annual report. Participants gain access to a comprehensive, online self-assessment tool, free webinars on the latest best practices and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.

The All Children – All Families National Training Program offers expert training, capacity building and coaching on a diverse range of LGBTQ+ topics for child welfare professionals and caregivers. High-quality, engaging and evidence-based training is available virtually and in-person at a variety of durations to meet your organization’s needs, including: one hour, 90 minutes, three hour and full-day training and workshops as well as a multi-day Training of Facilitators program.

The Philadelphia Coalition for Queer Justice and Intersectional Equity partnered with The Institute to host a two-day virtual symposium on the state of LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system and how their experiences have changed in light of COVID-19. This symposium gathered medical professionals, child welfare workers, prevention workers, mentors, and executives from a variety of disciplines. Together we elevated the voices of experts to a national audience in the pursuit of equity for our LGBTQ+ youth. Watch now

For behavioral health provider training on LGBTQ+ people across the lifespan, check out our free CEU and CME accredited offerings through the Center of Excellence for LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity.

Watch our animated short, Supporting LGBTQ Youth Starts at Home. This animation focuses on the impact of rejection children, youth, and young adults can experience in their homes and communities and provides examples and strategies to promote support, acceptance and affirmation of youth with diverse SOGIE.