- FOR FAMILIES
- FOR PROFESSIONALS
- Events & Trainings
- RESOURCE, BOOKS & MORE
- Help!
- About F.L.O.
Case Study 3: Finding Safe Families for GLBTQ Youth
Families Like Ours (FLO)—GLBT&Q: SAFE program Placement Case Study: Finding Safe Families for GLBT&Q Youth
Placing a GLBT&Q youth with a foster or adoptive family can be a difficult task for agencies and placement teams. Often we hear; “We do not have families for gay children”, or “We do not have the resources available to help a gay child.” These perceptions are not uncommon beliefs from many agencies managing foster families.
Identifying and educating families open to fostering and adopting GLBT&Q youth has become a critical need in the foster system today. Education is also needed to prepare agencies and caseworkers on how best to support both the youth and families.
A recent case involved a 16 year old girl who revealed to her biological parents that she was homosexual. Her parents in turn, kicked her out of the home. She was subsequently placed in a group home while a placement team searched for a safe foster home.
Finding a foster home that was willing to take a GLBTQ youth was not an easy task. The placement team experienced unreturned calls from potential foster homes and even hang-ups. One foster family stated; “The only bed I have available would be in my daughter’s room and I cannot do that, it would be like putting a boy in there with her.”
Supporting agencies, placement workers, and families with education and pre-identified families open to GLBTQ fostering & adoption is what the Families Like Ours GLBT&Q: SAFE program is designed to do.
In this case, FLO’s GLBT&Q: SAFE program was able to assist in recruiting families open to taking a GLBTQ youth. SAFE also was able to provide referrals for local community resources and counselors experienced in the GLBTQ field that could help this youth with the grief & loss of her biological parents.
Case Issues
- Identifying a foster placement that was open and supportive of a GLBT&Q child
- Support of a GLBT&Q youth in transition
FLO’s, GLBT&Q: SAFE Program Results
- Identified family who had expressed a specific interest in providing a home (foster or adoptive) to a GLBT&Q youth
- Post placement transitional support for the16 year old girl and the foster family
For more information, contact Families Like Ours at 1-877-230-3055.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| FLO16yearoldgbltqyouthcasestudy.pdf | 84.58 KB |
User Notice: Families Like Ours, Inc. is a nonprofit 501[c][3] adoption exchange providing information, resources and support services mainly to adoptive and pre-adoptive families. Families Like Ours, Inc. is not a law firm; we are not lawyers or legal analysts. The information contained throughout this site should be used at your own discretion and is not meant to be your only resource for information. We strongly advise that you seek professional assistance for all your adoption, relationship, financial planning and other family matters.