B13

BEST PRACTICES FOR WORKING WITH LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) YOUTH IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM

 


Presenters: Jody Marksamer

Abstract Category: Diversity

Instruction Level: Intermediate

Presentation: Doc 1 & Doc 2

 

Description:

Workshop participants will learn how to use the CWLA Best Practice Guidelines to provide supportive environments for LGBT youth in their care.

 

Abstract:

Because of discrimination they face in their families of origin, in their schools, and on the streets, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth are disproportionately represented in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.  Unfortunately, once they enter these systems, many of these youth – as many as 78%– are subjected to further violence, harassment, and discrimination. In this workshop we will present the recommendations from the newly released CWLA Best Practice Guidelines for working with LGBT youth in state care. We will also screen LGBT foster youth created digital stories from Breaking the Silence, an award-winning multimedia training tool. Workshop participants will learn how to use these resources to provide supportive environments for LGBT youth in their county systems and agencies and will come away with a plan for making the systemic changes that the Guidelines call for.

 

This workshop will combine multiple training modalities. We will use a powerpoint to present materials on the Best Practice Guidelines. We will show digital stories and have group exercises and discussions that engage the participants. There will also be time for participants to share their own experiences and to ask questions. Participants will be able to take home their own copy of the Best Practice Guidelines and  Breaking the Silence DVD and Bonus CD with 25 resources and tools.

 

A link to the Best Practice Guideline publication: http://www.nclrights.org/site/DocServer/bestpracticeslgbtyouth.pdf?docID=1322  

As part of the contract we negotiated with the publisher we have permission to distribute the book in electronic format for educational purposes.