Safe Havens: Closing the Gap Between Recommended Practice and Reality for Transgender and Gender-Expansive Youth in Out-of-Home Care

This new report offers the first comprehensive analysis of the troubling lack of explicit laws and policies in most states to protect transgender, gender-expansive and gender non-conforming (TGNC) youth in the child welfare, juvenile justice, and runaway and homeless youth systems (“out-of-home care systems”). The report is co-authored by Lambda Legal, Children’s Rights and the Center for the Study of Social Policy.

Lambda Legal, Children’s Rights and the Center for the Study of Social Policy.

 

Sexual and Reproductive Health of Youth in Out-of-Home Care: A Policy and Practice Framework for Child Welfare

For the past several years, the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) has been working to bring attention to the unmet needs of youth in foster care who are expecting a child and/or parenting. This document is the cornerstone of a three-part compendium of sexual and reproductive health guidance and resources for child welfare jurisdictions. This document is intended primarily for child welfare leadership and policy makers. The document briefly explores the urgent need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care for youth in out-of-home care and lays down nine fundamental principles for action. It provides extensive guidance for jurisdictions as they consider the policies and practices they should have into place to better serve adolescents in or leaving foster care.

Suicide Prevention Among LGBT Youth: A Workshop for Professionals Who Serve Youth

This is a free workshop kit to help staff in schools, youth-serving organizations, and suicide prevention programs take action to reduce suicidal behavior among LGBT youth. Topics covered include suicidal behavior among LGBT youth, risk and protective factors for suicidal behavior, strategies to reduce the risk, and ways to increase school or agency cultural competence. The kit contains everything needed to host a workshop: a Leader’s Guide, sample agenda, PowerPoint presentations (in PDF), a sample script, and handouts.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center  (SPRC; 2011)

Supporting the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Youth in Out-of-Home Care: A Guide for Caseworkers

This document is one of three in a compendium of sexual and reproductive health guidance and resources for child welfare jurisdictions from a national work group convened by the CSSP. The goal of this document is to provide information and resources to workers to help them effectively support youth (ages 10 to 21) on sexual and reproductive health issues. The other two documents in this series include a policy and practice framework for child welfare leaders and policy makers and practical guidance meant specifically for use by the youth themselves. Both this document and the one designed for youth are aligned with the recommendations on current best practices around sexual and reproductive health policy and practice contained in the policy framework. Includes LGBTQ+ considerations and resources.

Teen SENSE: Model Sexual Health Care Standards for Youth in State Custody

This resource reflects the minimum requirements that facilities should meet in order to appropriately address the sexual health care needs of youth in the state’s care. Youth should be provided with confidential, culturally competent care including physical and mental health screenings; universal offers of STI and HIV testing; written information, counseling, and treatment related to pregnancy, STI and HIV transmission and prevention, and sexual violence; and ongoing care and discharge planning related to sexual and reproductive health.

The Center for HIV Law and Policy (2012)