Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
na
Second Presenter's Institution
na
Location
Percival
Strand #1
Safety & Violence Prevention
Strand #2
Mental & Physical Health
Relevance
Sexual minority youth have been identified as at-risk. This proposal relates to two of the STRANDS. They are HANDS: Safety & Violence Prevention and HEALTH: Mental & Physical Health. The proposed presentation will present information about sexual minority youth and the USA foster care system. Discussed are the safety needs of these youth along with the external and internal violence directed at these youth. The mental and physical needs of these youth are also presented. In particular, how practitioners can assist these youth with their identity development needs.
Brief Program Description
This presentation directly discusses the needs of LGBT youth requiring out-of-home placement. In particular, this presentation will provide characteristics of a successful foster placement. The intended audience is anyone who cares about a sexually minority youth. This presentation ends with a model for the successful foster placement of sexual minority youth.
Summary
With nearly half a million American youth in foster care needing attention, care, and placements, a major challenge for years has been establishing enough providers and placements to effectively serve these youth. In this limited environment, the needs of sexual minority youth during the placement matching process has sometimes been an afterthought. The challenges in identity development that many sexual minority youth in out-of-home care face greatly affect their sense of self and self-worth. In order to effectively meet the needs of these youth, potential foster parents and practitioners must be educated. This presentation will focus on providing an overview of the challenges and needs of sexual minority youth, and the American foster care system’s response to these youth. In particular, this presentation will present a model for the successful foster placement of sexual minority youth. The intended audience is anyone who provides cares for and cares about a sexually minority youth.
Evidence
The information for this presentation is a result of the first author’s dissertation. Information was gathered from LGBT youth and their foster parents.
Biographical Sketch
This presentation is an aspect of Dr. Bucchio’s dissertation research. He also has extensive experience providing direct services to LGBT youth and foster parents.
Dr. Turnage has provided has provided direct services with LGBT youth and adults. She has worked in community mental health and physical health facilities that service this population. She has also provided workshops and published articles on adolescent development and minority identity development.
Keyword Descriptors
LBGT Youth in Foster Care
Presentation Year
2016
Start Date
3-8-2016 10:15 AM
End Date
3-8-2016 11:30 AM
Recommended Citation
Bucchio, Justin D. and Turnage, Barbara F. Dr., "Working with Vulnerable Youth: LGBT Youth in Foster Care" (2016). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 63.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2016/2016/63
Included in
Working with Vulnerable Youth: LGBT Youth in Foster Care
Percival
This presentation directly discusses the needs of LGBT youth requiring out-of-home placement. In particular, this presentation will provide characteristics of a successful foster placement. The intended audience is anyone who cares about a sexually minority youth. This presentation ends with a model for the successful foster placement of sexual minority youth.
