Foster Care Training

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) are something everyone has. However, those folks with marginalized SOGIEs experience significant barriers to safety and quality care in the child welfare system. Establishing and maintaining truly inclusive, affirming, and healthy environments for lesbian, gay, pansexual, queer, transgender, and intersex people requires intentionality and commitment from individuals, organizations, and the larger community. In this interactive workshop, we will introduce the basics of SOGIE including fundamental concepts, vocabulary, and skills necessary to provide safe and inclusive support to youth with marginalized SOGIEs including those who identify as LGBQ-TI. This exploration will include examination of both personal and institutional factors included but not limited to: intake and assessment, cultural humility, inclusiveness, agency policies, cultural, and personal beliefs, and institutional inequities that lead to a lack of psychological and physical safety for those who are (or are perceived to be) LGBQ-TI. We will also learn basics of how to best support youth and their families around diverse SOGIEs, family and peer acceptance, and safety. This workshop will be interactive and participatory. Please arrive with cameras on, ready to engage, explore, teach, and learn with one another!