Introduction
For many youth in the child welfare system, especially those who identify as LGBTQ, ethnic and racial minorities or young people with disabilities, effectively addressing the root of disparities they face within and across multiple systems is important. Youth identifying as LGBTQ are overrepresented in child welfare, and they experience higher instances of homelessness, poor educational outcomes and youth probation. These overrepresentations are even starker for LGBTQ youth of color. The data on LGBTQ youth, particularly youth of color, presents a grim and disturbing picture about their experiences and outcomes.
Leaders and service providers in child welfare, health, mental health, education, housing and other systems have real opportunities to improve outcomes for youth through collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts. With research indicating clear relationships between multiple system enrollment, multigenerational involvement and overlap between target populations within each system, cross-systems approaches are needed to promote more effective and efficient practice implementation.
This report highlights the research on the disparities that exist between LGBTQ foster youth and their nonLGBTQ peers, as well as the compounding effects these factors have in relation to other intersecting factors including race, ethnicity, culture and language. It also discusses successful policy strategies and state examples of efforts that are addressing system and practice obstacles.
