Practice Guidelines - Disclosure and Confidentiality
LGBTQ+ children and youth may not be open about their identity due to fear of rejection or mistreatment. An affirming and supportive environment allows children and youth to safely discuss their identity when they are ready, so that their needs may be met. This leads to improvements in safety, permanency, and well-being while in care. Following these practice guidelines will lead to better outcomes for children and youth, reduce harmful discrimination and mistreatment, and ensure they are treated fairly, equitably, and with respect.
Below are the disclosure and confidentiality practice guidelines.
Disclosure and Confidentiality
Help youth navigate disclosure.
Remember, youth may not be out to anyone and even if they are out to some people, like their friends, they may not be out to everyone like family members, caseworkers, or other people in positions of authority.
You may need to help them navigate disclosure questions. If a child or youth comes out to you as LGBTQ+, thank them for sharing that information with you and clearly demonstrate your support.
For many children and youth, coming out is stressful and scary due to fear of potential rejection and harm.
Discuss who else in their life knows of their identity and whether and how you or they should navigate privacy and further disclosure, when the youth is ready.
Do not disclose information without a youth’s consent.
Agency staff, volunteers, contractors, and providers should not disclose information about a youth’s LGBTQ+ identity to anyone, including the child or youth’s parents, without obtaining their consent, unless disclosure is necessary to comply with state or federal law or required by court order.
Information related to a child or youth’s LGBTQ+ identity should only be shared when necessary, to achieve a specific beneficial purpose.
Be mindful regarding the confidentiality of files, reports, and notes and the potential for unintentional or inappropriate disclosure of SOGIE-related information.