Practice Guidelines - Professional Obligations
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 professional obligations practice guidelines.
Professional Obligations
Self-reflect.
Examine your own beliefs and attitudes that might affect your professional responsibilities to LGBTQ+ children and youth that you work with.
Remember that above all you owe a professional duty of care to LGBTQ+ children and youth just as to all other people that you work with.
Utilize resources to help reconcile personal beliefs or bias about LGBTQ+ people with your professional responsibilities to provide all children and youth with quality service.
Utilize resources to help explore your own background and feelings around LGBTQ+ issues, and seek out resources through this guide, consultation with your supervisor, online or by engaging directly with community support.
Resource: APA LGBT Resources and Publications; National Association of Social Workers LGBT Resource Guide; Texas Counseling Association & Texas Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling
Listen to LGBTQ+ youth.
Don’t assume this is “just a phase” or that they are too young to understand gender or sexual orientation. Youth are the experts on their own experiences.
Commit to learn from each individual person about who they are and what they need to promote their well-being and support their identity.
Acknowledge and explore your biases.
Don’t stereotype LGBTQ+ people or make assumptions about someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity based on their physical appearance, presentation, mannerisms, or likes or dislikes.
The only way you know if someone is LGBTQ+ is if they tell you how they identify.
Be mindful that a child or youth’s gender expression that is perceived to be outside of societal norms may result in mistreatment and harm regardless of how the youth identifies.
Expand your knowledge.
Use the resources in this guide and others to become more familiar with research, terminology, and available resources to more effectively work with LGBTQ+ children and youth.
Resource: See Appendix B for Texas and National Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth
Engage in courageous conversations.
Engaging in courageous conversations is a process to understand and discuss an issue explicitly.
While originally designed by Glenn E. Singleton to engage in conversations about race and racism, the process can be used to discuss other-isms such as bias or negativity toward LGBTQ+ people.
Remember to utilize the four elements of a courageous conversation: speak your truth, stay engaged, expect and accept non-disclosure, and experience discomfort.
Resource: https://courageousconversation.com/