Practice Guidelines - Safety and Wellbeing
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 safety and wellbeing practice guidelines.
Safety and Wellbeing
Intervene immediately if bullying, harassment, or violence is occurring.
Ask children and youth if they are experiencing mistreatment in placement, school, or the community and address any problems. Have a critical conversation with parties involved.
Advise children and youth of their rights while in care and connect them to supportive resources. This includes informing them they can contact the foster care ombudsman or file a report with Statewide Intake.
Reach out to the child’s CASA, attorney ad litem, PAL, or other appointed advocate. With the youth and their advocate(s) involvement, consider filing complaints and informing DFPS leadership to address both individual harm and highlight systemic issues.
Resources: Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care; Texas Abuse Hotline; HHS Ombudsman Foster Care Help; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights Complaint Process
Treat children and youth fairly and with respect.
Agencies, providers, or other individuals working with youth should not discriminate against children and youth on the basis of their sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression because discrimination negatively impacts well-being.
Agencies, providers, caregivers, staff, therapists, teachers, or other individuals working with youth should not try to change a child’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression (SOGIE), nor should they support efforts from others to do so.
All children and youth, including those who are LGBTQ+, have the right to physical and emotional safety, quality care, and any available resources or assistance while in DFPS care.
Resource: Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care
Address underlying and current trauma.
All children and youth in foster care experience trauma, and LGBTQ+ children and youth face higher rates of rejection, bullying, violence, harassment and other forms of trauma and will likely benefit from supportive trauma-informed counseling with an affirming mental health provider.
Resources: Trauma-Informed Care Program Specialist; Adopting a Trauma-Informed Approach for LGBTQ+ Youth
Refer children and youth to LGBTQ+-affirming medical and mental health care providers.
Children and youth should have qualified providers who support their identity and are experienced in working with LGBTQ+ children and youth (or are willing to gain knowledge and skills).
LGBTQ+ children and youth should receive recommended care, including inclusive and affirming sexual and reproductive health information.
Ensure that any doctor, therapist, etc. that will be working with LGBTQ+ children and youth are a safe resource before a referral is made. Providers may be limited in your area and you will need to ask if they have experience in working with LGBTQ+ children and youth and if they provide affirming care. Provide resources if needed.
Under no circumstances should children be subjected to “conversion therapy” or attempts to change their identity or expression by DFPS or contract agency staff, foster parents, caregivers, placement household members, volunteers or by other providers.
For youth with intersex traits, absent life-threatening circumstances, neither DFPS nor the child’s medical consenter should consent to medical intervention to alter the youth’s intersex traits until the youth is able to meaningfully participate in decision-making and provide informed consent. This approach is in accordance with World Health Organization and American Medical Association recommendations.
Create a positive physical environment.
LGBTQ+ children and youth look for signs and listen for language that indicate an environment is safe. Send messages that you are supportive by displaying safe space posters, rainbow stickers, or pins in your office or on your work bag or cell phone case.
Use gender-neutral language in conversation and forms. For example, ask the question “are you dating anyone?” versus “do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?” as it helps to be more inclusive of a variety of relationships.
Giving youth space to come out safely reduces isolation and associated negative health outcomes and allows staff and providers to connect youth to specific resources they may want or need.
Resources: GLSEN Safe Space Kit; True Colors United: Creating a Safe Space
Use affirming language.
Use appropriate terminology to convey affirmation and safely and effectively communicate.
Ask youth what identity-related term or terms they use and mirror their language.
Avoid offensive terms and slurs.
Resource: See Appendix A for Concepts and Terminology
Call transgender and gender diverse youth by the names and pronouns they use.
Regardless of the legal name that may appear on a birth certificate or court paperwork, affirm the identity of youth. Use the name and pronouns they use.
When meeting someone for the first time, introduce yourself and your pronouns. This will invite the person you are meeting to also share their pronouns so that you do not have to guess which pronouns they use.
If you are referring to someone in conversation and you do not know how they identify, say “do you know if they will be there? “versus saying “do you know if he/she will be there?” With the child or youth’s permission, use their chosen name in reports and other documents.
Using the youth’s chosen name and pronouns improves relationships, builds trust, and reduces negative outcomes like self-harm, depression, and substance use.
If you do misgender someone, correct yourself, apologize, and move on.
Resources: Pronoun Guide; They/Them Pronouns; Predictors and Mental Health Benefits of Chosen Name Use Among Transgender Youth
Protect freedom of expression.
Ensure children and youth are able to present themselves, and their gender identity and expression, through clothing and grooming as they choose (restrictions on general appropriateness for school or other settings are permitted).
Have critical conversations with foster parents, educators, and other adults and advocate for their right to express themselves freely.
Take action if a child or youth’s expression is impeded.
Resources: DFPS Policy Handbook; Texas Abuse Hotline; HHS Ombudsman Foster Care Help
Help youth with questions around spirituality and religion, if applicable.
Being LGBTQ+ does not impact a person’s ability to be spiritual or religious any more than being non-LGBTQ+, but some children or youth may have had non-affirming or damaging faith experiences in the past [36-40].
Inquire about their experiences in placement regarding faith and help youth find supportive communities of faith if they choose.
Support them in their choice not to participate in faith-based activities.
Resources: Human Rights Campaign - Faith Resources; Guide to LGBTQ-Affirming Churches