Be an ally; be a safe person to talk to...

In the last year or two, a variety of research has been published that points to

• 1) factors in the home (or foster home) that effect the development of LGBTQ youth
• 2) The disparity of punishment in schools and juvenile justice situations concerning LGBTQ youth that may help explain a higher than normal rate of LGBTQ youth being "in the system"
• 3) And, most importantly, research from the CDC in July, 2011, used the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and found LGBQ youth significantly higher in 6-8 (out of 10) risk behavior categories (behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries, behaviors that contribute to violence, behaviors related to attempted suicide, tobacco use, alcohol use, other drug use, sexual behaviors, and weight management).

FREE Cultural Competency trainings for professionals...earn CEUs.

The Marion County DCS is offering a 3-hour training to all social service professionals free of charge. These trainings are held at Choices, 4701 N Keystone Ave, Indianapolis on the third floor training room. CEUs (2.75) are available upon completion of the training. Register by emailing Amy Foxworthy or calling her at (317) 544-3750. These are the dates for these trainings through June, 2012:

March 20: 9am - noon
April 16: 9am - noon
May 15: 1pm - 4pm
June 19: 9am - noon  

Child Welfare League of America

The CWL has many good publications and information regarding serving LGBTQ youth. Their website is at http://www.cwla.org/pubs/welcome.htm. Some of the publications that are available are:

• CWLA Best Practice Guidelines: Serving LGBT Youth in Out-of-Home Care
• LGBTQ Youth in Child Welfare: A Special Issue of CWLA's Child Welfare Journal
• Out of the Margins: A Report on Regional Listening Forums Highlighting the Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth in Care
• Issues in Lesbian and Gay Adoption
• Lesbian and Gay Youth Issues: A Practice Guide for Youth Workers
• Serving Lesbian and Gay Youth