Why this Topic Matters to Us
Understanding and supporting LGBTQ2S+ youth in care is essential. Their identity impacts how they experience the world, build relationships, and feel safe and accepted. For LGBTQ2S+ youth in the child welfare system, affirmation and support can lead to healing, confidence, and a stronger sense of belonging. Parents and caregivers also need guidance and resources to support these youth with love and respect. The voices of LGBTQIA2S+ youth, along with those of parents and caregivers, matter deeply because they show us what’s needed and what truly helps. When we listen to their lived experience, we build safer spaces, stronger families, and a more inclusive child welfare system.
Over 30% of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ2S+, compared to 10% of the general population
Learn from Lived Experience
“I’ve experienced foster parents saying, 'If I knew XYZ was in your file, you wouldn’t have been in my home.' We’ve made progress toward equity before — we can use those lessons to better support LGBTQIA2S+ youth. We’re supposed to give them the best chance.”
— DeQuincy Bergen, 5 years in care, Texas
