Children and youth with diverse Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expression (SOGIE) are disproportionately more likely than their heterosexual and cisgender peers to experience greater health challenges, enter into the child welfare system, have more placements in both foster homes and group homes, experience homelessness, and have lower rates of reunification with their families of origin.
Common misconceptions among the child welfare workforce about children and youth with diverse SOGIE may contribute to a lack of culturally responsive supports and services. See the QIC-LGBTQ2S Literature Review for more information.
The Institute for Innovation and Implementation , at the University of Maryland School of Social Work (The Institute), has collaborated with The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families’ Children’s Bureau to establish a National QIC on Tailored Services, Placement Stability, and Permanency for LGBTQ2S Children and Youth in Foster Care.