Outreach and Relationship Building (ORB) intervention, an organizational level component

Transcription

1 Robert Friend LCSW, National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness, Seneca Family of gencies Vida Khavar LMFT, Child Welfare Consultant rian Gauff, BS - RISE Family Finder, Los ngeles LGBT Center Testing What Works to Strengthen Family Relationships for LGBTQ Children and Youth in the Child Welfare System CWL National Conference pril 27-29,

2 Background In September 2010, the Los ngeles LGBT Center was awarded a five-year federal grant to develop and test a model program to address barriers to permanency and well-being for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) children and youth who are in out-of-home care in Los ngeles county. The RISE project is developing, implementing, and studying the effects of a comprehensive multicomponent intervention to assist Out-Of-Home-Care LGBTQ children and youth achieve emotional and legal permanency in families where they feel safe, nurtured and loved. 2

3 The RISE Project 3 Components: Outreach and Relationship Building (ORB) intervention, an organizational level component Los ngeles Foster Youth Survey Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in Foster Care: ssessing Disproportionality and Disparities in Los ngeles, 2014 Care Coordination Services intervention, a child and family level component 3

4 Outreach and Relationship Building (ORB): training model including materials and LGBTQ Best Practice guidelines, and a coaching network to increase the skills of professionals working with LGBTQ youth and families. In order to: Enhance the skills of professionals in their competency and comfort in talking about sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression with LGBTQ youth and families. Improve child welfare professionals responses to youth s selfdisclosure of LGBTQ status. Provide a Coaching model for gencies to follow in regards to dealing with LGBTQ issues in their own settings. 4

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7 FUNDMENTLS OF CRE COORDINTION INTERVENTION 7

8 Youth who experience: cceptance Higher self esteem Closer relationships with family Believe they can be a healthy happy adult Respect by being Recognized dvocacy through Intervention Support Empowerment through affection Rejection Blaming Shaming Exclusion or Invisibility Name-Calling ttempted Suicide High levels of depression Use of illegal drugs High risk for HIV and SDTs & STIs Loss of relationships 8 Ryan, C. (2009). Supportive families, healthy children: Helping families with lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender children. San Francisco, C: Marian Wright Edelman Institute, San Francisco State University. (pp. 9)

9 Grief & Loss LGBTQ youth encounter more grief and loss than others because they experience rejection and discrimination from family, friends, peers, co-workers, employers, teachers and other caregivers LGBTQ youth have to deal with the coming out process 9

10 The RISE Project Guiding Principles LGBTQ children belong at home with their families and communities Families love their children and want the best for their children Family s culture must be acknowledged and honored Strong, affirming communities empower strong affirming families We can rebuild and strengthen severed or strained connections 10

11 Indicators of Emotional Permanency Permanency is having relationships that are safe and meant to last a lifetime place to stay in an emergency Emotional support of caring adults Family (chosen or bio) who regularly checks in place to go for meals, holidays etc. Concrete support 11

12 LGBTQ Integration Domains Recognizing and being comfortable about the importance of LGBTQ identity in daily discussions Inclusion in regular family and extended family activities as you are. llowing for developmentally appropriate self-expression (clothing, style preferences, hair etc.) For transgender youth, the importance of using their correct name and gender pronoun. Encouraging & facilitating developmentally appropriate LGBTQ social and community services, romantic relationships, and welcoming LGBTQ friends at home. Standing Up and advocating for family members in the face of LGBTQ bias and adversity (in schools, faith communities, medical establishments etc.,). 12

13 Care Coordination Services (CCT): n adapted model which integrates LGBTQ-specific support strategies with Child & Family Teaming and Family Finding. In order to: Increase LGBTQ accepting behaviors and decrease rejecting ones. Identify & Expand the number of emotionally permanent connections with adults who are LGBTQ supportive. Identify new family connections who can provide support. Build a larger network of natural supports. Find an adult(s) willing to commit to a legally permanent relationship. 13

14 Care Coordination Services Eligible children and youth LGBTQ and gender non-conforming children and youth ages 5-19 With open child welfare cases in foster care or at home Can be dually-involved with the probation system Cannot be in a locked setting unless a transition to a lower level of care is planned 14

15 Care Coordination Services Team is comprised of: Facilitator Youth dvocate Parent Partner Family Finder Clinician (if needed) 15

16 16 Care Coordination Services: 5 Essential Functions & Goal

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19 R Connections R R R R R R R R R R R R R 19

20 ctivity & Stories from the field 20

21 The Benefits: For the youth: When LGBTQ children are competently identified and appropriately served, they can achieve safe and stable permanency. For the families: When families are offered support and guidance to help them better understand the identity and expression of the kin, along with the need for their kin to unconditionally belong, families can provide a more loving and affirming home environment.. For the CSWs: Collaboration with a comprehensive team of professionals and experts in LGBTQ issues, who can offer support and reduce length of time spent in out-of-home care. For the agencies: Free & CCL approved education and support on how to serve LGBTQ youth and their families and opportunities to network with other agencies. 21

22 Key Observations (Challenges & Success) Teams were very protective of youth, fearing re-traumatization via rejection of their orientation, identity or expression. Therefore, teams cautious to reach out to family that weren t already identified as affirming. The youth s immediate needs & crisis came first. Work tended to be short-term not long-term focused. Teams still hesitant to challenge youth who were reluctant to expand their natural support network. Paperwork was not focused enough on LGBT identity and permanency. 22

23 Key Observations (Challenges & Success) Cont. Teams excel at youth engagement and affirmation, and encouraging youth voice in the process. Youth feel validated, they report feeling stronger, and their wellbeing appears to improve. Families/Caregivers/Parents also feel validated and want more education on LGBTQ identity to understand their children. 23

24 Reflections on the Process How is it working? What is this process telling us that is unique to working with LGBTQ youth in the child welfare system and their caregivers and/or families? What we have learned 24

25 25 Discussion and Questions

26 Contacts Bob Friend, LCSW, Director, National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness, Seneca Family of gencies. Vida K. Khavar, LMFT, Child Welfare Consultant, rian Gauff, BS - RISE Family Finder, Los ngeles LGBT Center agauff@lalgbtcenter.org The RISE Initiative is funded by the Children's Bureau, dministration on Children, Youth and Families, dministration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under grant number 90CT