Tag Archives: LGBTQ

D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s shines spotlight on need for safe and affirming homes for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care

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DABSJ seeks to build awareness of the need for safe and affirming homes for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care (Courtesy, pxhere.com)



By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


During Pride Month, D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s (DABSJ) seeks to build awareness of the need for safe and affirming homes for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care.

The organization is also actively seeking foster parents from the LGBTQ+ community. With over a century in service to children and families, DABSJ is dedicated to providing safe, affirming, and loving homes for all youth. Including those from marginalized communities.

LGBTQ+ youth face additional challenges

According to the Human Rights Campaign, 30% of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+. This is a proportion much larger than identified in the general population.

These young people often face additional challenges and disparities in their care experiences, stemming from trauma related to abuse, neglect, and many times rejection due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Love and acceptance can make a difference in the life of our youth (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

“LGBTQ+ youth in foster care need safe and loving homes just as all children do,” said DABSJ Chief Programs Officer Joel Bell. “During Pride Month, we want to especially reach out to those who might join us in providing that crucial support for youth in care. Your love and acceptance can make all the difference in their lives.”

Inclusive approach = thriving youth

As DABSJ continues to innovate and adapt to meet the evolving needs of children and families, the organization recognizes the unique and vital role that LGBTQ+ foster parents can play. By opening their hearts and homes, these foster parents can offer a nurturing environment where youth in care can thrive.

“To some, there is a discussion of whether to allow foster parents from the LGBTQ+ community. For DABSJ, we are actively seeking foster parents from the LGBTQ+ community,” said Bell.

“We are looking to do what is best for each child as they heal from trauma, abuse, or neglect. Having an inclusive approach is key to that.”

For more information on how to become a foster parent with DABSJ, and to learn about the support and resources available, please visit www.dabsj.org or email fosterparentinfo@dabsj.org to take the first step.

Supporting LGBTQ youth is a win/win

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By Maria Millett, Michigan State University Extension

 

Navigating through teenage years presents many personal challenges as youth are striving for peer-acceptance. Today’s youth also face the hardship of bullying, particularly youth who are in the LGBTQ community. LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning sexual identities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a nationwide study on middle and high school students found that lesbian, gay and bisexual youth were more than two times as likely to have attempted suicide when compared to heterosexual students.

 

There are many ways to support LGBTQ youth to reduce the risks of discrimination, bullying, substance use and suicide. The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides resources and strategies for foster families, which can be applied in any home. The following are just a few suggestions that can be implemented right away:

  • Respond in an affirming and supportive way
  • Respect your youth’s privacy
  • Welcome your youth’s friends or partner to family gatherings
  • Connect the youth to community supports and events
  • Stand up for your youth when they are mistreated

It can be challenging to support youth in ways that we might not identify with personally. However, the Family Process Journal shares positive outcomes parents experience when supporting their child who identifies as LGBTQ. This research reports on five positive themes:

  1. Personal growth
  2. Positive emotions
  3. Activism
  4. Social connection
  5. Closer relationships

Though it may stretch us out of our comfort zone, supporting our youth can be a win/win for all involved. Know your community resources, utilize positive mentors and listen to your child with love. As you support your child, you may find you need support too. Michigan State University Extension offers workshops on healthy relationships and other social-emotional health programming. Be sure to explore the MSU Extension Bullying Prevention Programs in your area to strengthen you and your family.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Safe Resources for LGBT Seniors

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By Regina Salmi, Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM)

 

While society has taken great strides toward acceptance of LGBT citizens, what remains invisible are the issues and challenges that LGBT adults face as they begin to age. Too often, LGBT seniors have felt the need to go back ‘into the closet’ in order to receive services or deny themselves much need care in order to avoid having to do so. The LGBT Initiative, funded by the Michigan Health Endowment grant, is seeking to change that for LGBT seniors throughout the state of Michigan, by creating safe channels for LGBT older adults to seek services.

 

West Michigan is one of the three regions where this effort is taking place. Kendrick Heinlein, AAAWM Contract Administrator, is heading up this project for Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan.

 

“Right now, the LGBT initiative is looking at different outreach strategies to reach members of the LGBT community” Heinlein states. Working with the other two regions: the Upper Peninsula and the Bay City/Saginaw region of the state, committee members recognize what works for Grand Rapids doesn’t necessarily work for the U.P., so finding the best methods for each region is the current focus.

 

Heinlein says, “We want to provide resources and reduce isolation for LGBT seniors and we’re working on the best strategies to go about that.”

 

There are currently about 1.5 million people age 65+ who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual. There are also many aging LGBT people who live alone, without family to help with the aging process. This puts many LGBT seniors in the position of requiring income-based aging services available in their communities. Needing to ask for help though is often a difficult experience for these seniors.

 

Older adults who are LGBT don’t often find a warm welcome when they begin to participate in aging services. Sometimes this is due to the discrimination they encounter when seeking services; most times though, it is not hostility but cultural assumptions that can cause LGBT seniors to be reluctant to ask for help. An intake form might ask questions about marriage and children, but not about same-sex partnerships. A senior might be asked about their racial identification or religion, but not gender or sexual orientation.

 

Many older LGBT seniors carry with them memories of a time when they lost jobs, homes and family for being gay and could be jailed or committed to an asylum for being different. Because many seniors don’t want to “go back into the closet” but fear discrimination, they will avoid asking for help, which can result in a health crisis. This is what the LGBT initiative is working to alleviate. Through outreach to community service providers, AAAWM in partnership with the Grand Rapids Pride Center is in the process of creating a resource guide of senior service providers in West Michigan who are LGBT-friendly.

 

Anyone can call themselves LGBT-friendly, but what this means in terms of the LGBT initiative is that each provider in the LGBT Senior Resource Guide will be vetted to insure they will provide equal services to LGBT older adults that they would to any other seniors,

 

“A majority of providers are open to serving LGBT clients,” Heinlein highlights. “A lot of providers have been serving the LGBT community and consider being part of the guide recognition for services they have been providing all along.” By creating this resource guide, the committee hopes to provide safe avenues for LGBT older adults to find the services they need to age gracefully like their peers.

 

The debut of the LGBT Senior Resource Guide will occur at the Grand Rapids Pride Festival on June 16, 2018, beginning at 12 pm. AAAWM will have the guides available at their vendor table and they encourage people to stop by and take a look.

 

If you’d like to learn more about this project, contact Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at (888) 456-5664 or email aaainfo@aaawm.org.  To learn about their services, you can visit their website: http://www.aaawm.org.