Youths who identify as LGBTQ+ are as dynamic as the conversations our society is having about them. They are at significantly higher risk for multiple adverse experiences across settings (e.g., home, school, community), and they are over-represented in child-serving systems like juvenile justice and child welfare, where they are more likely to experience more punitive outcomes. All too often, this is simply because of who they are as authentic people. Professionals who work directly with children and adolescents and their families, especially in the fields of child maltreatment, child trauma, and juvenile justice, should be educated on LGBTQ+ youths and the issues they face in order to provide best practices that support positive outcomes.

Professionals benefit from training on intercultural education and are often required to receive such training per licensing requirements and, for those affiliated with Children’s Advocacy Centers, national accreditation standards. This presentation enhances the knowledge of all child maltreatment professionals on LGBTQ+ youths and culture, statistics on adversity and trauma for these youths. It focuses on entry points to child-serving systems, and affirmative strategies that are considered best practice in the field. The intended audience is all professionals in fields affected by child maltreatment and those who serve LGBTQ+ youths.

Training topics include:

• Understanding sexual orientation, sexual identity, and gender expression among youths who identify as LGBTQ+
• The increased likelihood of adverse effects of being an LGBTQ+ youths
• LGBTQ+ youths and the child welfare system
• LGBTQ+ youths and juvenile justice
• LGBTQ+ affirmative services
• What being an LGBTQ+ affirmative professional means