Foster Parent Safe Zone Training

Foster Parent Safe Zone Training

December 7, 2023

10:00 AM-12:00 PM EST

Via Zoom

Registration Deadline: 12/5/23 at 11:59 PM

Carla Jordan, MS

2 credit hours

Becoming a foster and/or adoptive parent can present its own unique challenges, especially when the children involved have a complex history of trauma. LGBTQ+ youth enter the foster care system for many of the same reasons as non-LGBTQ+ youth in care, such as abuse, neglect, and parental substance abuse. Many LGBTQ+ youth have the added layer of trauma that comes with being rejected or mistreated because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. According to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 2022:

• Approximately 1 out of every 3 youth in foster care is LGBTQ+
• LGBTQ+ youth report higher rates of mistreatment while in care
• LGBTQ+ youth report more frequent placement disruptions and are less likely to be placed in family settings.

LGBTQ+ youth in out-of-home care face additional challenges such as discrimination, stigma and bullying. LGBTQ+ children/youth feel unsafe and face rejection from their families, schools and community. The Foster Parent Training Program, housed at the UK College of Social Work Training Resource Center, is offering training that would equip foster parents to support LGBTQ+ youth in foster care.

This training will help foster parents create safe environments for their foster youth to feel safe and affirmed. This workshop is designed to provide an introduction LGBTQ+ and allyship Training. Parents will learn:

• About foundational LGBTQ+ vocabulary.
• Participants will develop a clearer understanding of the importance of language in relation to creating affirming environments LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Participants will learn to understand the difference between gender and sexuality.
• Participants will be able to describe the difference between biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, and attraction.
• Participants will know at least one reason it is helpful and important to recognize these different components within gender.
• Participants will learn what it means to “come out” and the privileges or lack of privileges associated with coming out.
• Participants will be able to separate myth from fact, and accurate information from hearsay, regarding popular misconceptions about LGBTQ+ people.

This training is approved for 2 credit hours for ongoing, elective training credit for Kentucky foster parents. Though the training is delivered virtually, it fulfills the face-to-face, group-setting requirement. A reliable internet connection and computer/ smartphone with webcam are required.

Register Now

If you have any questions, please contact Carla Jordan, TRC Training Specialist, at Carla.Jordan@uky.edu or 1-833-859-3278 (1-833-UKY-FAST).

Reference: Human Rights Commission Foundation, 2022. Change Makers Report 2021. Retrieved from https://reports.hrc.org/2021-change-makers-report