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## Other Youth Topics

## Breadcrumb

            -  Youth Topics 
            -           Families      

# Families

Family acceptance and support are significant factors that promote well-being and protection from risks for all youth, including LGBTQ+ youth.1 The meaning of “family” varies by personal, cultural, and other factors and can include individuals who are not biologically or legally related to a youth (i.e., families of choice).2

Family acceptance, along with strong parent-child attachment, has been found to be critical to LGBTQ+ youth’s ability to “successfully navigate stigma, isolation, and bullying.”3 Family acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth through understanding and appropriately and positively responding to their experiences and needs is a strong protective factor for the youth in successfully transitioning to adulthood.

Therefore, it is important for families to **express support** through:
                      - talking openly with youth about their LGBTQ+ identity in an affirming manner
                      - communicating that their young person can have a happy future as an LGBTQ+ adult
                      - welcoming the youth’s LGBTQ+ friends and supporting their involvement in LGBTQ+ youth groups
                      - working to ensure that other family members respect the young person
                      - talking with clergy and help their faith community support LGBTQ+ individuals
                      - responding positively to the youth’s gender expression including hairstyle, dress, and appearance
                      - advocating for youth if they are mistreated because of their identity 4

It is also important for youth-serving agencies and communities to enhance their cultural competence in working with LGBTQ+-headed families, which are increasing in number.5 Youth who are not LGBTQ+ but have an LGBTQ+ caregiver may also experience bias and other negative outcomes because of reactions to their caregiver’s LGBTQ+ identity.

Youth-serving organizations and systems can build awareness about and encourage family behaviors that research has shown can affect outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth. Examples of behaviors that should be **avoided** and **discouraged** include:
                      - blocking access to LGBTQ+ friends, events, and resources
                      - blaming youth when they are discriminated against because of their LGBTQ+ identity
                      - pressuring youth to be more (or less) “masculine” or “feminine”
                      - pressuring youth to keep their LGBTQ+ identity a “secret” 6

Although some families are supportive, accepting, and even celebratory, others may respond and behave in ways that have negative consequences and result in trauma to the youth. In 2021, The Trevor Project surveyed nearly 35,000 LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 across the United States7 and found that only 1 in 3 LGBTQ youth surveyed found their home to be LGBTQ-affirming.8 Research demonstrates a strong link between family rejection of LGBT youth and negative physical and mental health outcomes for them, including being a risk factor for suicide.9

## Resources

**Family Acceptance Project**This community research, intervention, and education initiative studies the impact of family acceptance and rejection on the health, mental health, and well-being of youth who are LGBTQ. The project’s results are the basis for resources to help families provide support for youth who are LGBTQ. The project provides appropriate interventions, programs, and policies and will train providers to improve the quality of services and care that youth who are LGBTQ receive.

**getREAL (Recognize. Engage. Affirm. Love)**This initiative promotes the healthy development of all children and youth, with a focus on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. getREAL challenges public systems working with children and youth to improve their policies and practices to support the healthy sexual and identity development of all children and youth in child welfare systems.

**A Practitioner's Resource Guide: Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children****(PDF, 18 pages)**This guide offers information and resources to help practitioners throughout health and social service systems implement best practices in engaging and helping families and caregivers to support their LGBT children.

**Resources for LGBT Youth and Friends/Supporters****, and Parents, Guardians and Family Members**This webpage provides many resources for LGBT youth and friends, such as a communication tool to empower LGBT youth to become actively engaged in their health, and supportive organizations such as The Trevor Project and It Gets Better. There are also resources for parents, guardians, and family members to learn how to be supportive of LGBT youth, including fact sheets(PDF, 3 pages), guides(PDF, 18 pages), and organizations like the Family Acceptance Project.

## References

1 Poirier, Fisher, Hunt, & Bearse, 20142 Poirier, Fisher, Hunt, & Bearse, 20143 Katz-Wise et al., 20164 Ryan, 2009; Ryan, 20105 Krivickas & Lofquist, 2011; For more information see the UCLA Williams Institute Census and Demographics LGBT Studies6 SAMHSA, 20147 45 percent of this sample were youth of color, and 38 percent were transgender or nonbinary.8 The National Trevor Project, 20219 Ream & Forge, 2014

## Other Resources on this Topic

### Announcements 

                          - Brief: Discriminatory Transgender Health Bills Have Critical Consequences for Youth
                          - Fact Sheet: System Involvement Among LBQ Girls and Women
                          - LGBTQ Inclusivity in Schools
                          - Online Training: Healthy Sexuality for Youth in Foster Care: An Online Training for Parents and Caregivers of Youth in Foster Care
                          - Pride Month Census Data
                          - Report: Experiences of LGBTQ People in Four-Year Colleges and Graduate Programs
                          - Report: Homelessness and Housing Instability Among LGBTQ Youth
                          - Report: Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQI+ Youth
                          - Report: Multiracial LGBTQ+ Youth Face Heightened Suicide Risk
                          - Report: The GSA Study: Results of National Surveys About Students’ and Advisors’ Experiences in Gender and Sexuality Alliance Clubs
                          - Report: Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, 2017–2020
                          - Research: Examining the Relationship Between LGBTQ-Supportive School Health Policies and Practices and Psychosocial Health Outcomes of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Students
                          - Resource: 2023 International Transgender Day of Visibility
                          - Resource: 2SLGBTQ Community Readiness Survey
                          - Resource: Adoption Triad - Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth Who Are Adopted
                          - Resource: AFFIRM Caregiver: Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Caregivers of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning (LGBTQ+) Populations
                          - Resource: Affirming and Supporting LGBTQ Children and Youth in Child Welfare
                          - Resource: Core Youth Outcomes in Youth of Color
                          - Resource: FAQ Update on 988 Services for LGBTQI+ Youth
                          - Resource: Federal Evidence Agenda on LGBTQI+ Equity
                          - Resource: Federal Funding to Support LGBTQIA2S+ Children, Youth, Young Adults, and Families
                          - Resource: Gender-Affirming Care and Young People
                          - Resource: Inclusive Practices Help All Students Thrive
                          - Resource: LGBTQ Inclusivity Tool
                          - Resource: LGBTQ+ Glossary of Terms
                          - Resource: LGBTQ+ Youth Engagement Virtually and In-Person
                          - Resource: LGBTQIA2S+ Youth Experiencing Homelessness
                          - Resource: Measuring the Impact of Professional Development
                          - Resource: Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth
                          - Resource: Most Kids with Parent in Same-Sex Relationship Live with Female Couple
                          - Resource: National Clearinghouse on Homeless Youth and Families (NCHYF)
                          - Resource: NCFY
                          - Resource: Podcast Series: Collecting Data on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression
                          - Resource: Preventing Suicide Requires a Comprehensive Approach
                          - Resource: Protecting the Rights and Providing Appropriate Services to LGBTQIA2S+ Youth in Out-of-Home Care
                          - Resource: Providing Culturally Competent Mental Health Care to LGBTQIA+ Youth & Young Adults
                          - Resource: Sexual Health Resource Toolkit for Parents and Caregivers of Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
                          - Resource: Supporting LGBTQI+ Students Experiencing Homelessness
                          - Resource: Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth
                          - Resource: The National Center for Youth with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Expression (The National SOGIE Center) 
                          - Resource: Toolkit for Implementing Authentic Youth Engagement Strategies Within State Advisory Groups
                          - Resource: Toolkit: Creating Inclusive and Nondiscriminatory School Environments for LGBTQI+ Students
                          - Resource: Voices Amplified
                          - Resource: What Does it Mean to be Two-Spirit?
                          - Resource: Working Virtually With Families of LGBTQ+ Youth.
                          - Resource: Youth Acceptance Project
                          - Resource: Youth Advisory Councils
                          - Resource: Youth AFFIRM: Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning (LGBTQ+) Populations
                          - Share with Youth: Complete GLSEN 2019 National School Climate Survey
                          - Share with Youth: LGBT Resources — Learn More, Get Involved, and Be Proud of Who You Are!
                          - Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth: A Guide for Foster Parents
                          - Toolkit: Celebrating our Magic: Resources for American Indian/Alaska Native Transgender and TwoSpirit Youth, Their Relatives and Families, and their Healthcare Providers
                          - Webinar Recording: The Impact of Bias, Inequities, and Injustices in Supporting Students Impacted by Human Trafficking
                          - Webinar Series: Supporting Gender Diverse Indigenous Youth
                          - Working With LGBTQ+ Families in Foster Care and Adoption
                          - Youth Voices Have Moved to YE4C

### Briefs 

                          - Recommended Actions to Improve the Health and Well-Being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Communities

### Collaboration Profiles 

                          - Providing Unbiased Services for LGBTQ Youth Project
                          - Y2CONNECT.org

### Data Sources 

                          - 2011-2021 YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report

### Feature Articles 

                          - June is LGBT Pride Month
                          - Just Launched! Redesigned YE4C
                          - New Brief Highlights the Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth in Child Welfare Settings
                          - New Reports Highlight Human Service Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Populations
                          - New Reports Highlight the Human Service Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) Populations

### Publications 

                          - A Practitioner’s Resource Guide: Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children
                          - A Provider’s Introduction to Substance Abuse Treatment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Individuals
                          - How Are the Lives of LGBTQ Youth Improved by Gay-Straight Alliances?
                          - Identifying and Serving LGBTQ Youth: Case Studies of Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Grantees
                          - Key Policy Letters from the Education Secretary and Deputy Secretary
                          - Learning from the Field: Listening Tour of Programs Serving Youth who are LGBTQI2-S and Experiencing Homelessness
                          - Meeting the Needs of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth
                          - Online Sexual Health Resources
                          - Parents’ Influence on the Health of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Teens: What Parents and Families Should Know
                          - Pride in Our Progress
                          - Primary Sources: Learning How Service Providers and Policy Makers Can Help LGBTQ Homeless Youth
                          - Q&A: Meeting the Needs of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth
                          - Report: Health-Related Behaviors among Students
                          - Sexual Risk Behavior Differences Among Sexual Minority High School Students — United States, 2015 and 2017
                          - The Economic Well-Being of LGB Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care

### Resources 

                          - 5 Online Resources to Help Domestic Violence Programs Offer Inclusive Services to LGBTQ People
                          - Brief: the Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth in Child Welfare Settings
                          - Ending Housing Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Individuals and Families
                          - LGBT Populations: A Snapshot of the Knowledge Base and Research Needs
                          - LGBT Youth Resources
                          - Report: Recommendations of the LGBT Subcommittee: Advancing the Reform Process for LGBQ/GNCT Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
                          - Report: Surviving the Streets of New York: Experiences of LGBTQ Youth, YMSM, and YWSW Engaged in Survival Sex
                          - Research: Does Sexual Orientation Affect Teen Pregnancy Risk?
                          - Resource: Guidance to Help Schools Ensure the Civil Rights of Transgender Students
                          - Resource: Helping Youth Prevent Suicide Among Their LGBTQ Peers
                          - Resource: LGBTQ Youth: Voices of Trauma, Lives of Promise
                          - Resources for Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth
                          - Safe Spaces. Safe Places: Creating Welcoming and Inclusive Environments for Traumatized LGBTQ Youth
                          - Share with Youth: This Free Life
                          - The Equal Access to Housing Rule and Youth

### Technical Assistance 

                          - Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Centers

### Tools & Guides 

                          - 3 Bold Steps for School Community Change
                          - Top Health Issues for LGBT Population Information and Resource Kit

### Videos & Podcasts 

                          - NCFY Voices: Does It Get Better for LGBTQ Teens?
                          - Podcast: Teen Pregnancy Prevention for LGBTQ Youth
                          - Voices from the Field: LGBT-Friendly Teen Pregnancy Prevention

### Websites 

                          - Healthy People 2020

### Youth Topics 

                          - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
                          - Suicide Prevention

## Youth Briefs

How Individualized Education Program (IEP) Transition Planning Makes a Difference for Youth with Disabilities
Youth who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) and especially young adults of transition age, should be involved in planning for life after high school as early as possible and no later than age 16. Transition services should stem from the individual youth’s needs and strengths, ensuring that planning takes into account his or her interests, preferences, and desires for the future.

Youth Transitioning to Adulthood: How Holding Early Leadership Positions Can Make a Difference
Research links early leadership with increased self-efficacy and suggests that leadership can help youth to develop decision making and interpersonal skills that support successes in the workforce and adulthood. In addition, young leaders tend to be more involved in their communities, and have lower dropout rates than their peers. Youth leaders also show considerable benefits for their communities, providing valuable insight into the needs and interests of young people

How Trained Service Professionals and Self-Advocacy Makes a Difference for Youth with Mental Health, Substance Abuse, or Co-occurring Issues
Statistics reflecting the number of youth suffering from mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders highlight the necessity for schools, families, support staff, and communities to work together to develop targeted, coordinated, and comprehensive transition plans for young people with a history of mental health needs and/or substance abuse.

Young Adults Formerly in Foster Care: Challenges and Solutions
Nearly 30,000 youth aged out of foster care in Fiscal Year 2009, which represents nine percent of the young people involved in the foster care system that year. This transition can be challenging for youth, especially youth who have grown up in the child welfare system.

Coordinating Systems to Support Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Needs
Research has demonstrated that as many as one in five children/youth have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Read about how coordination between public service agencies can improve treatment for these youth.

Civic Engagement Strategies for Transition Age Youth
Civic engagement has the potential to empower young adults, increase their self-determination, and give them the skills and self-confidence they need to enter the workforce. Read about one youth’s experience in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).

## Main navigation

- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
- Key Terms & Concepts
- Behavioral Health
- Child Welfare
- Families
- Homelessness & Housing
- Juvenile Justice
- Schools
- Transitioning to Adulthood
- Events Celebrating LGBT Identity, Expression, & Well-Being
- References

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## Latest Resources

### Announcements

Opportunity: Validate LGBTQ+ Supportive Practices

Resource: Voices Amplified

Resource: Federal Evidence Agenda on LGBTQI+ Equity

### Briefs

Recommended Actions to Improve the Health and Well-Being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Communities

### Collaboration Profiles

Y2CONNECT.org

Providing Unbiased Services for LGBTQ Youth Project

### Data Sources

2011-2021 YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report

2011-2021 YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report

2011-2021 YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report

### Feature Articles

Just Launched! Redesigned YE4C

New Brief Highlights the Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth in Child Welfare Settings

June is LGBT Pride Month

### Publications

Sexual Risk Behavior Differences Among Sexual Minority High School Students — United States, 2015 and 2017

Report: Health-Related Behaviors among Students

The Economic Well-Being of LGB Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care

### Resources

Report: Recommendations of the LGBT Subcommittee: Advancing the Reform Process for LGBQ/GNCT Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

Resource: Helping Youth Prevent Suicide Among Their LGBTQ Peers

Resource: LGBTQ Youth: Voices of Trauma, Lives of Promise

### Youth Topics

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Suicide Prevention