An estimated one in seven teenagers currently has a sexually transmitted disease. Special Needs and Social Services. Many are system kids with lengthy records of involvement with social services, mental health or prison systems. Many lack knowing stability, consistency or love in their lives. They are vulnerable to being labeled as losers and failures.
Many agencies still contribute to settings of pervasive homophobia.
Often gay and lesbian youth placed in psychiatric diagnostic or treatment centers providing short- term care, have been forced to remain long past time for transfer to residential care because no program is willing to accept makes labeled effeminate could be found. Program administrators sometimes fail to provide the leadership to ensure proper care for gay and lesbian youth because of personal homophobic attitudes. In the short run, specialized programs for sexual minority youth are required. When such specialized programs are instituted, careful planning is necessary to minimize the possibility of creating permanent gay ghettos for youth, allowing mainstream services to avoid responsibility for meeting the needs of gay and lesbian youth. A Primer of Legal Concerns.