Maintaining a welcoming home for all children means making it a safe and affirming place for our LGBTQ+ youth. 34% of children in child welfare identify as LGBTQ+, 60% of this percentage are youth of color. Discrimination can occur explicitly and implicitly for this group in child welfare and can show up differently depending on intersecting identities. In this training we will discuss practices and perspectives that will support you in caring for LGBTQ+ youth. We will cover general knowledge about SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity/expression) and what support can look like in home and in community.

Bio: Vanessa Albert Moret (she/her) graduated from California State Long Beach with a Masters in Social Work and a Bachelor’s from St. John’s College - Santa Fe, NM. She works as an advocate for caregivers and families with LGBTQ+ youth in the Youth Acceptance Project at Family Builders. She is committed to supporting families in creating permanency that strengthens the whole family system. Her passion stems from the belief that when children/youth are given the space and guidance to become who they’re truly meant to be, the children, their families and community experience compounding and resounding benefits.