Evaluation of a Brief Foster Parent/ Case Worker Training to Support Relationship Building Skills and Acceptance of LGBTQ+ Youth in Care

J Public Child Welf. 2023;17(1):213-237. doi: 10.1080/15548732.2021.2011531. Epub 2021 Dec 21.

Abstract

LGTBQ+ youth in foster care need unique support and acceptance; however, few case workers and caregivers receive specialized training. To address this, the Connecting: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) eLearning was developed. This evaluation assesses whether attitudes and behavioral intentions regarding LGBTQ+ youth improved as a result of this training. Caregivers and child welfare professionals showed growth in many areas, including how important they felt it was to learn strategies and skills to support LGBTQ+ youth, as well as their confidence to care for LGBTQ+ youth. The Connecting: SOGIE eLearning is a promising tool for child welfare systems.

Keywords: LGBTQ+; case worker; foster care; foster parent; training.