Systems-Involved Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth: Homelessness, Juvenile Legal Systems, and Child Welfare and Foster Care

Jonathon W Wanta; George Gianakakos; Austin Nguy; Dalia N Balsamo

doi:10.1016/j.chc.2023.04.003

Systems-Involved Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth: Homelessness, Juvenile Legal Systems, and Child Welfare and Foster Care

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2023 Oct;32(4):839-848. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2023.04.003. Epub 2023 Jun 1.

Authors

Jonathon W Wanta¹, George Gianakakos², Austin Nguy³, Dalia N Balsamo⁴

Affiliations

¹ Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 East Chicago Avenue, Box 10, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: jwanta@luriechildrens.org.
² Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 East Chicago Avenue, Box 10, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
³ University of California, Riverside, School of Medicine, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, School of Medicine, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.

PMID: 37739638
DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2023.04.003

Abstract

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth are overrepresented in legal and social support systems intended to protect and support youth along their developmental journeys. However, these systems often fall short for TGD youth and further stigmatize an already vulnerable population. This article provides an overview of the experience, care, and treatment of systems-involved TGD youth. Working with systems-involved transgender and gender-diverse youth necessitates a high level of compassion and advocacy in pursuit of more equitable care and access.

Keywords: Child welfare; Foster care; Gender diverse; Homelessness; Juvenile justice; Transgender.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Child Welfare
Humans
Ill-Housed Persons*
Transgender Persons*
Vulnerable Populations