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Achieving Permanency for LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care

Tools for Child Welfare Professionals

These resources were collected for a session on achieving permanency and building affirming family networks for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care. They are designed to help develop a common language around Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE), identify and engage affirming kin, safely identify youth SOGIE and plan for the data collection protocols involved. Also included are resources to support youth in their journey.

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Shannon D final

Shannon Deinhart

Executive Director and Co-Founder

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Shannon (she/her) has over 25 years of experience advancing kinship care, foster care, and adoption. She has led the way in advancing Family Seach and Engagement efforts in Ohio, including  implementation of Kinnect to Family. She led the development and implementation of the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator Program (OhioKAN) program in partnership with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. Shannon holds a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University.
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Heather Jamison

Trainer and Safe Zone Facilitator

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Heather (she/her) has over 13 years of experience in children services. She has been a Safe Zone facilitator with LGBTQ+ Lorain County since 2019, working to make Lorain County a safe and inclusive place to work, play, and live. Heather has a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Ohio University. While completing her bachelor’s degree, she participated in the University Partnership Program.
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Establishing a Common Language Around SOGIE

Support for LGBTQ+ Youth Starts at Home

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Gender Unicorn

Learn more about the gender unicorn

Genders of the world

Learn about gender across time & culture

Family Finding and CAFF tools

AFFIRM ME practice guide

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Chosen Affirming Family Finding (CAFF)

Download the CAFF overview

Youth-Centered Permanency Roundtables (YCPRT) Circles of Support & Naturally Connect questions

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Safe Identification Tools

Cuyahoga County Safe ID Policy

Download the manual

Guidelines for Managing SOGIE-related info

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Policy and Data Collection Protocols

The Cuyahoga Youth Count: A Report on LGBTQ+ Youth Experience in Foster Care

Download the report

Cuyahoga Systems of Change

Download the Systems of Change map

Youth-Centered Permanency Roundtables (YCPRT) Youth Prep Quick Guide

Download the guide

Youth Acceptance Resources

Youth Acceptance Project (YAP)

Find out more about YAP

Coming Out Guides for Youth

Download the handbook

Family Acceptance Project ®

Learn more about FAP

Supportive Families, Healthy Children:

Helping Latter-day Saint Families with LBGT children

LGBTQ Family Acceptance

Visit the webpage to find resources & support

Learn with Love video

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