Toward a Competent Child Welfare Service Delivery System for Gay and Lesbian Adolescents and Their Families

SUMMARY Analogous to the child welfare delivery system deficits that have been documented for people of color communities, the problems encountered by gay and lesbian adolescents and their families are frequently ignored and largely unrecognized by the majority of child welfare professionals. An understanding of the impact of societal stigmatization of gay and lesbian individuals and their families is crucial to the recognition of, and response to, the needs of this population. This paper posits that the development of competence in this area holds promise for preserving and supporting families and for the establishment of appropriate gay/lesbian-affirming child welfare services for these young people and their families.