ABSTRACT
Many individuals begin the process of becoming a foster parent without ever considering that a child or teen who moves into their home might be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning. While some may have personal struggles with accepting an LGBTQ youth, many others are likely to want to create a safe and affirming home in the same way they would for straight or gender-conforming youth. Unfortunately, the process of training and preparing foster parents has historically excluded content related to a youth’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Many foster parents do not have the foundational knowledge to understand what acceptance looks like and strategies for creating acceptance in the home. Similarly, many foster parents are not trained on the significance of family acceptance and the impact that it can have on the social, emotional, health, and academic well-being of LGBTQ youth.
