does highlight magazine promote gay rights

It’s imperative that all trainers be skilled in creating a safe and affirming atmosphere for LGBTQ+ prospective parents and discuss content specific to LGBTQ+ youth in care. All agencies, even if they do not provide placement services, must provide LGBTQ+-inclusive and supportive information or services to the families they serve. The All Children - All Families Benchmarks of LGBTQ+ Inclusion focus on two key components of LGBTQ+-inclusive parent preparation training: 1) ensure trainers have the expertise to welcome LGBTQ+ foster adoptive parents and 2) adequately preparing all resource parents to be LGBTQ+ affirming is reviewing and updating parent preparation training activities to ensure LGBTQ+ inclusion.Īll parent preparation training delivered by or required by agencies should be inclusive of both LGBTQ+ parents that may be in the room and content specific to the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in care (as applicable to the work of your agency. LGBTQ+ Inclusive Parent Preparation Training Identify a diverse set of existing families to share their stories at small, in-person recruitment presentations, where prospective parents can hear real stories.Ĭreate a large-scale media campaign to brand your agency as LGBTQ+-friendly to a wide audience.Įstablish a safe space for LGBTQ+ parents by creating new support groups for LGBTQ+ parentsĬhildren’s Home of Northern Kentucky, launched this campaign that highlights their commitment to welcoming a diverse demographic of families.Ĭhildren’s Home and Aid designed this recruitment campaign targeting their local LGBTQ+ community. This can be done formally through an advisory board or task force or informally through relationships your agency has formed with your local LGBTQ+ community. Seek input from the LGBTQ+ community prior to launching a major outreach effort. Work in partnership with local LGBTQ+ institutions to maximize your agency’s ability to connect with prospective LGBTQ+ parents. Highlight the stories of current LGBTQ+ parents and teens/young adults with LGBTQ+ foster/adoptive parents at recruitment events, host small orientation sessions in their homes, etc.Įnsure staff recruiting LGBTQ+ parents are particularly LGBTQ+-culturally competent and experienced/comfortable interacting with members of the LGBTQ community. Review existing parent support groups and ensure they are LGBTQ+-inclusive. Word of mouth can be one of the strongest recruitment tools look for ways to increase support to your current parents. 1 - Enhance current recruitment strategies:.Consider how your agency will work to replace those resource parents. This could result in the loss of some current resource parents. This may come from board members, current resource parents, or other community members. Introductory seminars/orientation sessionsĪll staff that have direct contact with clients should at minimum have foundational LGBTQ+ cultural competency training.Īgency leadership should prepare to respond to any pushback related to its efforts to recruit LGBTQ+ parents. Marketing/outreach materials (website, brochures, newsletters, etc.)

Ensure crucial policies are in place and a “welcome mat” has been created by reviewing the following for LGBTQ+ inclusion:Īgency’s physical space (visual cues of LGBTQ+ inclusion such as diverse family photos) Preparing for Changes to Recruitment Strategies:īefore any major changes to external recruitment practices, make sure you have done the necessary work internally to build your agency’s capacity to welcome LGBTQ+ parents.

Despite these facts, LGBTQ+ adults remain an untapped resource for the thousands of young people awaiting permanent families.Īn agency that is welcoming and affirming of LGBTQ+ parents within its policies and practices should specifically target multiple, diverse LGBTQ+ communities in its efforts to reach and recruit prospective parents.

And every major professional association dedicated to ensuring American families are happy and healthy have released statements in support of LGBTQ+ parenting. Decades of social science research shows us that LGBTQ+ parents are just as good as non-LGBTQ+ parents. An estimated 2 million LGBTQ+ adults are interested in adoption in the United States.

Does highlight magazine promote gay rights