Advocate hopes report brings about positive change
Recommendations include providing kids appropriate, inclusive sexual health info
Alberta’s child and youth advocate is hoping a new report about specific issues faced by LGBTQ youth will bring change.
The report, released Monday, is the first time the child and youth advocate has focused on the LGBTQ community.
Called Speaking Out, it contains personal stories of youth afraid to come out, being kicked out of their homes, homophobic remarks by caregivers and LGBTQ youth with nowhere to live safely.
At the same time, threads of hope and positive strides in the system weave throughout the pages.
That chasm between the experiences of different kids in the system speaks to the need for government to have consistency and predictability in its policies, child and youth advocate Del Graff told reporters Monday.
Despite more acceptance of and support for LGBTQ youth in Canada, they are also at a higher risk of homelessness, mental illness, violence and suicide.
Alberta and Canada are in a time where there’s an opportunity and an appetite to change perspectives, Graff said. There’s an openness and an interest in having discussions.
That’s among agencies and stakeholders, but also with government, which Graff said has been far more receptive to those talks than it used to be.
“We’re in a time where progress is perhaps more possible than it was five, 10, 15 years ago, and that’s very encouraging,” he said.
Academics and Aboriginal elders, along with 280 stakeholders and LGBTQ youth, were consulted in penning the latest report.
Graff found while there are many caring adults and safe spaces for LGBTQ youth, too often gender identities weren’t affirmed or supported, and youth weren’t brought into discussions around their needs.
Many transgender youth who participated in the report also felt unsafe in foster homes or detention centres. Graff also found a general lack of supportive living spaces in government care.
Training around the specific needs of LGBTQ youth was also an issue. Although many workers in the child welfare system do undergo training, Graff’s report found it was not always consistent, with many youth identifying a marked gap between their experience in rural versus urban Alberta. Graff acknowledged 2017 has already seen some changes — new policies around transgender youth in detention centres and LGBTQ homeless youth — but said there’s still work to be done.
Children’s Services Minister Danielle Larivee said in an email work is underway to enhance staff and caregiver training to better support the needs of LGBTQ youth.
She said Graff’s recommendations will help government’s work with community partners to create safe, inclusive communities where all children and youth are welcome, supported and loved.
FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Require training about unique LGBTQ needs for all government employees who work with young people or make decisions that affect them.
2. Create LGBTQ-specific living options for children and youth in care.
3. Review and revise policies and practices around identity, safety, living arrangements, services and supports for LGBTQ children and youth.
4. Establish policies to guide decision-making for employees specific to transgender youth.
5. Ensure young people receive appropriate and inclusive sexual health information.