Understanding Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Youth

Level: Advanced Practice – Lineworker

Credits: 6

Intended Audience: New and current child welfare personnel seeking information on the issues of gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth

Intended Objectives:

• Gain insight into how abuse affects this population
• Develop a working knowledge of developmental stages of the “coming out” process
• Become familiar with treatment goals, issues, and needs of this population
• Identify and help provide safety to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered youth.

Topics Include:

• Stages of sexual identity development
• Risk factors specific to this population
• Redefining abuse definitions for this population
• Institutional barriers
• Improving sensitivity- what you can do
• Cultural implications
• Clinical issues-transference, counter-transference, family dynamics
• Children who have gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered caretakers

CalSWEC Competencies Addressed:

3.6 Student is aware of his/her own emotional responses to clients in areas where his/her values are challenged, and is able to utilize the awareness to effectively manage the client-worker relationship.

4.2 Student understands the process of human sexual development and behavior.