Creating Safety Beyond Foster Care: Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth at School
Many LGBTQIA+ youth in foster care feel safe and supported at home, but school can be a very different experience. Caregivers, educators, and allies all play a role in creating safe spaces where youth can thrive.
Members of the Family Voices United Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB) share their perspectives on what safety looks like in schools and why it matters.
Why School Safety Matters
LEAB Member: Beth Patton, Kinship Caregiver, Kansas
Beth Patton, a kinship caregiver from Kansas, explains:
“Youth might receive support at home or in foster care, but schools can be a different story. In some states, students can’t even be called by their chosen name. Walking into school can feel threatening after leaving a supportive environment.”
For many young people, this feels like moving between two worlds: one where they belong, and one where they don’t.
LEAB Member: Susan Langenfeld, Resource Parent, New York
Susan Langenfeld, a resource parent from New York, says:
“Being a teenager is already confusing, and adding these challenges makes it harder. Even if schools aren’t supportive, local agencies can provide safety. It’s traumatic when schools can’t even acknowledge their needs.”
Respecting chosen names, pronouns, and identities is not optional, it's essential for youth well-being.
LEAB Member: Bob Ruble, Kinship Caregiver, California
Bob Ruble, a kinship caregiver from California, reminds us:
“Even if you don’t identify as LGBTQIA+ or as a parent, your perspective and support are still valuable to young people throughout their lives, especially in a school setting."
Community-wide support ensures that LGBTQIA+ youth are never isolated.
How You Can Show Support
For Educators and School Staff:
- Advocate for policies that honor chosen names and pronouns.
- Include LGBTQIA+ voices and history in the classroom.
- Attend training focused on LGBTQIA+ youth in foster care.
- Speak up against bullying and exclusion.
For Caregivers and Advocates:
- Connect youth with affirming community groups and mental health supports.
- Partner with school counselors or allies on staff.
- Share resources with educators about foster care and LGBTQIA+ needs.
For Youth in Foster Care:
- Remember: You are not alone, your identity matters.
- Seek out people and places where you feel safe and affirmed.
- Speaking up, when ready, can spark change and help others.
Creating Safety Everywhere
Every young person deserves safety in every space, not just at home.
When caregivers, educators, peers, and communities work together, schools can become inclusive, affirming spaces.
Small actions using a chosen name, standing against bullying, or showing open support send a powerful message to LGBTQIA+ youth: You belong here.
Take Action
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Explore partner organizations working to create safe, affirming spaces for youth in foster care.
About Family Voices United
Family Voices United is a collaboration between FosterClub, Generations United, the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance, and Casey Family Programs. The project works to improve the child welfare system by listening to, and amplifying, the voices of people who have lived through it. When their experiences shape policy, we all move closer to a system that truly supports children and families.
Take action. Learn more. Share your story at familyvoicesunited.org
