“‘I felt abandoned because of my sexuality,” Jonathan said. “[State workers] weren’t trying to help. They were trying to get me out of the way.’
No one ever seemed to want him for very long. By his count, he had stayed in dozens of facilities. When Jonathan ended up homeless, he shocked no one.
It has become a typical trajectory for a significant number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) kids in the system.
This all-too-common story is now finding listeners in the White House. In April, the Obama administration sent out a lengthy memorandum calling on child welfare agencies to develop the kinds of interventions Jonathan needed most…”
Read the full article here.
Source: Cherkis, Huffington Post, June 1, 2011
Related posts:
- Washington Post chronicles nation’s homeless LGBT youth and efforts to help them
- Huffington Post article highlights problems for transitional age youth who “age-out” of foster care
- Youth Today opines about dual involvment of youth in Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice and connections to major struggles in adulthood
- Center for American Progress advocates for nat’l Runaway & Homeless Youth Act to focus on LBGT youth
- SF Chronicle profiles Youth Commissioner on her life work with LGBT homeless youth
