Continuing Education

LGBTQ+ Youth in the Foster Care System

Supporting and Empowering LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care

Mental Health Education

About The Course

Course Title: LGBTQ+ Youth in the Foster Care System

Learning Method: Record asynchronous distance (non-interactive). This course includes a recorded video and access to the presented resources.

Amount of CE Credit Offered: 1.5 general credits. ASWB ACE and NBCC.

Fees: This course can be purchased individually for $25 or as part of an annual unlimited continuing education subscription available for $99/year.

Posttest: Following the course, the participant will take a 15 question posttest. A score of 70% correct is required to pass and obtain a certificate. If you do not pass the posttest, it can be re-taken after fully reviewing the materials again.

Certificate of Completion: In order to receive a certificate of completion, you must indicate that you’ve watched the entire video portion of the course, earn a passing grade on the test, and complete the requested course evaluation.

Description of the Course:

Why is understanding this topic important?

1. High Vulnerability and Overrepresentation:

LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately placed in the foster care system due to family rejection, increasing their risk of trauma, homelessness, and trafficking.

2. Mental Health Disparities:

LGBTQ+ youth in foster care experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal ideation, requiring specialized, affirming mental health support.

3. Need for Trauma-Informed, Affirming Care:

Many foster placements and support systems lack cultural competency, making it crucial to equip professionals with strategies to create safe, stable, and affirming environments.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the unique vulnerabilities to maltreatment and placement instability that LGBTQ+ youth face in foster care, including factors contributing to these risks.
Compare and analyze the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in foster care with their non-LGBTQ+ peers, focusing on disparities in outcomes, support, and well-being.
Implement trauma-informed strategies to provide affirming and authentic care that promotes resilience and healing for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care.

Target Audience:

Mental health professionals and Masters and Clinical level licensees pursuing continuing education.

Content Level:

Both beginning and intermediate-level content are included in this course.

Instructor Bio(s):

Adam McCormick

Adam McCormick, MSW, PhD is Professor of Social Work at St. Edward’s University in Austin and teaches courses on topics related to social work with families and childhood trauma. He has a number of research interests and speaks frequently on a number of topics including LGBTQI+ youth in the child welfare system, the trauma of family separation in child welfare, the weaponization of poverty in child welfare, the relationship rights of siblings in foster care, the intersections of child welfare and immigration, social work and moral injury, and masculinity and mental health. He is the author of the forthcoming book, The unfinished business of our childhood: Healing the child trauma wounds of helping professionals. Dr. McCormick is also the author of the book LGBTQ youth in the foster care system: Empowering approaches to an inclusive system of care.

Course Outline:

1) Understanding the Unique Challenges of LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care

Overrepresentation of LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system
Common forms of maltreatment and family rejection
Disproportionate risks of homelessness, trafficking, and mental health struggles

2) The Impact of Trauma on LGBTQ+ Youth

How trauma manifests in LGBTQ+ foster youth
Effects of placement instability and lack of affirming care
Mental health disparities and increased suicide risk

3) The Role of the Foster Care System

Barriers to affirming placements and permanency
Overreliance on group homes and congregate care settings
Systemic gaps in protection and support for LGBTQ+ youth

4) Trauma-Informed and Affirming Care Strategies

Importance of cultural competency in foster placements and services
Best practices for mental health professionals and social workers
Building trust, safety, and supportive relationships for LGBTQ+ youth

5) Advocacy and Systemic Change

Policy improvements to protect LGBTQ+ youth in foster care
The role of professionals in promoting affirming environments
Actionable steps to create long-term positive outcomes for LGBTQ+ foster youth

Course Creation Date: 2/19/25

Requesting Accessibility Accommodations:

Please email [email protected] to request accessibility accommodations.

System Requirements:

The most recent version of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge browser
Javascript enabled
PDF plugin
Graphic and audio output capability
Broadband internet connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps (recommended)
TLS 1.2 supported by your web browser

Refund Policy: In general, refunds will not be provided. However, if you do have any concerns or grievances, please contact us at the email address below. Registrants who do not complete their course(s) will not receive a refund. Registrants who purchased the course but did not achieve a passing grade will not receive a refund. The Agents of Change Grievance Policy can be viewed here.

Cancellation Policy: If an Agents of Change Continuing Education course is canceled, a full refund will be provided to all participants.

Please email [email protected] with any questions about the course.

Agents of Change is Approved by ACE

Agents of Change, #1919, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 7/26/2023 – 7/26/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credit.

Agents of Change is Approved by NBCC

Agents of Change has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7620. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Agents of Change is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

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Your Continuing Education Includes

Audio + Visual Content

We design our continuing education to support all learning styles. Each topic includes engaging videos and visual slides. With your purchase, you also get access to on-the-go audio resources.

High Quality Materials

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PEER + Email Support

With your purchase, you'll be invited to the Agents of Change community, a supporting skill building environment. You'll also have access to the Agents of Change team for any questions!