Foster care and adoptions receives highest recognition for LGBTQ2S inclusion practices
Ramsey County foster care and adoptions have been nationally recognized as innovators in supporting and serving LGBTQ2S (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, questioning and two-spirit) youth and families.
The two programs were recently awarded the highest possible seal of recognition by the Human Rights Campaign’s All Children-All Families initiative. This award builds upon last year’s work where Ramsey County became the first agency in Minnesota to receive a seal. With this recognition, the county is designated as a leader in achieving safety, permanency and well-being of LGBTQ2S youth and families and in policy advocacy and organizational partnerships.
Child foster care and adoptions earned the highest innovator seal by pushing beyond the practices they implemented in 2018 with innovative approaches to LGBTQ2S inclusion.
In 2018, foster care and adoptions updated forms with more LGBTQ2S inclusive language, hung "All Are Welcome" signs and rainbow flags in Social Services buildings, and added gender identity language to non-discriminatory policies, staff trainings and other promotional materials.
To build on that work, foster care and adoptions hosted a series of required LGBTQ2S trainings both online and in-person for their staff, Fostering Connections and management. They updated more foster care and adoptions forms and resource guides with inclusive language, and added LGBTQ2S content in trainings for foster families. In addition, foster care and adoptions continues to work with Ampersand Families and RECLAIM for the two year training schedule for all of Social Services staff, with trainings exclusively for foster care, adoptions and Fostering Connections.
Interested in learning more about becoming a foster care provider? Register for an upcoming orientation.
HRC’s All Children-All Families project promotes LGBTQ cultural competency among child welfare agencies through innovative resources, including and online agency self-assessment tool, comprehensive staff training, free technical assistance and more. Learn more on the Human Rights Committee’s website.