THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES IS ADDING TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO BETTER SERVE L-G-T-B-Q-I-PLUS YOUTH IN CARE. 

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF KIDS IN THE SYSTEM IDENTIFY AS L-G-B-T-Q-I-PLUS. THAT'S WHY IT’S IMPORTANT THAT FOSTER PARENTS UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR YOUTH TO BE IN A SAFE SPACE SAYS D-C-F-S SPOKESPERSON DEBORAH LOPEZ.

D-C-F-S STAFF MUST TAKE A SIMILAR COURSE AS WELL. LOPEZ SAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS OTHER CHALLENGES L-G-B-T-Q-I-PLUS YOUTH FACE SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS AND GENDER BIAS.

D-C-F-S STAFF ARE UNDERGOING ADDITIONAL TRAINING AS WELL AND THE AGENCY IS WORKING ON OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE L-G-T-B-Q-I-PLUS POPULATION BY LISTENING TO FORMER YOUTH IN CARE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.