This is a critical time for the child protection and Children’s Advocacy Center community to be allies for LGBTQ kids. Nearly two dozen states have considered anti-trans bills and some have made it difficult if not impossible for trans youth to receive gender-affirming care. In today’s One in Ten podcast, we speak with Al Killen-Harvey, president and co-founder of the Harvey Institute, about how child abuse professionals can better support LGBTQ youth and families. How can we ensure that child abuse investigations aren’t politicized? How can we identify and overcome our own biases and lack of knowledge to provide better care for these kids and their families? And how do we open our own hearts to create a welcoming and inclusive community where all kids can thrive?

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (1:46)
• How welcoming is our field for LGBTQ kids and families? (6:30)
• Advice for child abuse professionals (10:54)
• Mental health impact of anti-trans legislation (14:53)
• Gender-affirming care (19:49)
• The sense of threat and anger (27:37)
• Risks to trans youth (35:57)
• What can child abuse professionals do? (37:25)
• Be a life raft for kids (44:34)
• For more information (47:27)

Links:

Al Killen-Harvey, LCSW, is the president and co-founder of the Harvey Institute

Heidi Stern-Ellis, LCSW

Chadwick Center for Children and Families at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego

CAC, Children’s Advocacy Center

CPS, child protective services

For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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