Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-09-06
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

DCFS director signs LGBTQ-affirming policy
by Gretchen Rachel Hammond
2017-05-12

This article shared 2888 times since Fri May 12, 2017
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


After years of negotiations and input from a wide range of local and national stakeholders, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director George H. Sheldon has signed a landmark revision of DCFS policy centered upon the "Support and Well-Being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Children and Youth" within the system.

The signing came during a workshop on LGBTQ foster parenting as a part of the 2017 EqualityCon, which Equality Illinois hosted in Springfield. Those attending the workshop—which Sheldon, Statewide DCFS LGBTQ Coordinator Jane Kelly and consulting DCFS psychologist Dr. Claudia Mosier hosted—were in for a surprise when Sheldon signed the document.

According to one DCFS employee, the revision, filed under Appendix K of services delivered by the department, faced several barriers on its journey to Sheldon's pen. Those barriers were overcome through the efforts of primarily African-American women working within the agency.

Many outside agencies and activists provided input on the document, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois (ACLU), Pride Action Tank and more. The ACLU, which has played a longstanding watchdog role of DCFS, especially wanted approval of the finished product.

The 17-page document "sets mandatory minimum standards to promote the safety, adjustment and well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) children and youth in the Department's care" and prohibits "discrimination, bias, or harassment" on the part of DCFS employees or those of outsourced (purchase of service) agencies toward LGBTQ children, youth and their families.

"Children and youth have the right to be treated equally, to express their gender identity, and to have the choice to be open or private about their sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity," Appendix K states. "The Department's policy is to maintain and promote a safe and affirming environment for LGBTQ children and youth in DCFS care, including children/youth who are in DCFS contracted residential facilities and programs, foster care and any other substitute care settings."

As a part of that commitment, Appendix K "requires that all LGBTQ children and youth be placed in an affirming safe housing, receive LGBTQ competent medical and mental health services, and have equal opportunity and access to care."

To that end, the policy asserts "any person who is involved with DCFS children/youth will complete mandatory training in LGBTQ competency."

The training will be included in DCFS core training and will be a requirement to attaining a child-welfare license.

DCFS in Los Angeles County has instituted similar system-wide training initiatives. However, they are not mandatory—something the Los Angeles LGBT Center, which delivers the training, believes is a significant problem.

However, in Illinois according to Appendix K, "DCFS will require all staff to attend ongoing training and education regarding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression."

While Windy City Times has examined DCFS treatment of transgender children who have been removed from affirming parents and placed in to foster care, Appendix K states that "a child or youth's LGBTQ status is not a reason to place them in congregate care. Most needs of LGBTQ children and youth can be met through positive caregiver, family support and community peer educational support groups."

"In no instance should LGBTQ children/youth be placed with a non-affirming caregiver who is opposed to sexual orientations that differ from the caregiver's own," it continues. "Nor should LGBTQ children and youth be placed with caregivers who are unwilling/unable to support children and youth whose gender identity or gender expression differs from traditional expectation."

Appendix K includes extremely specific language in matters of respecting gender expression and self-determination "including the child/youth's choice of clothes, make-up, hairstyle, friends, and activities within appropriate boundaries. The child/youth's chosen name and preferred gender pronoun (including gender-neutral pronouns such as "they" or "ze/hir") must be respected."

When placed in foster care both DCFS and outsourced agencies "should take into account the child/youth's perception of where they will be most secure, as well as any recommendations from the child/youth's health care provider."

"Individualized placement decisions, as well as an increase and diversification of placement options available to LGBTQ children and youth is critical," Appendix K states. "Caregivers for LGBTQ children/youth must understand and support the LGBTQ children/youth's identity."

Affirming medical care for transitioning youth is just as critical.

According to the appendix "LGBTQ appropriate and culturally competent medical care and sexual health education and resources shall be provided to all DCFS child/youth."

"If the child/youth reports that they were prescribed hormones or puberty blocking medications by a licensed medical provider, these medications must be continued under appropriate medical supervision while the child/youth is in care," it notes.

Those who request such intervention while in care "should be referred to medical professionals who are recognized as medically competent in the care of transgender child/youth."

The appendix directs all DCFS and outsourced agencies to "provide supportive and affirming care regardless of one's personal attitudes, beliefs, preconceptions and/or judgments, if any, surrounding matters of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression."

Although the ACLU of Illinois acknowledged that it had been working with DCFS on the policy revisions, in a statement received by Windy City Times the organization noted that it was "disappointed that DCFS did not inform us that the Director would be signing the policy over the weekend [of May 5] or give us an opportunity to review the final version."

The ACLU added that it was "pleased that DCFS incorporated nearly all of the changes requested by the ACLU" and commended "the hard work of DCFS officials who are committed to the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ youth in the Department's care."

However, the organization noted that "the policy falls short of being the model-policy we were hoping to see."

"For example, the Department rejected our recommendation that the policy include a reporting requirement that the ACLU believes is crucial to the integrity of the policy and its purpose of protecting LGBTQ youth," the statement continued. "We believe that DCFS should require its staff (including staff of DCFS contractors) to report to the LGBTQ Coordinator any conduct of other staff members that is inconsistent with the policy. The LGBTQ Coordinator should refer the noncompliant staff for additional training and provide them with any other resources necessary to help bring them into compliance with the policy. The ACLU also recommended, in the interest of accountability, that the LGBTQ Coordinator report to the Director the details about the number and nature of reports of noncompliant staff, the remedial actions taken, and the outcome."

"We have consistently recognized that the adoption of a good LGBTQ policy is only the starting point for protecting LGBTQ youth in DCFS care," the ACLU concluded. "We look forward to working with the Department to ensure that its other policies address the needs of LGBTQ youth and that this policy is implemented in a manner that ensures DCFS staff are made aware of it, fully understand its requirements, and comply with them."

www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/P302AppendixKLGBTQDraft050417.pdf .


This article shared 2888 times since Fri May 12, 2017
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Wisconsin governor vetoes anti-trans youth healthcare ban
2023-12-08
In an expected move, Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a bill that aimed to outlaw gender-affirming care for minors, CBS News reported. Evers has sworn to strike down any proposals from the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature ...


Gay News

Bring Chicago Home: Guess who's saying no again
2023-12-04
Commentary by Bob Palmer and Mark Swartz - Chicago is ushering in an era of change with a new progressive mayor with a vision to invest in communities long ignored and a significant increase in like-minded city council members. We are excited to see ...


Gay News

Catching up with The Cottages: How have tiny homes for the homeless fared in Dallas?
2023-12-03
Walking along the sidewalk, the smell of homemade stew wafts out of a window a few feet away. Cats and their kittens gather under trees and in between the gray, green and brown tiny houses. Freshly ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Tenn. law, banned books, rainbow complex, journalists quit
2023-12-01
Under pressure from a lawsuit over an anti-LGBTQ+ city ordinance, officials in Murfreesboro, Tennessee removed language that banned homosexuality in public, MSNBC noted. Passed in June, Murfreesboro's "public decency" ordinance ...


Gay News

Fla. students walk out after school board's anti-trans actions
2023-11-29
In Florida, hundreds of students at Coconut Creek's Monarch High School held a walkout on Nov. 28 after their principal and several other school officials were reportedly reassigned over a transgender student's participation on the girls ...


Gay News

OPINION For LGBTQ+ children, the holidays are often the most challenging time of the year
2023-11-21
Holiday time for most of us is a time to spend more time with family and loved ones, but for many children, it is a harsh reminder of their non-acceptance and thus, is all the more difficult as well. ...


Gay News

YEPP 'rises' to occasion at fall fundraiser
2023-11-20
Members and guests of Youth Empowerment Performance Project (YEPP) gathered Nov. 17 at Chicago Theater Works, 1113 W. Belmont Ave., for the organization's fall fundraiser, Rise Up: Our Celebration of Resistance. The evening marked both the ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Bishop removed, business news, Jezebel shutting down, MAP head
2023-11-17
Pope Francis removed the bishop of Tyler, Texas—a conservative prelate active on social media who has been a fierce critic of the pontiff, PBS reported. A one-line statement from the Vatican said the pope had "relieved" ...


Gay News

Illinois attorney general part of effort against Oklahoma anti-trans youth law
2023-11-16
--From a press release - Chicago — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is opposing a state law in Oklahoma that severely limits the ability of transgender youth to access critical, lifesaving gender-affirming care. Raoul, along with a coalition of attorneys general, ...


Gay News

IDHS head Dulce Quintero reflects on making history, being an advocate
2023-11-13
Dulce Quintero has always believed in helping people—and decades of doing so has resulted in an especially noteworthy achievement. Recently, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker appointed Quintero, a member of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame, as ...


Gay News

Kwame Raoul backs Maryland school board's efforts for LGBTQ+ safety, inclusion
2023-11-01
--From a press release - Chicago — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, supported a Maryland board of education's efforts to create a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ children and students. The ...


Gay News

WORLD Spirit Day, pope's meeting, conversion therapy, 'Elite' actor, tourism
2023-10-27
Spirit Day—an annual observance celebrated every third Thursday of October that is dedicated to taking a stand against bullying and showing support for the LGBTQ+ youth—was marked globally, GLAAD noted. ...


Gay News

Ninth Circuit temporarily blocks Idaho restroom ban as court challenge proceeds
2023-10-26
--From a press release - (Boise, ID, October 26, 2023) — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today temporarily blocked enforcement of an Idaho school facilities law that singles out transgender students for discriminatory treatment. The law was ...


Gay News

Harlem unveils supportive housing for LGBTQ+ youths, young adults
2023-10-25
On Oct. 24, NYC government officials and nonprofit organization leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a housing development in Harlem with services for homeless LGBTQ+ youth and young adults between the ages ...


Gay News

Loyola School of Law to present LGBTQ+ Youth Symposium Nov. 4
2023-10-24
--From a press release - Chicago law firm Matt Cohen and Associates has announced a first-of-its-kind symposium and resource fair for LGBTQ+ youth, families, and allies at Loyola University School of Law. located at 25 E. Pearson Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60611 ...


 


Copyright © 2023 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.