Working with LGBTQ+ youth in the Child Welfare System

The representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) children and youth in child welfare systems has been largely ignored in scientific inquiry until recently, especially within the European context. Using data from two studies conducted in the Netherlands and Spain, this presentation will examine the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in contact with child welfare systems by exploring the challenges and sources of social support in their care trajectories as well as during their process of transition to independent living. We will discuss the policy and practice implications for the development of safer and more inclusive care settings that are better tailored to the particular needs of this group in care.

Speaker
Professor Mónica López López (PhD) obtained her PhD in Psychology at the University of Oviedo, Spain. She is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Her research provides guidance to address decision making disparities and to reduce inequalities in child protection systems. In her research, Mónica focuses on the voice of the service users, children and families, as a powerful instrument to improve welfare services.