Post submitted by Jean-Phillipe Regis, Manager, Children, Youth & Families Program

HRC’s All Children - All Families is launching a new webinar series for adoption and foster care professionals. Starting this month through November, HRC will host five FREE webinars to aid social service providers who are working to improve their practice with LGBTQ children, youth and families. Here’s a preview of the first two webinars:

Strategies for Recruiting LGBTQ Foster & Adoptive Families: Thursday, June 15 at 2 p.m. ET

There are millions of LGBTQ adults willing to foster/adopt, yet many child welfare agencies still struggle to recruit from the LGBTQ community. The first webinar will offer recruitment tips and cover the essential steps to engaging prospective parents from this untapped pool of adults. Hear how Little City Foundation in Chicago has used best practices to connect to the LGBTQ community and, ultimately, develop more loving families for young people who need them. Learn more here.

Caring for LGBTQ Youth: An Introduction for Foster & Adoptive Parents: Thursday, July 27 at 5 pm. ET

Foster and adoptive parents are an extremely diverse community of people with one thing in common: the desire to love, nurture and care for children and youth. Many parents may not realize that LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in foster care and are at higher risks of rejection and harm while in care. This webinar will first explain key terms and concepts that all foster/adoptive parents need to know in order to better understand LGBTQ youth. Research on the importance of providing affirming homes for these youth, as well as concrete tips for how to be affirming will then be presented. Learn more here.

To learn more about the webinars and HRC Foundation’s All Children–All Families program, click here.

Learn more about All Children–All Families’ work to promote LGBTQ cultural competency in adoption and foster care through our project at hrc.org/acaf.