Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer (LGBQ) Youth in the Child Welfare System: Hope, Well-Being, and Future Expectations

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the experiences of an often invisible and understudied population within child welfare, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) youth. Specifically, this research explores support from caregivers, peers, and caseworkers to examine how they influence well-being among LGBQ youth who have been involved in the child welfare system. My analyses use standard statistical methods from a nationally representative data set of youth in the child welfare system and data from the state of Oklahoma. Chapter Two explores how sexual orientation and the quality of the relationship with the youth’s caregiver influences their internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. I find that for LGBQ youth, as the quality of their relationship with their caregiver increases, so too do their reported behavioral problems. I hypothesize why this might be the case. Chapter Three examines the future expectations for LGBQ and non-LGBQ youth, and results showed that caregiver and peer support influence these expectations, in positive and negative ways. Chapter Four looks at LGB youth placed in foster care within the state of Oklahoma and their levels of hope in their child welfare caseworker. My co-authors and I found that LGB youth who have experienced severe adverse childhood experiences (ACES) had greater hope in their caseworker. I conclude by discussing the implications of this research and how policies and programs could be developed, implemented, or improved to help this vulnerable population.