LGBTQ+ Foster Youth: What You Should Know
AFS is dedicated to helping every youth, including those in the LGBTQ+ community, find the stability they need.
Across the nation, LGBTQ+ youth are dramatically overrepresented in the foster care system. Research estimates that 20–34% of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+, compared to just 10% of the general youth population. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are nearly 2.5 times more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience foster care, and between 20–40% of all youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+.
These numbers tell an important story: LGBTQ+ youth are not only entering foster care at higher rates—they’re also facing unique challenges once they do.
LGBTQ+ foster youth are at particular risk for poor mental and social outcomes.
- LGBTQ+ youth who have a history of foster care are up to three times more likely to report a past-year suicide attempt than their non-foster care LGBTQ+ peers. For transgender and non-binary youth in foster care, suicide attempt rates climb even higher.
- LGBTQ+ youth who age out of foster care are more likely to face a higher risk of substance use, involvement in the juvenile justice system, and challenges in transitioning to adulthood, including higher rates of unemployment and housing instability.
The Critical Need for Affirmation
At Alternative Family Services, our mission is to provide stability, safety, and well-being for all vulnerable children and families in Northern California. These youth deserve an affirming placement.
An affirming home is one where the youth’s identity, background, and sense of self are respected, celebrated, and protected. It’s one where the environment is free from discrimination and provides connections to supportive community resources.
When all foster youth, including LGBTQ+, are placed in affirming homes, they experience better outcomes: improved mental health, higher educational success, and stronger self-esteem. They gain a stable foundation that allows them to move from surviving to truly flourishing.
AFS: Supporting Youth Through Every Transition
AFS is dedicated to helping every youth, including those in the LGBTQ+ community, find the stability they need. We understand that identity is complex, and our support systems are built to meet the whole child.
- Mental Health Services: Our comprehensive mental health services, including the expertise available through our various programs, ensure that youth have access to trauma-informed and identity-affirming therapy.
- Transition Age Youth (TAY) Services: For older LGBTQ+ youth transitioning out of care, our TAY programs focus on life skills, educational support, and housing resources, ensuring they enter adulthood with the confidence and resources to sustain their well-being.
For more information, check out these resources:
