LGBTQIA2S+ Practice Tools

This report presents therapeutic practices related to youth, and sexual orientation and gender identity. These practices are based on research, clinical expertise, and expert consensus. The report makes the case for eliminating the use of conversion therapy among youth.

This revision of the Standards and Indicators for Cultural Competence in the Social Work Practice (the Standards) reflects the growth in the understanding of cultural competence since the development of both the NASW Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice published in 2001 and the Indicators for the Achievement of the NASW Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice (NASW, 2007).

This resource guide offers information and resources to help practitioners in health and social service systems implement best practices to engage and help families and caregivers support their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) children.

LGBT youth continue to be disproportionately represented among homeless youth in our country, and their experiences of homelessness continue to be characterized by violence, discrimination, poor health, and unmet needs. Family rejection, harassment in schools, and the shortcomings of juvenile justice and child welfare continue to drive these elevated rates of homelessness. Meanwhile, federal funding for essential services to the well-being of these youth has remained stagnant. This report explores who LGBT homeless youth are, how they become homeless, how their needs are being addressed, and what the federal government can do to eliminate homelessness among LGBT youth.

Across the country the term “bullying” is making national headlines regarding brutal acts committed by youth at school. Bullying is the intentional and repeated use of actions and words designed to intimidate or hurt another person. Bullying can be verbal, physical, or nonverbal/nonphysical. Examples of verbal bullying include teasing, taunting, name-calling, and spreading rumors.

Sex is assigned at birth and determined usually by our external, physical bodies. Are our genitals clearly male or female? Additional sex markers include our chromosomes and our internal and external reproductive organs. Some people also use sexed bodies to describe our physical sex.