Masterclass: Competent Social Work Practice with LGBTQ+ Children, Youth, and Families with Professor Gary Mallon

By virtue of the fact that they are an often-invisible population or in some cases because they are perceived as being "different,” lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer (LGBTQ+) children and adolescents are at high risk for neglect, abuse and violence.  In case after case, self-identified LGBTQ+ children and adolescents, and those perceived to be because of “gender non-conforming” behaviours or mannerisms, reported that they were the victims of abuse, neglect, and violence at the hands of their own families and in many cases within the very schools and child welfare systems that are designed to care for and protect them, largely due to the fact that most professionals are not trained to competently care for them. Drawing on insights gained from clinical practice, research, and program development experiences with LGBTQ+ children, youth, and their families, this presentation offers a conceptual framework for examining, understanding and intervening with LGBTQ+ children, youth, and families as one works toward building professional competency.  In a judgement-free space, practice guidelines for child welfare professionals concerned about how and in what ways they can work to build competency with LGBTQ+ children and youth will also be presented.