Creating Safe and Welcoming Residential Care Placements for LGBTQIA+ Youth

Abstract This chapter examines the special needs and challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ youth in residential child and youth care settings. The authors review data about LGBTQIA+ youth in care and describe two European programs that are striving to provide a secure, welcoming, and affirming living environment for LGBTQIA+ youth in child welfare systems. The Audre Project probed perspectives of LGBTQIA+ youth in residential and foster care placement as well the views of practitioners. Cornerstones Youth Care has been implementing an LGBTQIA+ focus within its Raising the Village model. The Raising the Village model is a framework for improving the quality of out-of-home care to young people through focusing decision-making around the individual young person and the carers and professionals involved.