REMARKS
Addressing issues of deadnaming in the foster care system
0:45:35
·
85 sec
Commissioner Dannhauser explains efforts to address the issue of deadnaming transgender youth in the foster care system, particularly during the reporting and investigation process.
- The issue of deadnaming was highlighted by RHY providers
- ACS is reworking their system to ensure proper use of preferred names and pronouns
- They are working with OCFS to improve the intake process at the State Central Register (SCR)
- Staff are being retrained to ask for preferred names and pronouns before addressing youth
- These efforts aim to reduce trauma for transgender youth in the foster care system
Jess Dannhauser
0:45:35
Well, I have virtual options for you and business options.
0:45:38
Options.
0:45:39
Green.
0:45:41
I do also wanna mention that one of the key things that was pointed out there was that young people were being dead named, intentionally or unintentionally, I think, mostly unintentionally.
0:45:54
When a call happens, let's say an RHI provider calls the SCR and says, a young person just showed up, their parents are transphobic, and the the child's being neglected.
0:46:07
When our when the SCR records their name, they often use their legal name.
0:46:13
And so then our staff would go out using that legal name, which creates a lot of trauma for a young person.
0:46:18
Right?
0:46:19
And so we are reworking that whole system, working with OCFS to see if they can make sure they're asking the questions of the RHI provider, around what is the preferred name that the young person has, what are their preferred pronouns.
0:46:32
We're also retraining our staff even if that is not there.
0:46:35
When you're doing this, we need to be going out and asking that question before we call that child by any name other than what they want to be called.
0:46:44
Mhmm.
Althea V. Stevens
0:46:50
I think there's all the questions I have right now.
0:46:52
I'm gonna pass it over to counsel member Lewis, and I have some questions for DICD, but I'll do that after she.
