REMARKS
Council Member Althea V. Stevens delivers opening remarks on LGBTQ+ youth in foster care
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4 min
Council Member Althea V. Stevens, chair of the Children and Youth Services committee, delivers opening remarks for a joint hearing on addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in the city's child welfare system.
She outlines the purpose of the hearing, introduces four bills related to increasing transparency and accountability in foster care practices, and highlights key issues facing LGBTQ+ youth in the system.
- Stevens emphasizes the disproportionate representation of LGBTQ+ youth in foster care and the challenges they face, including discrimination and lack of affirming placements.
- She discusses the need for better enforcement of ACS policies, comprehensive training for staff and foster parents, and the importance of creating affirming environments for LGBTQ+ youth.
- Stevens mentions a new agreement between ACS and the Ali Forney Center to prevent abuse and create more affirming environments for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care.
Althea V. Stevens
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Good afternoon.
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And welcome and welcome to today's hearing on addressing needs of LGBTQ youth in the city, city child welfare system.
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I am Altius, the events chair of children youth services.
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I'm joined by my my colleague, council member, Fairlouise, chair of women, and gender equity.
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Say we will discuss how ACS, DUI City, and the Unity project can collaborate can collaborate to ensure that LGBTQ plus youth in the foster care system are supported with safe affirming homes.
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We'll also be hearing 4 bills related to increasing transparency, reporting, and accountability in the foster care practices.
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Intro 0 8, sponsored by deputy speaker Ayala, and who's today is her birthday.
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This bill will require ACS to report the main allegations that leads into cases and to investigation for children abuse or neglect.
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Intro 056 sponsored by council member will say this bill will mandate ACS to survey foster use on their LGBTQ plus and racial identity and report annually on such responses.
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Control 0081 sponsored by member Riley.
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This will require the ACS to conduct quarterly audits a foster care placement notification.
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Binturo sponsored by sponsored by oh, well, we don't have a number.
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Okay.
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Well, council member Hudson is introducing a bill.
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This bill will expand the foster care unit experience, survey some cool questions about the treatment of LGBTQ plus youth regarding their gender expressions, gender identity, sex, characteristics and sexual orientation.
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LGBTQ youth plus LGBTQ plus youth are disproportionately represented in the foster care system and often because of family rejection and social prejudices.
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Tradetrically, instead of Instead of finding refuge many fit many face further discrimination, isolation within the foster care, those who feel unsafe frequently end up in the homeless and youth system, on shelter system, and already overburden safe net safety net.
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This underscores the urgent need for affirming placements with long term support systems that help those who thrive as they transition into adulthood.
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ACS's developed policies to protect the affirming LGBTQ youth, including commitment for staff to model appropriate and affirming behavior at all times.
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However, despite those commitments, serious claims of abuse such as staff refusing to choose to use the names of or failing to recognize transphobic and having transphobic comments continue to surface.
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This this incidents make it clear that having policies on paper aren't enough.
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A a focus of today's heroes in understanding how ACS is enforcing the accountability mechanisms and functions or not functioning.
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It is not enough.
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So we should guide guidelines.
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We need robust systems that ensure compliant compliance swiftly addressed in violations and implementing corrective action.
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I'm sorry.
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I'm just a little under one of the guys in response to those issues.
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In response to those issues, the Audi Twenty Center have announced a promising no agreement with ACS to prevent abuse and create safety, more affirming hold environment for LGBTQ youth, and foster youth.
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For we are looking forward to hearing more about this.
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Agreement in how it will be implemented and enforced.
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To achieve meaningful changes, we must ensure that ACS and DYCB staff foster parents and service providers receive comprehensive ongoing trainings on the needs of LGBTQ plus use.
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These this training should be beyond the basics, fostering a deep unwavering commitment to treatment those young people with the respect, indigniting, and culture competencies they deserve.
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By creating affirming homes, enforcing policies, ensuring accountability, and supporting LGBTQ youth as they transition out of care, we can build a child welfare and that truly protects and uplift all young people regardless of their identities.
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Thank you.
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I'd like to thank my community staff, Christina, Elizabeth.
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Oh, you guys took your last name's up as always patched on.
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Oh, well, thank you, guys.
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And the entire district 6 well, the entire 18 because we are the Suite 16 for the hard work in preparing for this hill hearing.
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Now I'd like to turn it over to my co chair Council member Lewis for her opening statements.
