Hephzibah has long held the belief that every child we serve should receive gender-affirming care from our staff. We’ve also long held the belief that those same children in our care need to be placed in welcoming and affirming homes. For decades, Hephzibah has actively worked for the rights and fair treatment of LGBTQ+ foster children and parents and has always put children and families first, regardless of how they identify. It’s part of our mission and values.
This is so important to us here at Hephzibah that we are making it official by participating in a certification program for All Children – All Families, the only national program dedicated to LGBTQ+ inclusion in child welfare that provides resource development, technical assistance and training.
The process of certification takes several years, and according to Ashley Ice, Clinical Coordinator at Hephzibah who initiated our participation in the program, it helps us “ensure that all children who come into our care are affirmed exactly as they are and how they identify.” Children in foster care who identify as LGBTQ+ may have already faced trauma and rejection relating to their intersecting identities in their homes of origin. Moving into foster care and having to face stigma and rejection all over again can cause extreme trauma and stress.
“Gender oppression is trauma. We must first create trust and establish safety with children. Then we can bring identity into that space, without judgment. This helps create stability and allows children to finally start to develop a sense of self,” Ashley says. Our gender-affirming care from staff and anti-oppressive framework doesn’t stop there, either. According to Ashley, we must continue to advocate for these children as they move through the system. “They must know someone is on their side the entire time,” she continues.
As we work towards certification in the All Children – All Families program, we actively practice the values and guidelines laid out by the program. Our DEI Committee is hoping to complete the training series for staff by the end of this year.
“These kiddos are all too often lost and forgotten. They deserve better,” Ashley said. We couldn’t agree more.