Mathematica Policy Research; Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law

Andrew Burwick; Vanessa Oddo; Laura Durso; Daniel Friend; Gary Gates

Keywords: Best Practices; Child Welfare; Courts; Data Collection; Homeless Youth; Policy; Research

To better understand provider experiences serving LGBTQ runaway and homeless youth (RHY), the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation in HHS’s Administration for Children and Families (ACF), sponsored case studies of four local agencies receiving grants from ACF’s RHY Program. Drawing on site visit interviews as well as reviews of agency documents and forms, this report presents findings on four topics: (1) agencies’ collection and use of data on clients’ sexual orientation and gender identity, (2) providers’ assessment and perceptions of needs and capacities among LGBTQ RHY, (3) providers’ approaches to serving LGBTQ RHY, and (4) providers’ perceptions of research gaps and data needs related to services for LGBTQ RHY. The report concludes by suggesting issues for policymakers and practitioners to consider related to collecting data on, and serving, this population. [Summary adapted from resource.]

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Identifying and Serving LGBTQ Youth: Case Studies of Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Grantees