The Experiences and Needs of LGBTQ Youth in Out-of-Home Care

Bay Area Youth Centers, Sunny Hills’ East Bay division, is hosting a symposium on the experiences and needs of LGBTQ-identified youth in the foster care system. This forum will provide an opportunity for foster care providers to engage one another around issues related to the delivery of care, specifically how to increase the competency, safety and accessibility of services for LGBTQ youth in out-of-home care.

The symposium will serve as a general forum for dialogue, information sharing, and mutual learning. Presenters will speak from personal experience and offer professional expertise on topics such as risk factors, safety and community, gender expression and fluidity of identity.

A Selection of Presenters Includes:

Kevin West
Youth Keynote Speaker

Jody Marksamer, Esq.
National Center for Lesbian Rights

Nick Gorton, MD
Lyon Martin Health Center

and representatives from:

California Youth Connection
Seneca Center
Project Eden Lambda Youth Program
Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center
inVision Consulting
The Y.O.U.T.H. Training Project

Symposium Information
September 16, 2009
Preservation Park – Nile Hall
Oakland, CA

Registration and informal networking
9:00 am - 9:30 am

Symposium
9:30am - 4:30pm (lunch included)

This symposium is offered free of charge to Bay Area providers, but advance registration is required. To reserve your place, contact Emily Rankin at (510) 867-6938 or by email at emily@bayareayouthcenters.org. Registration closes September 4, 2009.

This symposium is made possible through generous support provided by the Tides Foundation.