LSSI was one of 172 child welfare organizations that joined the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s All Children-All Families (ACAF) program. In December 2023, LSSI received a “Solid Foundation Tier of Recognition” from the organization. This recognition enhances an organization’s efforts to establish a record of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) inclusion and build meaningful relationships with LGBTQ+ communities.

All Children-All Families partner organizations, including LSSI, work to improve the services provided to the LGBTQ+ community. This includes youth in foster care and prospective foster and adoptive parents who are LGBTQ+.

“LGBTQ+ youth are over-represented among foster and adopted youth,” said Heather Williams, LCSW, LSSI Clinical Supervisor-Adoption Support & Preservation, who chaired LSSI’s All Children-All Families Work Group.

“The ACAF process helped LSSI become better equipped to provide the best care possible to these vulnerable young people so that they can have the safety and  support they need.”

Approximately 1 in 3 youth in foster care nationally are LGBTQ+, according to the HRC. When they aren’t allowed in homes that support them, LGBTQ+ youth face higher rates of abuse and mistreatment than their non-LGBTQ+ peers.

The Human Rights Campaign also reports that there are an overwhelming number of LGBTQ+ families who have considered adopting or fostering a child in the future, but 55% of them feared being turned away because of their identity. Only 14% knew of an LGBTQ+-inclusive organization near them.

“The All Children-All Families process also focused on recruiting, welcoming, and supporting LGBTQ+ foster parents,” said Williams. “This ultimately benefits our youth in care.”