Place of Respect: A Guide for Group Care Facilities Serving Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth

• NCJ Number: 240138
• Author(s): Jody Marksamer; Dean Spade; Gabriel Arkles
• Date Published: 2011
• Length: 76 pages
• Corporate Author: National Ctr for Lesbian Rights; Sylvia Rivera Law Project
• Sale Source: National Ctr for Lesbian Rights
• Publication Format: Document; Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Guideline
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This guide presents group-care facilities with information and tools to provide transgender and gender non-conforming youth with appropriate and informed care, and it outlines the provisions of laws that require facilities to protect these youth from harassment and abuse, to provide them with appropriate medical care, and to treat them fairly.

Abstract

The guidance provided enables youth group-care facilities to address nine common problems faced by transgender and gender non-conforming youth in such facilities. One problem is the lack of respect and support for youths' gender identity and expression. A second problem is gender-inappropriate placements. A third problem faced by transgender and gender-nonconforming youth involves verbal harassment, threats, violence, and isolation. A fourth problem consists of sexualizing con-conforming gender identity or expression, and a fifth problem is inappropriate labeling as sexual predators. The other four problems faced by transgender and gender non-conforming youth are a lack of privacy and safety in bathrooms, showers, and during searches; unmet health care needs; barriers to safe and non-discriminatory school environments; and inability to access supportive community services. A solution for addressing each of these problems is briefly stated. The guide concludes with recommendations for facility and agency administrators on ways to provide leadership on the important issue of providing respectful and supportive services for transgender and gender non-conforming youth. It recommends that administrators develop and implement non-discrimination polices and comprehensive practice guidelines that clearly state facility rules and expectations; ensure that staff receive appropriate and sufficient training on working with transgender and gender non-conforming youth; and hold staff accountable for following established policies and practice through a staff evaluation process. Appended common terms and definitions, a list of resources, and model policy and practice guidelines for providing non-discriminatory services to transgender and gender non-conforming youth in group-care facilities