LGBTQ+ Runaway and Homeless Youth - by Elaine M Maccio & Kristin Ferguson

About the Book

This book offers a comprehensive review of best practices, current policies, and the latest research regarding LGBTQ+ runaway and homeless youth.

Book Synopsis

For years, 20 to 40 percent of the runaway and homeless youth (RHY) population have identified as LGBTQ+, a vastly disproportionate share relative to the general population. These youths experience lower rates of family reunification compared with their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts, and there are few LGBTQ+-affirming programs and services to which they can turn.

This book offers a comprehensive review of best practices, current policies, and the latest research regarding LGBTQ+ runaway and homeless youth. Elaine M. Maccio and Kristin Ferguson describe the prevalence and demographics of LGBTQ+ youth in the context of the larger RHY population, sharing current understandings of sexual orientation and gender identity. Combining empirical data with vivid case vignettes, they delve into the lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ RHY, considering a range of issues, including physical and mental health, risk and protective factors, and parents and families. Maccio and Ferguson identify available and ideal support mechanisms, providing a detailed look at practice, programs, policies, and advocacy. The book concludes with practical recommendations to improve well-being and promote positive outcomes.

LGBTQ+ Runaway and Homeless Youth is the preeminent reference and resource for students, instructors, practitioners, service providers, researchers, policy makers, and other stakeholders who are invested in improving the lives of this vulnerable population.

Review Quotes

This book is a timely resource to effectively prepare practitioners, policy makers, and researchers in addressing the nuanced needs of LGBTQ+ runaway and homeless youth.--Michael P. Dentato, editor of Social Work Practice with the LGBTQ+ Community: The Intersection of History, Health, Mental Health, and Policy Factors

Rich in data, this wonderful book equips readers with essential information on practice, research, and policy regarding LGBTQ+ runaway and homeless youth. It speaks to the current political environment, where LGBTQ+ youth and transgender and nonbinary people, in particular, are silenced. A must-read for child welfare professionals and a crucial resource for practitioners and policy makers alike.--Gerald P. Mallon, author of Strategies for Child Welfare Professionals Working with Transgender and Gender Expansive Youth

About the Author

Elaine M. Maccio is an associate professor at the Louisiana State University School of Social Work, where she holds the Betty J. Stewart Endowed Professorship in Social Work Practice with Children.

Kristin Ferguson is a professor at the Arizona State University School of Social Work and director of the Arizona Housing Analytics Collaborative.