Initiative for Safe & Affirming Care

Health, Safety, and Well-Being of Each and Every Youth

**CCYJ’s Initiative for Safe & Affirming Care seeks to ensure the health, safety, & well-being of each and every youth in youth criminal legal, child welfare, and related systems of care.**

Our Strategy

The Initiative for Safe & Affirming Care is based on four core strategies:

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Better understand youth within systems of care, including how their SOGIE shapes their experiences and outcomes

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Improve practice, making our systems of care more safe and affirming;

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Build multi-system coordination and collaboration, to ensure we are all working together and that youth will receive holistic and individualized care no matter which system they enter into

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Foster sustainability, so that positive change lasts for generations.

By the numbers

of homeless youth are LGBTQ+

cite family rejection as cause of homelessness

more likely to be placed in foster care

higher rates of abuse in juvenile facilities

Whatever social ill drives you–fuels your passion–you will almost certainly see it play out for LGBTQ+ youth impacted by our systems of care: family rejection, homelessness, violence, healthcare disparities, discrimination, isolation, and marginalization.

It is not because of who these youth are, but because of what they experience as a result of being who they are.

TAke Action

What We're Doing

Every youth has a SOGIE, not just LGBTQ+ youth. Building systems of care that provide holistic and individualized services and support that encompass all aspects of youths’ identity benefits everyone. CCYJ’s vision is that professionals, contracted providers, caregivers, and volunteers in our systems of care will support each and every youth with respect to their SOGIE and recognize that such support is critical to health, safety, and well-being.

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Resources On Demand

Virtual learning sessions covering LGBTQ+ BIPOC mental health, gender identity, neurodiversity, and family acceptance.

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Free Upcoming Trainings

Our 3 part training series will dive into The Safe & Affirming Protocol. Occuring in November and December 2025.

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Hire Us for Customized Training

Request a session to receive trainings on Implementing structural changes across juvenile courts, child welfare, and social services to create more inclusive, affirming environments for youth at every touchpoint.

Protocol for Safe & Affirming Care

Our evidence-based protocol provides concrete guidance for foster care and juvenile court professionals to deliver affirming, trauma-informed care.

Check out the Full Playlist on our YouTube Channel

Training participants represented about 200 different organizations from WA, the US and even some abroad

Over 5000+ people have attended multiple trainings, with topics including LGBTQ+ 101; family support; gender affirming care