Penny Lane Supports All Children and All Families

NCFY recently featured the organization Penny Lane in an article called, “Safety, Support and Respect for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth.” A social services organization in North Hills, CA, Penny Lane trains staff to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, and makes targeted attempts to recruit lesbian and gay foster families and volunteers. These efforts earned the organization a spot on the Human Rights Campaign’s list of organizations that are “committed to implementing policies and practices that welcome, affirm and support LGBT foster and adoptive parents.”

A leading gay-rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Campaign launched the All Children – All Families initiative to enhance cultural competence among child welfare professionals and educate LGBTQ people about opportunities to become foster or adoptive parents to waiting children.

The initiative has also produced the “All Children - All Families Promising Practices Guide” (3rd edition), which includes sample policies and outlines best practices for welcoming prospective adoptive and foster parents, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. (The principles could also apply to host-home programs that serve runaway and homeless youth.)

To participate in the All Children – All Families initiative, visit the Human Rights Campaign website. Or, let NCFY know what your organization is doing to better serve LGBTQ youth.