The impact of children’s services professionals on LGBTIQ youth: Knowledge, practices and needs

• Published in: Children and youth services review 2024-05, Vol.160, p.107544, Article 107544
• Main Authors: Langarita, Jose Antonio, Platero, Lucas R., López-Sáez, Miguel Ángel, Sadurní-Balcells, Núria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Biopower; LGBTIQ; Policy-making; Professionals; Spain
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107544

•Professional practices are not guided primarily by theoretical knowledge, but by practical experience.•While cultural competencies and specific technical knowledge on the part of professionals are essential for supporting LGBTIQ adolescents, professionals also need skills to redirect adult-centric relationships that concentrate power exclusively in the adults.•Professionals with a higher level of training or stronger commitment to sexual and gender diversity were found to be better equipped with the tools and skills necessary to provide support to LGBTIQ adolescents.•Professional practices are heterogeneous and tend to develop in an unmethodological way.•Adults must listen to adolescents to understand their needs, experiences, expectations, and perceptions regarding sexuality and gender. Since the 2010s, LGBTIQ children have become increasingly visible in Spain, a visibility reflected in their inclusion in public policies at both national and regional levels. Regions such as Catalonia and Madrid have passed legislation that creates specific services and protocols to protect these children. However, the actual impact of these laws and services has not yet been assessed. This article analyses the results of 35 interviews with stakeholders in addition to four focus groups containing 24 adolescents, focusing on the knowledge, practices, experiences and needs of the two groups. Despite the differences between the regions, the results are similar: although professionals can be supportive, they need both more knowledge and clearer directions regarding how to focus their interventions with LGBTIQ children, while adolescents need adults to listen to them and confront and combat their adultist biases.