Benchmarks of LGBT Cultural Competency
When LGBT individuals or couples begin their journey to adoption, the first and most critical step is finding an agency that is welcoming. This often occurs through word-of-mouth references shared by experienced adoptive parents, as well as through websites dedicated to advocacy and education within the LGBT community.
The HRC Foundation will provide the All Children – All Families Seal to agencies that achieve these 10 benchmarks.* Once you earn the All Children– All Families Seal, you can choose to proudly display it on your website, on your office door or in printed materials.
1. The agency’s client non-discrimination statement clearly bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
2. The agency’s client non-discrimination statement clearly bans discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
3. The agency’s employment non-discrimination statement clearly bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
4. The agency’s employment non-discrimination statement clearly bans discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
5. All agency employees receive the training required to work effectively and competently with LGBT clients.
6. Agency proactively educates and advocates for LGBT-inclusive and affirming practice among their organizational partners, collaborators and contractors.
7. All agency-controlled forms and internal documents use inclusive language (e.g., "partner" instead of "spouse" or "parent 1" and "parent 2" rather than "mother" and "father").
8. All external communications (website, printed materials and recruitment activities) explicitly reflect the agency’s commitment to working with LGBT individuals and families.
9. Agency includes standardized LGBT-specific language, examples and exercises in all family training and education activities (MAPP, PRIDE, etc.)
10. The agency has had placements/finalized adoptions with several LGBT foster or adoptive parents; and/or provided foster/adoption services to LGBT families within the past year.
* The 2007 Promising Practices Guide contained 12 benchmarks; agencies needed to achieve at least nine to receive the seal. These revised benchmarks are based on feedback from public and private agency leaders.
