The influence of juvenile justice workforce’s knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs on behaviors toward youth with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions

Correctional staff knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward incarcerated trans people: A scoping review of an emerging literature

“…The searches were conducted on April 13, 2023, with seven publications being included upon final review (see Figure 1 ; Matarese et al., 2023 ). All articles received scores over 70% (agreed upon cut off) and were included in the study.…”

“…Prison staff reported taking several factors into consideration in their interactions with incarcerated people, such as acknowledging that rapport building is of high importance in such an environment (Marlow et al., 2015 ). Knowledge was found to be directly correlated with demonstrating reported protective and supportive behaviors toward youth with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expression (SOGIE; Matarese et al., 2023 ); behaviors that have also been shown to impact self-esteem and self-worth. Staff reported caution in their approach to ensure that offense is not caused with consideration given as to how incarcerated trans persons may perceive their actions (Marlow et al., 2015 ).…”

“…Some studies identified the impact that personal beliefs and attitudes had on staff behaviors, while some reported it did not affect their behavior, and others demonstrated a clear lack of awareness resulting in reduced quality of care and access to services (Byrd, 2020 ). Solutions such as the importance training and education can have on overcoming personal beliefs and attitudes, as well as organizational expectations helping to set clear requirements in quality of treatment (Brömdal et al., 2019 ; Brömdal et al., 2023 ; Matarese et al., 2023 ; Phillips et al., 2020 ; Redcay et al., 2020 ; Sevelius & Jenness, 2017 ; Tadros et al., 2020 ; Tarzwell, 2006 ; White Hughto et al., 2018 ) are reform-based attempts that seek “to improve the conditions inside of prisons or the people within them, but not to implement structural changes” (Lawston & Meiners, 2014 , p. 13). As such, findings from this study highlight the urgent need to address the underlying structural, systemic, and organizational factors that impact upon the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors staff have and hold in correctional and other health and community settings to meaningfully and sustainably improve health, wellbeing and gender-affirming treatment and care for trans communities (Brömdal et al., 2019 ; Franks et al., 2022 ; McCauley et al., 2018 ; Mullens et al., 2017 ; Swan et al., 2023 ; Van Hout et al., 2020 ; Watson et al., 2023 ).…”

Building Connections Between Chosen Family and Kin: A Culturally Adapted Program for LGBTQ+ Children, Youth, and Their Families

“…In 2017, the QIC-LGBTQ2S conducted a scoping review of the literature and evidence-based clearinghouses finding that there were only a few programs across the country developed for LGBTQ+ youth in care and none of them had a significant amount of evidence as to their effectiveness (Matarese et al, 2017). Five years later, in 2022, a search of the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CBEC) rendered only 14 results when searching for “LGBTQ” programs, all of which are “not rated” due to a lack of evidence-base that meets CEBC criteria.…”

“My genitals have nothing to do with my parenting”: A qualitative study of trans adoption

“…Additionally, children in care are disproportionately from poor and Black families and in care due to neglect (Anarida et al, 2018;Tornello, 2021a). Trans and nonbinary youth, however, are most often in care due to familial rejection, abuse, or conduct challenges related to their gender identities (Irvine & Canfield, 2016;Matarese et al, 2017;Perry & Green, 2017). The characteristics of youth in care may inform their needs when placed in an adoptive home.…”