OBSTACLES TO EFFECTIVE CHILD-WELFARE SERVICE WITH GAY AND LESBIAN YOUTHS

Agencies attempting to develop effective child welfare services for ga y and lesbian youths must strive for effectiveness within a policy con text that is politically polarized and generates more obstacles than d irections. This article argues for a reconceptualization of service de livery that begins with a recognition of the unique developmental chal lenges facing sexual minority youths and proceeds to an examination of the systemic obstacles to providing competent services in their behal f. An ecological perspective informs the connections between developme ntal considerations, service issues, and human rights questions.