The governor's recent directive to the Department of Family and Protective Services to ramp up its efforts to protect endangered children in the foster care system has placed the spotlight on some of the systemic flaws that impact our state's most vulnerable youths. Perhaps there is no youth population more vulnerable to the problems with the state's foster care system than LGBT youths.

While it is unknown just how many LGBT youths are placed in foster care across the state, a recent study in California found that nearly 18 percent of teenagers in that state's foster care system identified as LGBT. Hostility and abuse that LGBT youths encounter from their rejecting parents often contribute to their over-representation in the foster care system.

Roughly 40 percent of youths and young adults who seek out services from homeless and runaway programs identify as LGBT. Homeless youth programs tend to have a heightened sense of awareness of the presence of LGBT youths and tend to have a much more affirming and competent response than the foster care system.

Once in the state's care, LGBT youths often encounter rejection at the hands of their foster parents. Many end up in more restrictive placements, such as group homes or treatment centers, due in large part to the shortage of families willing to provide an affirming home. Across the nation, LGBT youths experience more than twice as many placement disruptions than the general foster youth population. Furthermore, nearly half of LGBT youths suggest that their sexual orientation or gender identity was the most important factor in their most recent placement disruption.

Photographs of Charles Knowles, the transgender son of Michelle Knowles, lie scattered on a table in her home in North Vassalboro, Maine. Michelle Knowles is calling for more mental resources at juvenile detention facilities following Charles' suicide. Charles, 16, who dreamed of being an LGBT activist, killed himself in November while he was temporarily detained at Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, Maine. (Marina Villeneuve/The Associated Press)

Texas officials have unveiled a plan to work side-by-side with churches and faith leaders to recruit foster families to address the backlog of children in need of safe and nurturing homes. Some fear that such a heavy reliance on churches and faith communities might have an adverse impact on LGBT youths, making them even more vulnerable to rejection and placement disruption. Considering the platform state lawmakers have given reparative and conversion therapy efforts in recent years, it would be very easy for foster families to force youths to take part in these dangerous practices.

Perhaps the state should consider a recruitment effort that is equally as aggressive in targeting progressive families who have the capacity and willingness to provide safe, accepting and affirming homes to LGBT youths. Furthermore, all foster families should be provided training that addresses the impact that rejection can have on LGBT youths.

A seminal study assessing the importance of family acceptance found that youths with rejecting caregivers are nearly eight times more likely to attempt suicide, six times more likely to be depressed, and three-and-a-half times more likely to engage in risky sex associated with HIV infection than those youths with accepting caretakers.

At the very least, overhaul efforts should address placement practices that assure that an LGBT youth isn't placed with caregivers who are rejecting or unwilling to provide an inclusive and affirming home environment. Efforts should also combat the over-reliance on group home placements that reinforce the idea that LGBT youths are not worthy of family connections. Such settings should only be used when family settings are not available, as opposed to being the first place that caseworkers look to when placing LGBT youths.

The widespread attention that has been given to efforts to overhaul Texas' Child Protective Services has largely overlooked the experiences and needs of LGBT youths. The top priority of CPS is to protect vulnerable children and youths, and that priority should extend to one of the most vulnerable youth populations in the Texas foster care system.

Adam McCormick

Adam McCormick is an assistant professor of social work at St. Edward's University. Will Francis is the government relations director for the National Association of Social Workers/Texas Chapter.