Farías questions DYCD on streamlined referral to DHS for LGBTQ+ youth
Farías asks how DYCD ensures LGBTQ+ youth referred to DHS are placed in gender-affirming shelters. Thorne describes close coordination with DHS intake staff and successful placements at Marsha's House, ACE's Place, and other affirming sites.
When youth age out of the runaway and homeless youth shelters, there's a process by which they can be referred directly to DHS.
According to the most recent streamlined referral process report from the period of January 1 through June 30th of 2025, 40 young people were referred to DHS.
How does DYCD ensure that LGBTQ plus youth who are referred to DHS get placed within a shelter which matches their gender identity or into a specialized LGBTQ plus bed should that be their preference?
The intake staff at DHS are our partners.
We're in close contact with the DHS.
contact almost every day and they do a great job making sure that young people are placed in programs that are affirming and meet their needs.
We have a lot of great placements with Marsha's House, ACES Place and other sites.
And if there is a need for further
clarification if maybe there was something that wasn't listed on the streamlined referral form.
DHS is really responsive to making sure that people are placed in the right locations.
And as we've already spoken about a bit, young people enter