The Human Rights Challenges Experienced by Queer Youth in Out-of-Home Care: A Systematic Scoping Review

The human rights challenges faced by Queer youth in out-of-home care (OOHC), such as foster and residential care, have largely been overlooked in child protection research, policy, and practice development. This systematic scoping review aims to identify and synthesize the existing international, English-language, empirical research documenting the human rights challenges experienced by Queer youth in OOHC systems. This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological guidance for scoping reviews. Seven electronic databases were searched to locate relevant articles, including Academic Search Premier, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Initially, 1,384 studies were identified, with 50 meeting the inclusion criteria for the review. Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis was used to synthesize the data and identify key themes. The five core themes identified were as follows: (a) sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE)-based rejection and harm before entering OOHC, (b) SOGIE-based discrimination and harm in OOHC, (c) structural disadvantage and exclusion, (d) mental health and social well-being disparities, and (e) social and relational issues. There are considerable gaps in the published research documenting the human rights experiences of Queer youth in OOHC systems outside of the United States. Heterocisnormative child protection ideologies and systemic issues, including constraints limiting SOGIE data acquisition, work to oppress Queer youth in OOHC, diminishing the quality of their care experience. These structural and systemic issues are the catalysts for SOGIE-based discrimination and harm experienced by Queer youth in care.