“Even if you think you can trust them, don’t trust them”: The lived experience of sexual health among sexual minority girls in foster care

Children and Youth Services Review, June 2020

John P. Salerno, Olivia Kachingwe, Jessica N. Fish, Eshana Parekh, Melanie Geddings-Hayes, Bradley Boekeloo, Elizabeth M. Aparicio

Suggested Citation
Salerno, J.P., Kachingwe, O.N., Fish, J., Parekh, E., Geddings-Hayes, M., Boekeloo, B.O., & Aparicio, E.M. (In Press). “Even if you think you can trust them, don’t trust them”: The lived experience of sexual health among sexual minority girls in foster care. Children and Youth Services Review.

Conclusions
Sexual minority girls are also at greater risk for poor sexual health compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Yet, little is known about the sexual health of sexual minority girls in foster care. This study aims to provide a preliminary understanding of how sexual minority girls in foster care experience the phenomenon of sexual health. Analysis revealed three major themes about the lived experiences of sexual health among sexual minority girls in foster care: fear of being victimized and distrust within sexual relationships, self-protection from sexual relationship harm, and sexual health communication.