UPDATED: Gov. Baker Honors the Department of Youth Services for Work With LGBTQ Youth

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker presented the Department of Youth Services with the Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award for its nationally recognized work to improve care for LGBTQ youth in the juvenile justice system.

The Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award was presented during the annual Commonwealth of Massachusetts Performance Recognition Program ceremony at the State House.

In 2013, the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) committed to a policy and training discussion around the prohibition of harassment and discrimination of youth. The Department established working committees which were responsible for ensuring compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act.

The focus of one of these committees became youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, question, intersex and/or gender nonconforming (LGBTQI-GNC).

Department of Youth Services collaborated with the Boston-based MaeBright Group, a firm specializing in working with state agencies around LGBTQ topics. In addition to policy work, the MaeBright Group worked with Department of Youth Services to train more than 2,000 Department of Youth Services employees – everyone from the Commissioner to kitchen staff. This partnership has led to real, tangible changes in the way Department of Youth Services supports young LGBTQ people.

“Our work within the Policy and Training Workgroup for LGBTQI-GNC youth in creating the nondiscrimination policy and LGBTQI-GNC Guidelines and then undertaking a significant training initiative truly embodies the spirit of this award,” said DYS Commissioner Peter Forbes, in a press release. “This work educates staff, improves the lives of youth, and provides stronger collaboration with families, not just within DYS, but throughout the state. Every DYS employee should be proud to know that they are now incorporating these equity principles into our everyday work.”

“We know there are disproportionate rates of LGBTQ youth in juvenile justice systems. The fact that DYS has not only recognized this, but has put so much effort into gaining the competencies to serve this population is outstanding,” said Missy Sturtevant, founder and director of the MaeBright Group, in a press release. “The entire agency has committed to this process and as a result, LGBTQ youth in DYS are better cared for, and better prepared to lead fulfilling lives.”

LGBTQ youth are over-represented nationally in the juvenile justice system.

According to the Center for American Progress, even though between 5 and 7 percent of young people identify as LGBTQ, 13 to 15 percent of youth in juvenile justice systems identify as part of this population. Higher rates of homeless, gang involvement, the school to prison pipeline, and family rejection are often cited as some causes for this discrepancy.

As the juvenile justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Department of Youth Services promotes positive change in the youth in our care and custody. DYS’ mission is to make communities safer by improving the life outcomes for youth in our care.

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Originally Posted on Sept. 25. Updated with new photo supplied by the Commonwealth.