Audre Project Netherlands

Audre project starts at the University of Groningen (October 2017) to understand the experiences of LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual) youth and young adults with their time in out-of-home care. In addition, Audre focuses on the perceptions of carers (such as group care workers and foster carers) who are responsible for the wellbeing of young people while in

care. The final goal of Audre is to gain further insight on how to create a safe and supportive child protection and welfare context, in which youth feel accepted and are equipped to express their (gender) identity. Audre project addresses the following research questions:

How do or did LGBTQIA youth and young adults experience their out-of-home placement during their childhood? What are carers’ stereotypes, attitudes, norms and values regarding LGBTQIA? LGBTQIA youth in the child protection and welfare system may experience several disadvantages during their childhood. For them, stressors (e.g., discrimination, stigma, lack of tailored services) may add up to the experiences of being placed in out-of- home care. Therefore, it is important to create a stimulating, non-discriminatory context, where there is room for the young person’s sexual orientation and gender identity and which takes into account their social context and own strategies of resilience. Research on how to create a safe and supportive context for LGBTQIA youth in out-of-home care and how to enhance the skills of carers working with them is therefore of utmost importance. How does Audre work? Expert group
Audre includes LGBTQIA youth and young adults throughout various stages of the research project. They will contribute to the design and delivery of the research project with a role of advisor and co-researcher. The group will meet at crucial moments of the project, such as the development of the research tools, the interpretation and dissemination of the findings. Interviews
Audre seeks to get in touch with LGBTQIA youth and young adults who are or have been in foster care or residential care and who are willing to share their story with us. Are you interested in talking about your own experiences in care? How was it for you? What would you like to change? If you want to participate in this interview, we will meet you at your preferred location or chat with you via phone, messenger, or Skype. We will treat your story with confidentiality and respect, and it will be used to help highlight the voices of LGBTQIA youth and young adults in care. Focus groups
Audre includes focus-groups with carers, such as group care workers or foster carers. We will discuss with them their experiences, opinions, needs and expertise regarding LGBTQIA youth. Who is behind Audre? The research team is made up of the following members: Mónica López López, Mijntje ten Brummelaar, Hans Grietens, Elianne Zijlstra, Charly Jazbor and Shanice Karangwa. The project is based at the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences of the University of Groningen:
https://www.rug.nl/staff/m.lopez.lopez/
https://www.rug.nl/staff/m.d.c.ten.brummelaar/
https://www.rug.nl/staff/h.grietens/
https://www.rug.nl/staff/a.e.zijlstra/

Audre is funded by FWOS (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Seksualiteit).

‘I actually know that things will get better’: The many pathways to resilience of LGBTQIA+ youth in out‐of‐home care

27/05/2021

Our very first scientific publication!

We explored the many ways in which LGBTQIA+ youth in out-of-home care in the Netherlands experienced resilience 🌈 💪🏽

Thanks to everyone involved in the Audre study :)

Summary:

LGBTQIA+ youth in the child protection system (CPS) continue experiencing challenges due to care systems that are often unaccepting of their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression. These adversities are well known, but what about their resilience?

Going beyond classic conceptualizations of resilience as an individual characteristic, we used a comprehensive and multidimensional resilience approach. Resilience is the process of overcoming adversity by navigating psychological, interpersonal, and systemic resources.

LGBTQIA+ youth in care experienced resilience by 1) relationships that support and empower, 2) construction of a positive identity around their sexual orientation and gender identity, 3) community involvement and 4) self-relying strategies.

Read it here:

‘I actually know that things will get better’: The many pathways to resilience of LGBTQIA+ youth in out‐of‐home care Research on the lives of le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, q***r, intersex, asexual and other forms of sexual identities and orientations (LGBTQIA+) youth in care has mainly examined their experie...

03/11/2019

***Nederlands hieronder****

Audre commemorates the 30th anniversary of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child with a symposium about LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults in out-of-home care. We will launch the final report and present the main messages from interviews with LGBTQIA+ youth and their carers (group care workers and foster carers)

Check out the programme and don't forget to register!

Keep in mind that the location has changed, the venue is:

Lutkenieuwstraat 5, Groningen.

🏳️‍🌈😁

Audre viert het 30-jarig bestaan van het Kinderrechtenverdrag met een symposium over LHBTQIA+ jongeren en jongvolwassenen in de jeugdhulp. We zullen het eindrapport van Audre presenteren en de belangrijkste bevindingen met jullie delen.

Check ons programma en geef je op!

De locatie is trouwens veranderd naar:

Lutkenieuwstraat 5, Groningen.

04/10/2019

Save the date! 🏳️‍🌈😁

13/09/2019

*** Nederlandse versie hieronder***

The AUDRE team has a new member!

Rodrigo Gonzalez Alvarez, our new PhD student at the University of Groningen 🤓. He completed a bachelor in psychology in the megalopolis Mexico City where he grew up. After his bachelor, he moved to the small and beautiful Groningen to study a research master.

Now, he is starting his PhD studies at the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences (FBSS), where he will be part of the Audre research team. His personal goals align with Audre´s goals; to learn from the LGBTQIA+ children and youth in out-of-home care, their views, needs and strengths in order to promote the creation of a safe and welcoming environment for them. He is also eager to learn from their carers and to analyze the child protection system to gain insight into the best way to achieve this goal.

Rodrigo is full of enthusiasm to join the Audre team; to learn from all the amazing work already done and to plan and work in the project of a new beautiful and colourful next phase for Audre.

¨I am very happy to join such a warm and welcoming Audre family 😄. I am excited to start this knowledge trip with all of you and give the best of me to this study and society. I am part of the LGBTQIA+ 🏳️‍🌈 community, therefore I acknowledge and accept the way my personal history relates to my research¨

I do research because I strongly believe in our responsibility to fight for social justice. I research to give voice…….

¨To that piece in each of us that refuses to be silent¨, Audre Lorde
.........

Het AUDRE-team heeft een nieuw lid!

Rodrigo Gonzalez Alvarez, onze nieuwe promovendus aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen 🤓. Hij voltooide een bachelor psychologie in de mega-stad Mexico-City, alwaar hij opgroeide. Na zijn bachelor verhuisde hij naar het kleine en mooie Groningen om een onderzoeksmaster te studeren.

Nu start hij zijn promotieonderzoek aan de Faculteit Gedrags- en Maatschappij Wetenschappen (GMW), waar hij deel zal uitmaken van het Audre-onderzoeksteam. Zijn persoonlijke doelen komen overeen met onze Audre's doelen; het leren van LHBTQIA + kinderen en -jongeren in de jeugdhulp, wat hun opvattingen, behoeften en sterke punten zijn om zo een veilige en gastvrije omgeving voor hen te creëren en te bevorderen. Hij wil ook leren van hun opvoeders en mensen die werkzaam zijn in de jeugdhulp. Daarnaast wil hij het jeugdbescherming systeem analyseren om inzicht te krijgen in de beste manier om dit doel te bereiken.

Rodrigo is erg enthousiast dat hij deel is van het Audre-team; om zo te leren van al het geweldige werk dat al is gedaan en om te werken aan nieuwe plannen voor de mooie en kleurrijke volgende fase van het Audre project.

¨Ik ben heel blij om me bij zo'n warme en gastvrije Audre-familie aan te sluiten 😄. Ik ben enthousiast om deze reis met jullie allemaal te beginnen en het beste van mij te geven aan deze studie en de maatschappij. Ik maak deel uit van de LGBTQIA + 🏳️‍🌈 gemeenschap, daarom erken en accepteer ik de manier waarop mijn persoonlijke geschiedenis verband houdt met mijn onderzoek¨

Ik doe onderzoek omdat ik sterk geloof in onze verantwoordelijkheid om te vechten voor sociale rechtvaardigheid. Ik onderzoek om een stem te geven ...

"Naar dat stuk in ieder van ons dat weigert te zwijgen", Audre Lorde