Let's Get This Straight

Using an ecological perspective to highlight five principle areas of child welfare, Mallon discusses each in terms of how they pertain to individuals and families whose lives are effected by issues of sexual orientation. Let's Get This Straight uncovers and challenges the pervasive incidence of "heterocentrism" within the social work profession, drawing upon case studies and in-depth interviews to illustrate the degree to which myths and stereotypes about gay and lesbian youth detrimentally affect those most in need of assistance.

Aims to uncover and challenge the presence of heterocentrism within the social work profession. This book illustrates the degree to which myths and stereotypes about gay and lesbian youth detrimentally affect those in need of assistance. It uses an ecological perspective to highlight the areas of child welfare.The first book to approach child welfare from a gay- and lesbian-affirming perspective, Let's Get This Straight uncovers and challenges the pervasive presence of "heterocentrism" within the social work profession. It draws upon case examples and in-depth interviews to illustrate the degree to which myths and stereotypes about gay and lesbian youth detrimentally affect those most in need of assistance. Gerald P. Mallon uses an ecological perspective to highlight the five areas of child welfare: (1) family support / preservation; (2) protection from abuse and neglect; (3) adoption services; (4) out-of-home care services; and (5) the development of foster and adoptive homes. He discusses the implications of this ecological perspective for service delivery, the impact of laws and legislation, and the role gay and lesbian professionals can play in these areas to provide unbiased care to lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients.