Date of Conferral

1-6-2026

Date of Award

January 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Kristin Dailey

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth are overrepresented in the foster care system and have unique needs compared to their peers. In the state of Virginia, there is an antidiscrimination policy that protects LGBTQ foster youth; however, it is unclear how this impacts child welfare workers. Past literature has explored the needs of LGBTQ youth, the experiences of foster parents, and policy implications, but not the impact of antidiscrimination laws on child welfare workers. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the understanding of child welfare workers’ knowledge, integration, training, and implications of Virginia’s antidiscrimination laws regarding LGBTQ foster youth. Roe’s narrative policy framework was used to evaluate child welfare workers' narratives on the macro, meso, and micro levels. Starting with convenience sampling and then using snowball sampling, 10 child welfare workers, who were current employees of the Virginia Department of Social Services and had experience in foster care, were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Data analysis followed Saldaña’s inductive coding process, utilizing both first- and second-cycle coding to uncover four main themes: knowledge of policy but inability to articulate it, resources needed, the impact of federal, state, and local politics, and training experiences. The findings of this study can be used to promote positive social change by informing policymakers and leaders on the importance of implementing training related to Virginia’s antidiscrimination law, thereby potentially creating more competent child welfare workers.

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