SOGIE Data Collection

Resources for SOGIE Data Collection

Learning Community on Safe & Effective LGBTQ+ Data Collection

This Learning Community, hosted in partnership with the National SOGIE Center and National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, provides learners the opportunity to hear from experts in the field on serving LGBTQ+ populations and collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data in safe and effective ways.

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Releases First-Ever Federal Evidence Agenda on LGBTQI+ Equity

In January 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration released the first-ever Federal Evidence Agenda on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Equity, a roadmap that federal agencies will use to ensure they are collecting the data and evidence they need to improve the lives of LGBTQI+ Americans. This Evidence Agenda delivers on a commitment made by President Biden in a June 2022 Executive Order on LGBTQI+ equality, and is an important step forward in the Administration’s work to expand the federal collection of data about sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (“SOGI data”), and advance equity for LGTBQI+ Americans.

Asking About SOGIE Implementation Guide

This Implementation Guide presents the lessons learned from implementing the Asking About SOGIE (AAS) Pilot with youth in Michigan’s foster care system and provides recommendations for other agencies seeking to replicate the model for the children, youth, and families they support.

The overview of Michigan’s data collection process is available to download as a standalone infographic. Also available is a short data dashboard that gives a snapshot of the preliminary findings of AAS.

Podcast Series: Collecting Data on SOGIE in Child Welfare

How can the child welfare system collect and use data on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to ensure safe and affirming care for LGBTQ+ youth, caregivers, and family members? Join Angela Weeks, D.B.A., director of the SOGIE Center, and Elliott Hinkle, B.A., P.S.S., national young adult consultant at the Children’s Bureau’s Capacity Building Center for States. Download the flyer to learn more or browse the episodes below!

Collecting Data on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Expression in Child Welfare

In this first episode, Elliott Hinkle talks with Angela Weeks and Sonia Emerson, a consultant to the National SOGIE Center on racial equity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and child welfare. They discuss what SOGIE data is and why it’s important, particularly to young people involved in the child welfare system.

Implementing Organizational Change

In this second episode, Angela Weeks talks with Jennifer Croessman, M.S.S.A., L.I.S.W., and Kori Sewell of the Department of Children and Family Services of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. They discuss the county’s efforts to safely and effectively collect SOGIE data from young people and lessons they learned along the way.

Storytelling With SOGIE Data

In this third episode, Angela Weeks talks with Shauna Hines-Lucadamo, M.A., and Ellen Kitzerow of the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Department of Human Services. They describe their decade long process to collect SOGIE data and how they used data dashboards to help change the way their workforce thought about SOGIE data collection.

Moving Beyond Data Collection

In this fourth episode, Angela Weeks talks with Kamora Dawson, CNP, Lemon Pepper, and Jessie Fullenkamp, LMSW, of the Ruth Ellis Center. They discuss their statewide effort to collect SOGIE data with the Michigan Children’s Services Administration, how they grappled with confidentiality, and the top challenges staff identified.

SOGIE Data Collection in Public Systems of Care: A Practice Guide for Santa Clara County

This guide provides background on the importance of SOGIE data collection and provides some important strategies for others to follow. The guide also provides lessons learned and recommendations for others collecting SOGIE data in public systems.

Moving a Child Welfare System to Be More Affirming of the LGBTQ Community: Strategies, Challenges and Lessons Learned

Allegheny County’s report on their system-wide effort to normalize conversations about SOGIE and collect SOGIE among youth and youth adults in child welfare. The report can be a helpful guide to child welfare agencies.

Safe Identification of LGBTQ2S+ Youth Policy

Cuyahoga County’s policy for collecting Safe ID, their method of safely disclosing SOGIE so that LGBTQ+ young people from ages 13-21 can receive specialized services. Please also visit their Collecting SOGIE Toolkit that has been developed to help staff implement the policy and understand how to collect SOGIE data in affirming and safe ways. This toolkit also has example forms that agencies might be able to use.

Ready, Set, Go! Guidelines & Tips For Collecting Patient Data on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

This guide was designed to help health centers and other health care organizations successfully collect sexual orientation and gender identity data and document the data into the electronic health record. For those just beginning the process, this guide can be used from start to finish. If you already have a system, but have encountered challenges and questions, this guide can help you address them. Even if your system is working smoothly, you will find resources and recommendations here that will help you move to the next level of data collection and analysis

Cuyahoga Youth Count

The Cuyahoga Youth Count was an anonymous telephone survey conducted in fall of 2019 with youth (ages 12-21) in Cuyahoga County’s foster care system. Cuyahoga County is a large county in Ohio. The survey was conducted by the National Quality Improvement Center on Tailored Services, Placement Stability, and Permanency for LGBTQ2S Children and Youth in Foster Care. For detailed information on the survey’s methods and findings, please download the report using the button below.

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