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PRIDEsAFE

PRIDESAFE

Creating a safer and supportive community for the lgbtq youths in foster care.

Timeline
2023/06 —— 2024/09
Project Type
Social Impact Design
Product Design
App Design
Contribution
Individual Work
Tools
Arduino
Figma
PURPOSE

The PrideSafe project was launched to tackle the specific challenges faced by LGBTQ youth in foster care. These individuals often encounter increased levels of isolation, discrimination, and mental health struggles due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. My goal is to develop a solution that not only improves their physical safety but also nurtures a sense of belonging and community. By offering a discreet and effective way to seek help in emergencies and connect with supportive peers and resources, PrideSafe aims to reduce the risks and emotional burden associated with being an LGBTQ youth in the foster care system. This project is based on the belief that every young person deserves to feel safe, accepted, and supported, regardless of their background or identity.

FaCTS

Foster Care

LGBTQ Youth Over - Represented

As of 2021, there were around 391,000 children in foster care. Over 54,000 children were adopted from the child welfare system. However, approximately 9% of youth aged out of foster care without finding a permanent family, often face significant challenges such as homelessness and lack of support.

The percentage of youth in foster care who are LGBTQ+ identified is larger than the percentage of LGBTQ+ youth in the general youth population. More than one out of three youths (34.1%) ages 13-20 in New York City foster care identify as LGBTQ+. 

Not Adopted
66%

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Adopted
25%

Aged Out
9%

LGBTQ in
Foster Care

LGBTQ in
General Population

Transgender in Foster Care

Transgender in General Population

National Council For Adoption

Child Welfare Information Gateway

NYC Children

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13.6%

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7.2%

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5.6%

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2.3%

Children in foster care

Vs

Children in normal families

Foster care children often face placement instability.

Stable environment impacts emotional and psychological well-being.

Lack of stable emotional support and may feel insecure or uncomfortable. 

Generally receive consistent parental supporting.

Frequent school changes and academic challenges.

Usually experience uninterrupted education.

May not always meet the full spectrum of needs.

Often have better financial security, supporting their overall development.

LGBtq youth in foster care

STATUS QUO

34.1%

youth in the foster system identify as LGBTQ+.

2.50X

more likely to be in a group home rather than a family.

2X

more likely to face mistreatment.

Research shows that LGBTQ youth are more than twice as likely as their non-LGBTQ peers to report being treated poorly by the foster care system. 

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78% of LGBTQ youth were removed or ran away from their foster placements as a result of hostility toward their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

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100% of LGBTQ youth in group homes reported verbal harassment.

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70% of LGBTQ youth reported physical violence in group homes.

"

I was told that foster families didn’t want a gay kid in their home, so I grew up in group homes and residential centers where I was abused sexually, physically and emotionally.

"

- Kristopher Sharp  

Eight years in foster care

Source

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Lack of legal protection
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Only 13 states and the District of Columbia have explicit laws or policies in place to protect foster youth from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity. Seven additional states explicitly protect foster youth from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation but not gender identity.

States with Foster Care Non-Discrimination Laws or Policies Inclusive of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

States with Foster Care Non-Discrimination Laws or Policies Inclusive of Sexual Orientation Only

Source

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Challenges

Emotional and Psychological Well-being

LGBTQ youth in foster care often face discrimination, rejection, and higher rates of mental health issues.

Housing and Homelessness 

LGBTQ youth in foster care are at a higher risk of becoming homeless due to family rejection and discrimination. Finding safe and affirming housing options can be difficult for LGBTQ foster youth.

Identity and Self-Expression

LGBTQ youth in the foster care system may experience the need to conceal their authentic selves in order to shield themselves from potential discrimination or alienation.

Educational Support 

Frequent placement changes often result in interrupted schooling and academic setbacks for LGBTQ foster youth. Schools usually lack inclusive curricula that represent LGBTQ histories and issues, contributing to feelings of alienation.

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Foster Child Needs by Age Group

1-4 years old

Make sure every child is well nutritioned and is medically covered.

11-14 years old

Facilitate peer and social connections.

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Provide access to extracurricular activities.

Prevent substance abuse, and offer sexual and health education.

Support for cultural backgrounds and identities, including support for LGBTQ+ youth.

5-10 years old

Frequently visits or checkups for neglect and abuse.

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Having a loving and caring environment that provides children with a safe home.

15-18 years old

Minimize school changes, ensure access to education and college opportunity for all.

Prioritize a child's mental health as it's key to their brain development.

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Gain access to communities and connect with peers.

Create a secure and stable family structure.

LGBTQ foster youth aged 15 to 18 frequently encounter emotional challenges due to societal pressures and identity complexities. It's crucial to support their mental health to foster resilience, self-acceptance, and a positive outlook on their future.

19-21 years old

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Provide emotional support as parents.

Guidance to choose the right path.

Provide financial assistance for adulthood transition.

Opportunities for them to learn technical or vocational skills.

Interviews

Challenges

Noshin has faced rejection and homophobia from her own family. She was diagnosed with severe depression at the age of 16. And she tried to commit suicide but fortunately, foster care workers found out.

"I thought I deserved to die, I was the wrong one. I really wish someone could have helped me and told me I am not alone."

Struggles to find acceptance and understanding within the foster care system. Feels isolated due to a lack of peers and adults who understand LGBTQ issues.

"Having a supportive community and a sense of safety makes all the difference. It helps me feel seen, understood, and secure in a world that often doesn’t."

Roshawn faced rejection from foster families due to his gender identity, leading to anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

"There were times when I felt so hopeless that I thought about ending it all. Having a supportive caseworker has been a lifeline. It’s made navigating the system a bit easier."

Solutions

Provide access to mental health professionals to address anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

Connect with other LGBTQ youths, and share LGBTQ-friendly resources like and support groups.

Peer support groups where they can share experiences with other transgender youth.

PERSONA

Age

17

Gender

Non-binary

Bio

  • 4 years in the foster care system.

  • Have experienced isolation and discrimination.

  • Tech-savvy and finds solace in connecting with other LGBTQ youth through social media.

Location

New York

Pronoun

They/them

Needs & Goals

  • Sense of safety and security in public spaces.

  • Strong connection to a supportive community of peers.

  • Access to mental health resources.

Tayor Jordan

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Motivations

Taylor is driven by a desire for empowerment, a sense of belonging, and support. They seek to maintain control over their safety and well-being and to establish meaningful connections with others who share similar identities and experiences.

design concept

​PrideSafe aims to provide safety and support for LGBTQ youth in foster care. This will be achieved by integrating a discreet device into a pendant to ensure access to help and foster connections among peers. The goal is to create an environment where LGBTQ youth feel valued and supported, empowering them to navigate their lives with confidence and connection.

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Verification & Registration

Real-Time Location Tracking

Incorporate GPS technology to track the user’s location accurately. Automatically share the user’s location with registered and verified peers, and optionally with trusted contacts or authorities. 

Target Audience

Panic Button

LGBTQ youth in foster care, 15-18 years old.

User Community: Foster a sense of community by connecting users with nearby peers and group homes. 

Discrete Design: integrate device into everyday objects — phone pendant. Ensure the button is easy to activate but protected against accidental activation. 

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app flowchart

app features

Community

Group Homes: connect with nearby LGBTQ peers, and participate in forums. Events Calendar: information about local LGBTQ events and support group meetings.

Group Homes: connect with nearby LGBTQ peers, and participate in forums. Events Calendar: information about local LGBTQ events and support group meetings.

Dashboard

Home: displays recent alerts, and quick access to the panic button.

Quick Access: emergency contact, group home, event calendar.

Map

Location Tracking: shows the user’s real-time location and nearby registered peers. Psychological centers: search for the closest therapy centers. 

Safety

Emergency Contacts: add and manage trusted contacts.

Custom Alerts: personalize who receives alerts.

Help Hotlines: Quick dial to help hotlines.

Community

Safety

Home

Map

Group Home

Event Calender

Post

Profile

Forum

Emergency Alert

Location Details

Recent Alert

Therapy Search

Emergenc Contact

Help Responded

Settings

Help Hotlines

Customize Alerts

Help Alert

Help Call

marketing research

The design of the Pridesafe device integrates and enhances the strengths and weaknesses of its competitors' products. Taking inspiration from the effective design of binders and safety jewelry, Pridesafe offers discreet, wearable safety tools with enhanced accessibility. It also focuses on inclusivity and self-expression, drawing from the strengths of gender-neutral fashion.

Strenth

Offers tangible emotional expression for children in therapy. Designed to support therapeutic communication.

Weakness

Therapeutic impact may vary across different children.

Requires trained professionals to maximize therapeutic benefits.

Strenth

Provides a more comfortable binding experience.

Designed specifically for the transgender community’s needs.

Weakness

Long-term wear may

still cause discomfort.

Achieving a perfect

fit is challenging.

Promotes inclusivity and challenges traditional fashion norms. Offers versatile designs suitable for all genders.

Strenth

Potentially higher production

costs due to inclusive sizing.

Market saturation in gender-neutral fashion.

Weakness

Combines technology with everyday wear for convenience. Enhances personal security with multiple safety features.

Strenth

Battery life may be

insufficient for extended use.

Tech support might be challenging for non-tech-savvy users.

Weakness

Comfortable chest-binding for transgender individuals, addressing discomfort and breathing issues.

Discreet safety jewelry with a panic button, GPS, and fake call features.

Therapy dolls help children express emotions tangibly during therapy.

Gender-neutral fashion brand promoting inclusivity and self-expression for non-binary individuals.

Telfar

Alma Therapy Dolls

Safety jewelry

Breathe Binder

product Design

The pendant's design draws inspiration from the iconic unicorn, which symbolizes the LGBTQ community.   It features a mosaic of colors from various LGBTQ flags in a beautiful patchwork style to represent inclusivity and diversity. And the symbols of different groups are designed into unique unicorn earrings to highlight individuality and uniqueness.

Sketches

3D Earrings

lgbtq symbols

Infinity Heart

Pansexual

Labrys

Symbolizing lesbian pride and strength

Lambda

Representing energy and equality

Lesbian

Green Carnation

Representing gay men, popularized by

Oscar Wilde

Pink Triangle

Nazi symbol for gay, later reclaimed as pride symbol

gay

Butterfly

Transfromation

Frog

Male and female

transgender

Double Triangle

Dual identity

bisexual

bigender

non-binary

asexual

Cake

"Cake is better than sex anyway"

step in hardware creation

Voltage Conversion Module

Bluetooth Module

Ardunio Nano

Film Pressure Sensor

1

Connect flim pressure sensor with voltage conversion module.

4

Connect them to the bluetooth module.

2

Connect them to the Arduino Nano.

5

Finished device.

3

Rejoin the Dupont wires into one.

Test the flim pressure sensor.

6

prototype

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#include <SoftwareSerial.h> SoftwareSerial BT(9, 10); char val= '0'; void setup(){  

   Serial.begin(38400);

   Serial.println("bluetooth is ready!");       BT.begin(38400);

}

void loop(){

   Serial.println(analogRead(A0));

   if (BT.available()) {

    val = BT.read();

    Serial.print(val);  

}

   if(analogRead(A0)<500){

    BT.print("Help");

  }

}

Voltage Conversion Modlue

The film pressure senor is placed at the horn of the unicorn, it is easy to activate and prevents false alarms. Other electronic parts are stuffed inside the pendent. The Mp3 module is responsible for transmitting signals to the phone when needed.

I created a small prototype device using Arduino to showcase how the pendant works. When the pendant is squeezed, a pressure sensor connected to a Bluetooth module sends a signal to the phone to activate a help alarm.

Film Pressure Sensor

Bluetooth Module

Ardunio Nano

circuit diagram

coding

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