Richard A. Brandon-Friedman, PhD

Bio

Dr. Brandon-Friedman is an Assistant Professor of Social Work in the Indiana University School of Social Work, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Indiana University School of Medicine, and a clinical social worker. As a clinician, he primarily works with LGBTQ+ youth and their families, with a particular focus on providing services to gender-diverse youth and their families. He assisted with the development of the Riley Hospital for Children’s Gender Health Program.

Dr. Brandon-Friedman’s research focuses on sexual identity development, sexual orientation identity, gender identity development, and sexual well-being. He has conducted research on the sexual well-being of youth in the foster care system, on the informational needs of family members of gender-diverse youth, and is currently exploring how services provided within the Riley Hospital for Children’s Gender Health Program affect youths’ gender identity development and overall well-being. He currently co-chairs the Council on Social Work Education’s Council on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression’s research subcommittee.

Within his faculty role, Dr. Brandon-Friedman teaches courses on research methodology, assessment and diagnosis, and the integration of theory and social work practice. He also serves as the Chair of the Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Worker’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee and as a Councilor for the Council on Social Work Education’s Council on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression. He conducts trainings on working with LGBTQ+ youth for clinicians several times per year.

Key Publications

Brandon-Friedman, R. A., Pierce, B. J., Wahler, E. A., Thigpen, J. W., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2020). Sexual identity development and sexual well-being: Differences between sexual minority and non-sexual minority former foster youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 117, 105294. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105294

Brandon-Friedman, R. A. & Fortenberry, J. D. (2020). The impact of adverse childhood experiences on sexual well-being among youth formerly in the foster care system. Child Welfare, 97(5-6), 169-189.

Brandon-Friedman, R. A., Wahler, E. A., Pierce, B. J., Thigpen, J. W., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2019). The impact of sociosexualization and sexual identity development on the sexual well-being of youth formerly in the foster care system. Journal of Adolescent Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.10.025

Brandon-Friedman, R. A. (2019). Youth sexual identity development: A guide for social workers. Social Work, 64(4), 356-364. doi: 10.1093/sw/swz027

Brandon-Friedman, R. A. (2019). The impact of sexual identity development on the sexual health of former foster youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 64(2), S47. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.10.103

Brandon-Friedman, R. A. (2017). Deviance, power, stigma, and control: A sociological reconceptualization of sexuality within social work services. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 64(1), 141-164.

Winter, V. R., Brandon-Friedman, R. A., & Ely, G. E. (2016). Sexual health behaviors and outcomes among current and former foster youth: A review of the literature, Children and Youth Services Review, 64, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.02.023