New LGBTQ+ Resource for Partners Working with Burlington Youth and Families
Improving health equity in substance misuse prevention is a driving force behind our work. We’re excited to share with you a new memo BPHC developed collaboratively with our partner Outright Vermont to support LGBTQ+ youth and their families and the youth and family-serving organizations and professionals working with them around Burlington.
Our new memo highlights the most up-to-date self-reported data on substance use and misuse by LGBTQ+ teens in Burlington. We share important information about why those numbers are significantly higher than their heterosexual and cisgender peers, and include strategies that staff, programs, and organizations can implement to improve outcomes through daily practice and improved policies.
We often talk about the importance of the Vermont Prevention Model and improving the protective factors that help youth feel valued, safe, and optimistic about their future. We are excited to share ways everyone can support the LBGTQ+ youth no matter what the nature of that work is. We invite you to think more about how you will be a part of improving outcomes for local youth. Download your copy of the memo below! We’ve also included some additional resources to help you in that work:
LOCAL RESOURCES
Outright Vermont – Building hope, equity, and power with LGBTQ+ youth since 1989! Youth, their families and caregivers, and youth-serving professionals can receive supportive services, advocacy, skill-building, and resources, both virtually and in-person.
RESOURCES FOR ORGANIZATIONAL WORK
National SOGIE Center – a centralized site for accessing resources on providing culturally responsive care to children, youth, young adults with diverse SOGIE, and their families across these systems.
Family Acceptance Project – Peer-reviewed research and resources to support family acceptance for LGBTQ+ youth. Downloadable resources available including, videos, posters, practice guides, policy models, and more.
GenderSpectrum – Resources for families and youth-serving professionals about gender and sexual identity, and ways to support LGBTQ+ youth.
Advocates for Youth – partners with organizations as well as young people and their adult allies to champion youth rights to bodily autonomy and improve policies, programs and systems to secure sexual health and equity for all youth.
NATIONAL RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
The Parents Guide to Supporting LGBTQIA+ Kids at Parents.com – this great website has “tools, articles, tips, and real-life stories to help you take action and create a more inclusive community for all children.”
Partnership to End Addiction has compiled a set of resources for parents and families to serve as a guide to affirming and protecting their LGBTQ+ loved ones and to finding help if needed.
LGBTQ Family Acceptance – resources for both LGBTQ youth and families to help parents and caregivers access accurate information about their children’s sexual orientation and gender identity and for youth and caregivers to find supportive resources that validate diverse identities.
GenderSpectrum – Resources for families and youth-serving professionals about gender and sexual identity, and ways to support LGBTQ+ youth.
The Trevor Project – Suicide prevention and 24/7 hotline, chat line, and text services. Robust national surveys of LGBTQ+ youth mental health for further research and information.
