Best practice for LGBT youth and families
A newly recognized best practice called Supportive Families, Healthy Children, which educates families on how accepting their LGBT child can have a positive impact in their child’s health. The Family Acceptance Project has found that youth who are accepted by their family are at a lower risk of suicidal thoughts, depression, HIV, drug use, and other health risks. This booklet can be used to help LGBT youth and families build stronger relationships in schools, through crisis response services, mental health settings, and youth shelters. It is culturally sensitive, is printed in multiple languages and takes into consideration religiously conservative families. LGBT youth face many challenges in “coming out” and with this new tool service providers and families can help LGBT youth feel supported, know that they are not alone, and that challenging experiences can get better.