Other QuERI Professional Development Workshops

LGBTQ Youth, Drug and Alcohol Use

Substance abuse for lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth is, on average, 190% higher than that of their heterosexual peers, and the cause of this discrepancy is connected to the homophobia, discrimination, and harassment that these youth face throughout their daily experiences. (Marshal et al, 2008). Therefore, a goal of this workshop is to educate youth service providers about the link between social stigma and substance abuse and to illustrate the connection between youths’ feelings of isolation and high-risk behaviors. Facilitators identify youth serving organizations’ responsibility to create safe, affirming environments for all youth.

LGBT Youth and Suicide Prevention

This workshop aims to educate youth-serving professionals about the LGBTQ youth experience, the causes of their susceptibility to suicide and other risks, and the ways in which youth services can decrease the effects of social stigma and create environments that affirm LGBTQ identities. Facilitators will present the most current research on the LGBTQ youth experience and provide education about what social stigma is and how it affects the cultural spaces in which LGBTQ youth live. The workshop will specifically address how LGBTQ issues are relevant to various youth-serving organizations and professionals and provide tools and strategies for assessing cultural competency and developing affirming policies and practices.

This workshop was designed for the New York State Department of Mental Health.  Download a PDF brochure here.

Understanding LGBTQ Youth and Risk

This workshop aims to educate youth service providers about the multiple ways LGBTQ youth experience stigma in various organizations. In addition to education about the link between social stigma and high-risk behaviors, this workshop provides specific information about youth experiences in child welfare, juvenile justice, homeless shelters, out-of-home care, sexual health services, mental health treatment, and drug and alcohol treatment programs. Finally, this workshop provides tools and resources for establishing LGBTQ youth cultural competency in these organizations.