New Online Resource for LGBTQ+ Youth and Families

A DCHS CONNECT NEWS HIGHLIGHT 

December 16, 2021--Alexandria’s Department of Community and Human Services has added to its LGBTQ+ webpage a new digital resource for individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, called LGBTQ Family Acceptance.  

The first of its kind, the newly-launched resource is an online platform that includes a website; a social media component; graphics and visual narratives to help parents learn how to support their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer children; illustrations showing the impact of families’ accepting and rejecting behaviors on the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth; and critical information on how to find and access supportive services.

The project has been designed to help increase inclusion, domestic acceptance, well-being and positive mental health protective factors.  This is especially important during the holiday season, often a difficult time for LGBTQ+ youth. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into another year, the toll on children and families has escalated. LGBTQ+ young people were significantly impacted since sexually-diverse adolescents are at higher risk for suicide, substance abuse and depression compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Accordingly, LGBTQ Family Acceptance has now come to life to meet an urgent need and growing crisis.

This initiative is a collaboration between The Institute for Innovation and Implementation, a nationally recognized research leader in fields related to social justice, adult learning theory and implementation science; and Family Acceptance Project, a research and policy initiative with a mission to help ethnically, racially and religiously diverse people learn to support their LGBTQ+ kids.

Historically, services for LGBTQ+ youth have been provided to the LGBTQ+ individual alone.  Families were often seen as rejecting and were believed to be incapable of learning to support their children. The perception that parents and caregivers, particularly those who are culturally and religiously conservative, are unable to acquire the knowledge and skills to help their kids has impeded the development of household-based care services.

This informational site is the first of its kind, as it presents an innovative method by focusing on delivering scientific knowledge besides culture-based and faith-based resources for parents, caregivers and families; promoting a better understanding and acceptance for individuals with diverse sexual orientations and identities; and thus increasing acceptance of the LGBTQ+ kids within their communities.

For more information and resources for the LGBTQ+ community, visit Alexandriava.gov/LGBTQ.