263989 Youth action research to improve school climate and safety for LGBTQ youth

Monday, October 29, 2012

Kristen Law, MA , Youth Leadership Institute, San Francisco, CA
Patricia Barahona, MEd , Youth Leadership Institute, San Francisco, CA
The California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools. However, many schools lack specific policies and training to ensure equitable and safe environments for LGBTQ youth (NEPC, 2010; California Safe Schools Coalition, 2006). Compromised safety of LGBTQ students is seen in Marin County; 7% of females and 15% of males in grades 7-11 report their sexual orientation as a reason for harassment in school (CHKS, WestEd, 2008). LGBTQ students face higher rates of mental health problems, sexual health risks, substance abuse, family issues (California Postsecondary Education Commission, 2009) and tend to report missing school because they feel unsafe (GLSEN, 2010).

The current work engages youth in action research projects to assess the experiences of LGBTQ students in school and the broader community and to plan for policy and social norm changes to prevent discrimination and alleviate risks and challenges faced by LGBTQ youth. Youth researchers engaged in countywide school-based survey and Photovoice projects to examine the LGBTQ student experience at school and assess current resources.

Presenters will share findings and action strategies from the 3,000 surveys collected as well as the Photovoice project. Attendees will learn the importance of engaging youth in key decision-making processes, be able to describe requisite steps needed to engage youth in two methods of action research, identify ways to implement similar projects in their local communities, and will discuss the importance of engaging both LGBTQ and allied youth.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the importance of engaging youth in key decision-making processes Describe requisite steps needed to engage youth in two methods of action research Identify ways to implement similar projects in their local communities Discuss the importance of engaging both LGBTQ and allied youth in improving school climate and safety

Keywords: Youth, Gay

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My graduate education centered around youth action research, I have written youth action research curricula, and I oversee the project being presented. I am the senior Director of Programs at the Youth Leadership Institute, a non-profit agency that focuses on youth development from advocating for national policy change, to organizing on a community level. I have previously presented on youth related topics.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3297.2: Schools and Student Health