LGBTQ Youth

Adolescence is a time of significant growth and development as young people transition into adulthood. Too many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth and those questioning (Q) their sexual orientation or gender identity experience physical and emotional abuse and other challenges at home, in school, and in their communities. Research shows that family and peer rejection are critical factors in the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ youth.

AIR works with a range of youth-serving agencies to improve policies, services, and care for LGBTQ youth. Through research and evaluation, we work to improve available services and health and mental health outcomes. Applying findings from current research, our strategies promote safety, success, and well-being for LGBTQ youth and their families. We provide training and technical assistance to federal, state, and local agencies in health, behavioral health, public health, education, child welfare, homelessness and housing, and juvenile justice with the goal of strengthening and integrating systems serving LGBTQ youth.

Latest Work

20 Sep 2017 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Event

Ensuring a Safe and Inclusive School Environment for LGBTQ Students

How can we affirm and support LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or queer) students and their families in schools? Although a lot of progress has been made in shifting public opinion in the last decade, LGBTQ students still face high incidents of bullying, harassment, and discrimination. In this webinar, hear from presenters as they share diverse perspectives and strategies on how to create safe and positive school environments to protect the civil rights and socio-emotional well-being of LGBTQ students.
27 Sep 2016
Report

Research Review on Mentoring LGBTQ Youth

Does having a mentor improve the well-being of youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex or gender-nonconforming? Though few empirical studies have been conducted to address this and related questions, AIR researcher Christian Rummell summarizes a growing body of literature for the National Mentoring Resource Center that points to the type of support that might be most closely associated with positive outcomes.
20 Apr 2016
Brief

Community-Wide Prevention of LGBTQ Youth Homelessness: Lessons Learned During Planning Phase

in the summer of 2014 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched the LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Prevention Initiative to identify successful strategies for ensuring that no young person is left without a home because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. This brief summarizes the lessons learned and recommendations of the initiative.
20 Apr 2016
Report

Review of the LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Prevention Initiative Planning Phase

Data show that LGBTQ youth represent up to 40% of the approximately 550,000 unaccompanied, single youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in the United States. To address this issue the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development launched the LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Prevention Initiative. This report summarizes AIR's review of the planning phase of the initiative.
Project

HIV Prevention and Linkage to Care Services for Transgender Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations

Many cultural, socioeconomic, and health-related factors contribute to the HIV epidemic and prevention challenges in U.S. transgender communities. As part of the Act Against AIDS Initiative, AIR works with the CDC to adapt existing and develop new HIV prevention and communication materials for healthcare providers and community-based organizations that treat transgender populations.
25 Sep 2015
Service

Online Trainings for Professionals

As travel budgets continue to shrink and more people are working and collaborating remotely, the demand for online training by our clients is greater than ever. AIR's Applied Technology Team responds by developing an array of advanced web-based trainings, products, and technical assistance services.
Project

Preventing Homelessness in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth

Research reveals that experiencing marginalization, physical or verbal threats, discrimination, and trauma can undermine physical, social, emotional, and mental health. This can be particularly true for LGBTQ youth. AIR is supporting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the True Colors Fund on a first-of-its-kind project: The LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Prevention Initiative. Its aim is to identify successful strategies to ensure that no young person is left without a home because of their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
13 Jan 2014
Guide

A Guide for Understanding, Supporting, and Affirming LGBTQI2-S Children, Youth, and Families

A new guide provides information for educators, human service providers and allies about supporting the health and well-being of children and youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and/or two-spirit (LGBTQI2-S) and their families.

3 Sep 2013
Report

What Works to Prevent Urban Violence Among Proven Risk Young Men?

Youth violence presents significant challenges across the U.S., disrupts communities and economic development, increases health care costs, and decreases property values—not to mention the human impact. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services contracted with justice experts from AIR—along with WestEd and the Justice Resource Institute—to study the development and implementation of the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative in 11 of the most violent communities across the state.
10 Jul 2013 | 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Event

Webinar - Ending LGBT Youth Homelessness

On July 10, 2013, the LGBT, Questioning, Intersex, and Two-Spirit Learning Community of AIR’s Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health hosted a webinar, Ending LGBT Youth Homelessness: A Call to Action, to raise awareness and share solutions.

13 Jun 2013
Toolkit

Standards of Care for LGBT Youth

What can communities and systems do to create positive outcomes for LGBT youth? AIR has identified key concepts, data, and research as well as the connection between stigma and well-being for LGBT children and youth. This action planning tool assists organizations in identifying prioritized strategies, goals, and actions towards implementing these standards of care and incorporating them into day-to-day practice.
2 Nov 2012
Presentation

D.C. Family Court Hosts Annual Interdisciplinary Conference; Focuses on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth

On October 4, 2012, the Family Court of the District of Columbia held its 11th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference. This year’s topic focused on ways that professionals in the juvenile justice system can provide supports that are culturally appropriate and inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and their families.
Project

AIR Experts Co-author Volume on Improving Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth

New research shows that rates of depression, suicide, and illegal drug use are many times higher among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth than among their peers. Seven AIR human and social development experts share their insights in a new book, Improving Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth: A Guide for Professionals.
Project

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQI2-S) Learning Community

The LGBTQI2-S Learning Community, led by Jeff Poirier of AIR's Human and Social Development Program, is an opportunity for individuals and organizations in the behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, and education systems to learn about strategies for delivering services that can enhance the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, or two-spirit (LGBTQI2-S) youth and their families.
2 Apr 2012
Spotlight

Health and Human Services Secretary Releases Statement on LGBT Health Awareness Week

AIR operates several initiatives that provide resources to professionals to help them become more culturally and linguistically attuned to the needs of LGBT children/youth and their families.

13 Jun 2011
Report

AIR Is Represented at U.S. Education Department’s First LGBT Youth Summit

Jeffrey Poirier, a senior research analyst, represented AIR at the first Federal lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Youth Summit held June 6-7, 2011 in Washington, D.C.  The two-day summit, “Creating and Maintaining Safe and Supportive Environments for LGBT Youth,” was hosted by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.