Improving Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth : A Guide for Professionals

Despite growing social acceptance, many young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender experience harassment and bullying, family rejection, and social stigmatization—putting them at high risk for depression and other mental health challenges. How should the mental health community best respond? Answers can be found in this book, which provides a road map to practices, interventions, and policies that will make a positive difference for LGBT youth and their families.

Offering clear and practical information not available in any other volume, this book gives readers the research-based knowledge and recommended practices they need to work toward a stronger system of care and services and supports for LGBT youth and their families. Mental health administrators, policy makers, program developers, and school psychologists will

• discover 10 guiding principles of knowledgeable, sensitive, and responsive systems of care for LGBT youth
• deepen their understanding of the development and expression of sexual identity
• provide culturally and linguistically responsive services and supports (includes a helpful self-assessment checklist)
• develop interventions that foster resilience, increase assets and strengths, and mitigate risk factors
• reduce the incidence of suicide-related and self-harming behavior
• address the needs of LGBT youth who are homeless
• involve young people and families in the planning and implementation of services and supports
• successfully blend formal mental health services and natural supports
• provide effective support for LGBT youth and their families in schools and out-of-home care settings
• use social marketing as a tool to reduce discrimination and promote social inclusion

This book equips readers with the very latest research findings, specific practice and policy recommendations, and reliable Internet resources to help professionals support young people who are LGBT and their families as they achieve positive mental health and become increasingly resilient.

With this urgently needed guide to evidence-based, family-driven, youth-guided, and culturally and linguistically competent practices and policies, mental health and other professionals will advance systems of care that improve outcomes for LGBT youth and their families.

Learn more about the Systems of Care for Children's Mental Health

series.

Ms. Stroul is a consultant in the area of mental health policy and has completed numerous research, evaluation, policy analysis, and technical assistance projects related to service systems for children and adolescents with emotional disorders and their families. As one of the architects of the concept of community-based systems of care, she has published extensively in the children’s mental health field and is co-editor of the Systems of Care for Children’s Mental Health ongoing book series. She is a senior consultant to the National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health at Georgetown University and to the national evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program. She served on the mental health working group of the President’s Task Force on Health Care Reform and more recently served as a consultant to the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. She has been honored by the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health with the Claiming Children Award and by the American Psychological Association with the Distinguished Contribution to Child Advocacy Award.

Dr. Fisher has consistently served the American public throughout more than 15 years of federal service. As Director of the Office of Research and Evaluation in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Dr. Fisher manages evaluations to assess the effectiveness of federal health programs throughout the nation. Previously, as a research psychologist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Survey Methods Research, she specialized in the application of cognitive methods to improve the quality of large government surveys. Dr. Fisher was the director of evaluation in the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch at SAMHSA from 2004 to 2010, and was project officer for the national evaluation of the systems of care program. She also coordinated program activities in the areas of suicide prevention, improving conditions for youth in residential care, and addressing the needs of LGBT children and youth. Dr. Fisher has worked extensively throughout her career to improve the health and well-being of children and youth and LGBT populations. Among other activities, she has launched and served as chair of a national workgroup to address the needs of youth in systems of care who are LGBT and their families and is currently a member of both the Healthy People 2020 Committee on LGBT populations and the National Action Alliance on Suicide Prevention LGBT Task Force.

Mr. Poirier is a senior researcher at the American Institutes for Research, where since 2000 he has studied and written about equity related education and social issues, evaluated policy/program implementation, and provided technical assistance and consultation. He has carried out these activities for communities and various clients such as school districts; state and federal agencies; foundations; and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Among his roles at AIR, Mr. Poirier is a member of the Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health, for which he leads the LGBTQI2-S Learning Community and provides related technical assistance and learning opportunities to communities. He has served as coordinator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Workgroup to Address the Needs of Children and Youth Who Are LGBTQI2-S and Their Families since its inception in 2008. Mr. Poirier was also the lead author of a practice brief for providing more culturally and linguistically competent services and supports for LGBTQI2-S youth. At AIR, he is collaborating with colleagues and external partners to expand AIR’s efforts, through its newly created Human and Social Development (HSD) Program, to develop the assets and promote the well-being of LGBT children/ youth in schools and other youth-serving systems. HSD promotes the well-being and improves outcomes for children, youth, families, and communities.

Dr. Blau is a clinical psychologist and chief of the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services. In this role, he provides national leadership for children's mental health and for creating systems of care across the country. Prior to this, Dr. Blau was Bureau Chief of Quality Management and Director of Mental Health at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and Director of Clinical Services at the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut. He also holds a clinical faculty appointment at the Yale Child Study Center.

Dr. Blau was formerly a member of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Director’s Division of Children, Youth and Families, and from July 1, 1998, through June 30, 2000, he was the division’s Chairperson. Dr. Blau has received several awards, including the prestigious Pro Humanitate Literary Award for “literary works that best exemplify the intellectual integrity and moral courage required to transcend political and social barriers to promote best practice in the field of child welfare,” the Connecticut Governor’s Service Award, the Phoebe Bennet Award for outstanding contribution to children’s mental health in Connecticut, and the Making a Difference Award presented by Connecticut’s Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. Most recently, he was the recipient of the 2009 Health and Human Services Secretary’s Award for Meritorious Service for his national leadership in children’s mental health.

Dr. Blau has numerous journal publications and has been the editor of several books, including the recently published Handbook of Childhood Behavioral Issues: Evidence-Based Approaches to Prevention and Treatment (Routledge/Taylor and Francis, 2008), Family Influences on Childhood Behavior and Development (Routledge/Taylor and Francis, 2008), and The System of Care Handbook: Transforming Mental Health Services for Children, Youth, and Families (Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 2008). He received his Ph.D. from Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama) in 1988.

Ms. Mallery is currently Research Assistant for the American Institute of Research and is working at the Child, Adolescent, and Family Branch in the Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. She is a doctoral candidate and adjunct faculty member in Counseling at the George Washington University. Ms. Mallery’s primary research and clinical interests are contextual influences on adolescent mental health.