The Alliance for LGBTQ Youth Inc

The Alliance for LGBTQ Youth was created due to the lack of service provision and resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in Miami-Dade County. Our 2005 pilot study of Miami GLBTQ youth, showed that 46% had experienced suicidal ideation and 23% had attempted suicide, 57% struggled with substance abuse, and 99% experienced verbal and/or physical harassment. In our 2007 follow-up study, over 34% had been kicked out of their homes, and 53% of bullied youth had not told anyone. These findings led to the establishment of The Alliance for LGBTQ Youth as a non-profit social services agency committed exclusively to supporting the needs and experiences of LGBTQ youth. Since our founding, The Alliance has provided comprehensive services for prevention and early intervention to protect the development of self-identity for adolescent LGBTQ youth. The Alliance provides innovative services through a multi-systemic framework that responds not only to the individual or family level crisis, but also to the societal community and policy marginalization of LGBTQ youth. Our services intend to further develop and sustain our evolving community-based coalition efforts throughout South Florida. In the past year, these services included virtual care coordination and therapy sessions, online community education and training sessions, virtual youth leadership programming and social connection activities, and the provision of emergency financial support to assist with rent, utilities, transportation, and other essential needs to youth and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alliance has provided the following services this year: (1) Clinical services to LGBTQ youth at school/community sites and virtually through (a) care coordination for youth and their families to provide holistic individualized guidance, support and critical linkage to services and (b) individual and group counseling provided by licensed, affirming therapists;(2) Prevention education designed to increase community members' knowledge of LGBTQ youth issues, identity development, the impact of discrimination, and services provided by The Alliance. Community members targeted were: parents/caregivers, medical providers, social service workers, teachers/school personnel, faith/clergy staff, as well as youth; (3) Youth programming and enrichment activities for safe socialization, skill-building, and leadership and advocacy development for LGBTQ youth; (4) Outreach to advocate for culturally responsive policies and practices that are inclusive of LGBTQ youth in systems that impact the lives of LGBTQ youth including Miami-Dade County Public Schools, child welfare and juvenile legal systems, and housing and homelessness systems.