About the HLGBSP Project ....
The American Psychological Association's (APA) Healthy Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) Students Project is working to strengthen the capacity of the nation's schools to prevent risky behaviors and improve health outcomes of lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning youth. Funded since 1998, the Project initially conducted a comprehensive needs assessment of school counseling, health and mental health professionals regarding knowledge and provision of services to LGB adolescents in school-based setting. Based on that needs assessment, the Project designed a training curriculum and selected a cadre of ten school professional trainers. The Project now provides full-day workshops to school-based counselors, nurses, psychologists and social workers to help these professionals to meet the needs of LGB adolescents, including prevention of HIV infection, sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancy. Most of the Project's presentations are provided at national and state conferences of the Project's six collaborating organizations representing school-based counseling, health, and mental health professionals. In addition, workshops are also provided through pilot-site work in the state of Connecticut. For more information on an upcoming training event in your area, please take a look at the upcoming Project training events page.
In addition, if you are interested in inquiring about the possibility of bringing the Project into your school district or state, please contact the Project directly for more information on the costs associated with the training event.
More information about the Project can also be found in a Project Press Release and in a story from the APA Monitor.
Background of APA and LGB Youth Issues
Based in Washington, DC, APA is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA has extensive experience in working on issues (including HIV/AIDS prevention) related to LGB youth. APA first began to identify the needs of lesbian and gay youths in schools in 1990 when a joint effort of APA and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) was initiated. The first major product of the collaboration was a joint APA/NASP Resolution on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths in Schools. More recently, APA brought together a consortium of education and health organizations to produce a document on sexual orientation, youth, and reparative therapy entitled Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth. APA continues to work on issues related to LGB persons through its Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns Office. More information on other relevant offices and programs at APA can be found under "Related APA websites" on the Project Homepage.
