Toolbox Documents

• Model of Preventive Interventions for LGBQ Youth (PDF, 452KB) 

• Assessing Community Referral Resources for Sensitivity to Lesbian and Gay Adolescents (PDF, 456KB) 

• Assisting Students with Sexual Orientation Disclosure: The "Coming Out" Process (PDF, 456KB) 

• Cultural Considerations for Working with Youth of Color (PDF, 452KB) 

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Questioning Youth — Special Populations (PDF, 452KB)

Internet Resources

• CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health provides numerous guidance materials, such as the Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) to help educators analyze health education curricula based on important criteria, including alignment with national health education standards, characteristics of effective health education curricula, and the use of language that is inclusive of LGBTQ youth

• CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention provides information, training and technical assistance on effective HIV prevention programs. 

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) maintains the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP), a searchable database of interventions for the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders.

Toolbox Documents

• Framing Inclusive Abstinence Messages with LGBQ Youth (PDF, 448KB)

• Six Simple Strategies for Including Gay and Lesbian Youth (PDF, 444KB)

• Explaining HIV Infection to Youth (PDF, 444KB)

• Sexual Intercourse, Abuse and Pregnancy Among Adolescent Women: Does Sexual Orientation Make a Difference? (PDF, 460KB)

CDC Internet-based Resources

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health: HIV, STDs, MRSA, hepatitis, sexual violence, suicide, tobacco use

• Basic Information on HIV/AIDS: origin, history, transmission, prevention, testing

• Youth Sexual Risk Behaviors: statistics, strategies, programs

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases: information, statistics, treatments, programs

• Guidelines for Effective School Health Education to Prevent the Spread of AIDS

• HIV/AIDS and Young Men Who Have Sex With Men (PDF, 1MB)

• HIV/AIDS and Young Women Who Have Sex With Women (PDF, 300KB)

Toolbox Documents

• Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Discrimination Against Students (PDF, 468KB)

• National School Boards Association: Beliefs and Policies (PDF, 36KB)

• Model Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Policies for Schools (PDF, 448KB)

Internet Resources

• Key resources and publications can be found in the Safe Schools section of the selected resources for the Healthy LGB Students Project.

American Counseling Association (ACA)

• The Nondiscrimination section (C.5.) of the ACA Code of Ethics (2005) states, "Counselors do not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, culture, disability, ethnicity, race, religion/spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status/partnership, language preference, socioeconomic status, or any basis proscribed by law."

American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

• The Preamble of ASCA’s Ethical Standards for School Counselors states, "Each person has the right to be respected, be treated with dignity and have access to a comprehensive school counseling program that advocates for and affirms all students from diverse populations regardless of ethnic/racial status, age, economic status, special needs, English as a second language or other language group, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, family type, religious/spiritual identity, and appearance."

• The position statement The Professional School Counselor and LGBTQ Youth (PDF, 76 KB) (adopted 1995, revised 2000, 2005, 2007) states, "Professional school counselors promote equal opportunity and respect for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation/gender identity. Professional school counselors work to eliminate barriers that impede student development and achievement and are committed to academic, personal/social and career development of all students."

National Association of School Nurses (NASN)

• The position statement: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression (adopted 1994, revised 2006) states, "It is the position of the National Association of School Nurses that all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity are entitled to equal opportunities in the educational system. The school nurse needs to be aware of students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning; sensitive to their needs; knowledgeable about the health needs of this group of students; and effective in interventions to reduce risk factors. The school nurse should be actively involved in fostering a safe environment, demonstrating an understanding of the issues and modeling respect for diversity."

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

• The position statement, Gay. Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth (PDF, 120 KB) (adopted 2006; formerly Sexual Minority Youth) states, "The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) supports equal access to education and mental health services for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (GLBTQ) youth within public and private schools…NASP believes that school psychologists are ethically obligated to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity for the development and expression of their personal identity in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, violence, and abuse. To achieve this goal, education and advocacy must be used to reduce discrimination and harassment against GLBTQ youth by students and staff."

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

• The NASW Code of Ethics (adopted 1996, revised 2008) states in section 6.04.d, "Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of, and discrimination against any person, group, or class on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical disability."

• The policy statement, Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues (2005), states in part, "NASW believes that same-gender sexual orientation should be afforded the same respect and rights as other-gender sexual orientation. NASW is committed to working toward the elimination of prejudice and discrimination based on sexual orientation, both inside and outside of the profession."

School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA)

• SSWAA has a resolution and a policy paper on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Questioning Youth, but the documents are available to members only.