Respect Workshop

This full-day research-based workshop was developed under the Healthy Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Students Project (HLGBSP) that was funded by the Division of Adolescent and School Healthopens in new window of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-DASH) from 1999 to 2011. The project provided HIV prevention capacity-building assistance services to help increase the capacity of state and local K-12 education agencies to deliver effective school-based HIV prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, particularly young men of color who are attracted to men. The workshop was developed in consultation with numerous representatives of the targeted professions, public health officials and organizations with specialized expertise in addressing the needs of LGBTQ youth.

APA developed the Respect Workshop as a professional development curriculum for pre-service and in-service education for middle and high school counselors, school nurses, school psychologists, school social workers and other specialized instructional support professionals. Those with a role in shaping school policies, programs and practices may also benefit from the workshop, including principals, district administrators, other school staff members such as Gay-Straight Alliance advisors, athletic coaches and community agency personnel.

The workshop is divided into four major sections: Foundations, Helping Individual LGBTQ Students, School-Wide Protective Practices and Action Planning.

Purpose: To promote sexual health and responsibility and prevent HIV infection, other sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning students.

Goal: To enable specialized instructional support professionals to provide direct services and promote practices that promote sexual health and responsibility among LGBTQ students. 

Objectives: By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Assist LGBTQ students in coping with their distinctive challenges.
2. Promote safe school environments that nurture healthy and successful students.
3. Motivate all students to prevent HIV, STIs and pregnancy.

Online training

The Respect Online Course has three self-paced modules that are available at no-cost to the public. Begin the online course.

In-person training

Each in-person training is offered in partnership with a professional membership association or a state or local education agency on a cost-sharing basis. APA national trainers are available to deliver the 7.5 hour Respect Workshop training to a group of school staff.

Interested in planning the Respect Workshop?

See our guide for sponsors: Planning Delivery of the Respect Workshop Trainingopens in new window (PDF, 763KB)

To schedule an in-person training or for questions about the online training, contact the Safe and Supportive Schools Project.