I stumbled on the book “Improving Emotional & Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth” while researching a story on bullying for Raising Arizona Kids magazine. It’s well known that gay and transgender youth are bullied, but most of us know far less about effective strategies for helping these youth navigate the world of adolescence, a challenging time of life filled with questions of personal identity and place in the world.
The book, subtitled “A Guide for Professionals,” is edited by Sylvia K. Fisher, Ph.D., Jeffrey M. Poirier, M.A. and Gary M. Blau, Ph.D. It’s published by Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., and is part of a series called “Systems of Care for Children’s Mental Health,” edited by Beth A. Stroud, M.Ed. and Robert M. Friedman, Ph.D. That’s a big bowl of alphabet soup.
Though written primarily for professionals who work with LGBT youth, “Improving Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth” is filled with insights that teachers, parents and others who care about children and teens can appreciate. The book couples scholarly insights with clear writing, making it accessible for general readers — and beneficial to those who work with youth in theater and other settings.
The book opens with chapters exploring public health perspectives and culturally and linguistically competent services for both LGBT youth and their families, sharing tools for organizations eager to assess their own cultural and linguistic competence. Several chapters exploring issues of sexual identity and development follow, each helpful in setting the unique challenges of LGBT youth within the broader context of adolescence.
Despite volunteering and working for many years in the field of mental health, I’ve been reading “Improving Emotional & Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth” with an eye to its applications for those in other fields, and folks who simply want to learn more about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. I’d have appreciated the book’s many insights during my daughter’s time volunteering with a Phoenix organization uniting young gay and straight allies.
Living in the Southwest, I’m especially interested in learning about the unique challenges facing LGBT youth within Latino and Native American communities, and ways we can all better understand and support them. Hence I found the chapter titled “Becoming Who We Are Meant to Be: Native Americans with Two-Spirit, LGBT, and/or Related Tribal Identities” especially helpful. It’s the book’s best treatment of the incredible depth and breadth of youth who fall along the spectrum we term LGBT.
A chapter titled “The Resilience U-Turn” explores the shift away from risk-based characterizations of LGBT youth towards considerations of their assets and strengths. Another, titled “Fostering Welcoming, Safe, and Supportive Schools for LGBT Youth,” examines strategies for fostering systemwide change and more equitable outcomes for LGBT youth.
Additional topics covered include suicide and self-harm, addressing the needs of LGBT youth who are homeless and the role of social media in promoting social inclusion and help-seeking behavior. A chapter titled “Internet-Based Information and Reseources” describes more than 30 online resources, charting each one’s topics and target audience.
“Improving Emotional & Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth” is an important resource for mental health professionals, educators and others seeking solutions supported by research and real-world applications. You might not read it in a single sitting, but keep it handy as a reference. There’s really no excuse for anyone working with youth to ignore or overlook the unique strengths and challenges of LGBT youth.
— Lynn
Note: Click here to read the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry’s “Facts for Families” on “Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Adolescents”
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