Evidence-Based Resources

The evidence-based resources included here were primarily developed by the Family Acceptance Project (FAP) and are rooted in FAP’s groundbreaking research with LGBTQ youth, young adults and families – the first of its kind. This research and guidance from the lived experiences of ethnically, racially and religiously diverse families with LGBTQ young people enabled FAP to develop the first evidence-based family support model to prevent health risks and promote well-being for LGBTQ children and youth and a series of educational materials for families, providers and religious leaders and resources being developed for LGBTQ youth. FAP continues to publish resources to help to decrease health and mental health risks and promote well-being for LGBTQ children and youth.

For more information, visit: https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/

Family Healthy Booklets

“BEST PRACTICE” RESOURCES FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

FOR LGBTQ YOUTH

Key information from FAP’s research on how families can help support their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) children to reduce health risks and support positive development. These family education booklets have been designated as “Best Practice” resources for suicide prevention for LGBTQ young people by the Best Practices Registry for Suicide Prevention.

Healthy Futures Posters

PROJECT POSTERS TO BUILD HEALTHY FUTURES
FOR LGBTQ & GENDER DIVERSE CHILDREN & YOUTH

Available in 11 languages and cultural versions, including English, Spanish,

Chinese (traditional and simplified), Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Punjabi, Tagalog and Vietnamese, with a version for American Indian families & communities.

Series of 3 posters shows how family rejecting behaviors contribute to serious health risks, including suicidal behavior and drug use, and how accepting behaviors help protect against risk and promote well-being. Each version includes common family accepting and rejecting behaviors that are expressed across diverse cultures. A Poster Guidance explains what the posters are and suggests ways to use them. Free download in 4 sizes with camera-ready art to give to your local printer.

Watch a 3-minute video about the posters with parent voices produced by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Providing Services & Support

DEVELOPING THE FIELD OF FAMILY SUPPORT
FOR LGBTQ CHILDREN & YOUTH

Before the Family Acceptance Project started 20 years ago, no one had studied LGBTQ youth and their families. The belief was that parents and caregivers were rejecting and were unable to learn to support their LGBTQ children, so services for LGBTQ youth were provided for them alone – like adults – or through peer support. As a result, many mainstream services, including government agencies, do not provide services and support for families with LGBTQ children.

The Family Acceptance Project has found that diverse families can learn to support their LGBTQ children when services are provided in ways that are culturally relevant for them, and describes how FAP launched the field of family acceptance and support for LGBTQ children & youth. Use this website to learn about how to provide support for LGBTQ children, youth and families – urgently needed, especially now as LGBTQ young people and families are coping with many losses and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Faith‐Based Family Guidance

FAITH COMMUNITIES & WELL‐BEING OF LGBTQ YOUTH

Medical and faith communities share common values for helping to care for children, youth and adults. The Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) published this resource to help families and faith communities to prevent mental health problems and to increase support for LGBTQ youth. GAP is a national professional organization of leaders in the field of psychiatry who provide guidance on addressing critical mental health issues. This guide can help parents, religious leaders and congregations respond to escalating mental health needs of LGBTQ children and youth as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes preventing suicide, hopelessness and self-harm.

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