Agency Practice Model Paper : Agency

Abstract: SMY (sexual minority youth, which refers within this paper to youth who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer) are at risk for trauma in particularly high numbers. When SMY become homeless, their risk for exposure to trauma becomes even higher, presenting the helping professions with a population that faces unique problems in clinical settings that may seek to treat homelessness without considering minority stress and repeated exposure to trauma. We reviewed literature concerned with trauma, homelessness and SMY issues to determine which EBPs (evidence-based practices) have been deemed most helpful for this population and found very few. Our investigation into local resources available to homeless SMY was similarly discouraging. Since previous trauma and marginalized sexual orientation are the primary factors for continued risk, we can suggest that Trauma Informed Care and Gay Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are currently our best choices. This paper will seek to explore why.

Health disparities in the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender community that lack fair treatment. This population deals with many adversities due to their sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBT’s community consists of a diverse population of people who come from all walks of life ((Howard, 2016). Many LBGT’s will delay or not seek health care due to stigma and lack of fair treatment. In other words, they believe that they are discriminated against.

Appleby, G A., & Anastas, J.W. (1998). Not just a passing phase: Social work with gay, lesbian and bisexual people (pp. 3–43, 44-75). New York: Columbia University Press.

Relocating into a senior care facilities can be a frightening experience for the aging population. Getting familiar with new surroundings, new organization structure, and new people that can cause anxiety to rise. For a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer individual, this experience can be traumatic. The fear of harassment, hostility, and neglect by healthcare providers and caretakers can keep LGBTQ people from seeking care until their health begins to critically decline. LGBTQ cultural competency training is highly recommended for healthcare professionals and social service organizations. The greatest barrier that prevents quality health care for LGBTQ people is the lack of competence among the healthcare professionals.

LGBTQ adolescents, also called sexual minority youth, have a higher risk of developing mental and emotional problems than heterosexual youth, and also face more bullying, harassment, and victimization due to homophobia (Craig, Austin, & McInroy, 2014). In order to address their needs, the researchers used group therapy that was based on

Oppression of minorities has had a detrimental aspect in the associated individual’s lives. History has demonstrated that as a western society, we devalue minorities’ rights and values through legislation and societal views. Today, this remains to be an issue for many individuals of many stigmatized groups. Although efforts to reach a more unified community have been taken, many minorities still fight oppression. Through activism, social and political movements, the LGBTQIA community have progressed immensely throughout the past few decades. History has demonstrated a slow, yet vast amount of success in this marginalized group. Activists endured a long journey toward gaining rights for the community which lead to a modern day civil rights movement for the LGBTQIA community. Although there has been a great amount of successes, non-heterosexual individuals still do not have full equal rights as their heterosexual counterparts. There are still adversities that are being faced in this population that hinder these individuals from thriving. The issue is even greater when the individual has an additional identity that is also marginalized. Specifically, individuals who identify as people of color (POC) and LGBTQIA still encounter prejudice from society.

Travers et al. (2010) conducted a qualitative study of service providers in Canada and found that even in a country that has been proactive with regard to LGBT rights there still remains significant barriers to service provision for LGBT homeless youth. Providers cited concerns about resources being clustered in one area that is not accessible to the majority of LGBTQ youth, as well as the types of services being provided focusing specifically on HIV prevention and decreasing the focus on other important issues. The providers indicated this singular focus often discourages LGBTQ youth from utilizing services. Additionally, concerns were raised about the lack of evidence based information on transgender youth, as well as a lack of training on LGBTQ youth issues. Providers denounced the use of specialists in LGBTQ issues, but instead insisted that all providers should be trained to provide services to LGBTQ youth. A common theme in the focus groups was recognizing a mutual responsibility. The providers expressed frustration that there appears to be a general denial within the community that LGBT youth present, and this seems to be significant when considering service provision that comes from religious organizations. The study indicates that across the board, agency attitudes have not caught up to social attitudes or rights. Additionally, they highlighted that the current focus of mitigating risks does not account for promoting appropriate well rounded services in light of systematic issues. According to a study by Durso and Gates (2012), the most significant barrier to service provision is funding, followed by population identification, lack of training, and lack of support. A qualitative study of professionals serving homeless youth; including youth that identify as LGBTQ voiced several concerning issues in serving LGBTQ youth. Discrimination

Throughout the video Dr. Patterson, displayed and executed various competencies of understanding the way in which her client’s coming-out may impact her client’s overall quality of life as well as the impact on her husband and family. Guideline 10. Psychologists strive to understand the ways in which a person's lesbian, gay, or bisexual orientation may have an impact on his or her family of origin and the relationship with that family of origin (American Psychological Association,

Sexual and social stigmas largely affect the health of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population. While many reports from the Institute of Medicine, Healthy People 2020 and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recognize a need to improve the quality of health care, barriers still remain. LGBT patients face legal discrimination, especially with insurance, a lack of social programs, and limited access to providers competent in LGBT health care. Although the Affordable Care Act increased access to care for LGBT patients, unless these patients feel understood by providers and develop trust in the system, they are not likely to utilize care. Healthcare providers need to recognize how these vulnerabilities, as well as persistent racism and stigma linked to sexual orientation and gender identity, make the healthcare needs of LGBT patients more challenging than the general population. Healthcare providers also need to promote cultural competence within this population and broaden their clinical lens to include health promotion, in addition to addressing concerns mentioned above within the population. Additionally, medical and nursing schools need to ensure that future providers are adequately educated by including information about this population in the curriculum.

In LBGTQ community gay people have over a long time been stigmatized because of their homosexual orientations. Acts of homosexuality are condemned as immoral practices. This group suffers most in the society because of heterosexism, which serves as overarching system of benefits accorded to heterosexual individuals (Stewart, 2001). There is an institutionalized norm, which perpetuates the idea that all people should be heterosexual. In the entire society, heterosexuals receive privileges and gay people's needs, life experiences, cultures and concerns are excluded.

The queerness experience of Latino and African-American folks are very alike. Both ethnic/racial group members not only share culture with similar features, but they also are exposed to the same systematic oppression experience. Latino and African-American queer people likewise have to deal with racism, xenophobic and homophobic sentiment, on a daily basis. Such oppression comes from their most meaningful source of support, which is their family and social community. Both African-American and Latino culture share a similar concept of meaning and purpose of a family as well as religious belief. These are not very queer friendly and make their community an oppressive environment. It is imperative to examine the interaction between ethnic/racial and sexual identity and how it affects the psychosocial well-being of sexual minorities. Likewise, to explore how group therapy can be used to their advantages.

A young girl stands before a floor-length mirror, her brown eyes staring at herself. She looks at her feminine body and features in the mirror, wondering why she didn’t look like how she felt on the inside as a boy. Her parents told her that it was just a ‘phase’ but she feels like that was wrong, like being a boy is who she’s truly supposed to be. This girl is just one example of the people in a community that are starting to become more common in our society, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Asexual plus (LGBTQA+) community. LGBTQA+ people have long since continued their struggle for their rights and equality, while facing discrimination in the workplace, gender dysphoria and the association with mental health professionals, children with nonconforming genders and school, and the differences against the American stereotype cultural norms that all with changes can be a positive impact on the world. LGBT people have become more involved with society in America ever since the 1950s.

At my internship, there are often when critical thinking becomes necessary throughout the week during group with the LGBTQ adolescents. Working weekly, with these young people using critical thinking is especially essential because of the wide variety of problems or issues that can arise with a person who identifies as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender or questioning is experiencing or has had in the past. Therefore, social work practice within my internship demonstrates the use of critically analyzing knowledge of assessments, prevention, and interventions to help these young people navigate through difficult and uncertain times. I believe that critical thinking is vital at Youth-Outlook to help formulate conceptualize, apply, and

Minority Families and Minority Gays and Lesbains” about a specfic model to uphold. Morales’ model ends with “Integration of Communities,” a stage when LGBTQ people of color attempt to bridge the gap between their ethnic and sexual identities. In furtherance to this aid, Kerry Poynter has over fifteen years of experience working with LGBTQ+ students in higher education at a number of institutions including Duke University, Columbia University, and New York University in addition to her her M.A in Administration of College Student Affairs in Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology and her partner Jamie Washington write for the New Directions for Student Service Journal on “Multiple identities: Creating community on campus for LGBT students” contributing to this ideology. They add the essential point that, “LGBTQ people of color have three broad options regarding integration of their communities: identification with multiple groups; identification with one group, to the exclusion of others; and identification with one group at a given time” (Poynter & Washington, 2005). This is an aspect that places a measurable toll. One way many LGBTQ people of color overcome the barriers to integration is by establishing their own communities. Groups that share sexual orientation and ethnic background can be essential for helping individuals find support and empowerment.

There are many minorities in the United States of America making it one of the largest melting pots in the world. Unfortunately, due to the vast variety of people, there are many minorities that lack the proper access to healthcare resources that cater to their healthcare needs both mentally and physically. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community, also known as the LGBT community, face many hurdles when it comes to receiving the proper healthcare. They also encompass many different races, religions, ethnicities and social classes. According to a recent national and state-level population-based surveys, “8 million adults in the US are lesbian, gay, or bisexual, comprising 3.5% of the adult population” (Gates, 2011). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people face many challenges and barriers accessing the proper health services. Many of the challenges the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community faces stems from