Title
I Am More Than My Label
Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Second Presenter's Institution
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Third Presenter's Institution
N/A
Fourth Presenter's Institution
N/A
Fifth Presenter's Institution
N/A
Location
Verelst
Strand #1
Safety & Violence Prevention
Strand #2
Family & Community
Relevance
The intersection of sexual violence faced by youth who identify as LGBTQ who struggle with stable housing is one that is often overlooked. When we, as a allies to youth can provide safety and services that are trauma-informed, holistic, and a community collaboration of support, we are able to support and empower our youth from an approach where we can begin to see the change within our communities to prevent further sexual violence and homelessness. As the ancient African proverb poignantly states "it takes a village to raise a child."
Brief Program Description
This workshop will offer experiential activities for youth allies to explore the foundational intersections between LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness and sexual violence. Introducing a framework of concrete tools, participants will identify at least three core resiliency factors of LGBTQ youth and be able to identify at least three concrete components for fostering community-wide support for these youth.
Summary
The intersection of sexual violence faced by LGBTQ youth who struggle with stable housing is one that is often overlooked. This workshop will educate youth allies on the ways in which this combination creates vulnerability for youth and how we can provide holistic, community-supported services.
There are steps that every organization can take to foster a better future for these youth. Some of these practical steps include: involving youth throughout the decision-making process of services; addressing youth as more than a label of LGBTQ or the product of victimization—they are whole beings with resiliency that we can help build upon; providing basic needs of food, shelter, and human contact as ways of healing; managing our expectations for these youth on the desires and needs of the youth; and creating plans/steps to address this in our own communities with collaboration and capacity building efforts.
With our youth facing such a high burden of stable housing and facing acts of violence on a daily basis, it is relevant to all attendees of the conference. The intended audience is for anyone who works with youth to address their needs and of those who can influence the systems in place that fund, create policies/laws, manage, or operate such services.
Evidence
The National Alliance to End Homelessness has found that 21-42% of homeless youth who identify as LGBTQ have also experienced sexual violence. Based on various research from The National Network for Youth, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Urban Institute, and from such organizations as 40 to None we are learning that homelessness is a reality for a disproportional amount of LGBTQ youth and that there is a connection between homelessness and sexual violence.
Exploring how we [as individuals, organizations, communities] can integrate what we already know about sexual violence and implementing trauma-informed practices when working with survivors; Linking the Roads, Working With Youth Who Experience Homelessness and Sexual Violence has been a compilation of research and best practices from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) addressing trauma-informed care, factors of sexual violence from a social justice viewpoint, and housing for a framework for providing services that are both a holistic and a community approach tailored to serving LGBTQ youth.
Biographical Sketch
Taylor L. Teichman is the Online Resource Specialist for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. With over 10+ years of involvement in the movement to end sexual violence she is an advocate to end all forms of violence, and serves as an ally to LGBTQIAH communities advocating for gender equity. Prior to NSVRC, her professional background involved work as Education Advocate for a wide range of children, adolescents and adults in providing domestic and sexual violence prevention education, community activism and as a crisis counselor. Other professional experience includes over 6 years of project coordination and communications. Taylor received her Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication, with a concentration in Public Relations, from Millersville University, Pennsylvania.
Enid Melendez is the Training Specialist for the Life Span Project at the NSVRC, she previously worked as the Training Projects Coordinator for PCAR conducting trainings and provides ongoing technical assistance, and resource development for judges, law enforcement and advocates on topics such as, Human Trafficking, Diversity, Sexual Violence and the Latin@ Communities and Military Sexual Assault.
Keyword Descriptors
LGBTQ, youth, sexual violence, homelessness, resiliency, community, collaboration, intersections, trauma-informed
Presentation Year
2017
Start Date
3-7-2017 2:45 PM
End Date
3-7-2017 4:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Teichman, Taylor L. and Melendez, Enid, "I Am More Than My Label" (2017). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 63.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2017/2017/63
Chatline and Peer to Peer Resources Final.pdf (169 kB)
Resources Final.pdf (198 kB)
HomelessYouthInfographic_PRINT.pdf (195 kB)
Included in
Counseling Commons, Other Public Health Commons, Social Work Commons
I Am More Than My Label
Verelst
This workshop will offer experiential activities for youth allies to explore the foundational intersections between LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness and sexual violence. Introducing a framework of concrete tools, participants will identify at least three core resiliency factors of LGBTQ youth and be able to identify at least three concrete components for fostering community-wide support for these youth.