Youth Acceptance Project
About the Youth Acceptance Project
The Youth Acceptance Project (YAP) is a clinical model that works with families of LGBTQ+ youth to address their fears and worries related to their LGBTQ+ child and help the family learn new and supportive behaviors to improve their youth’s well-being.
The YAP social workers/clinicians provide a trauma-informed, psycho-educational model while partnering with parents/caregivers; supporting them to process misinformation, resistance, fear, and grief that families often struggle with when they learn that their child is LGBTQ+. The result of this intervention has significant positive impact on the family’s functioning as well as lasting positive impacts on the overall wellness of LGBTQ+ children.
The Youth Acceptance Project:
- Is manualized
- Provides training for new clinicians
- Requires fidelity adherence
- Requires data collection
- Provides expert coaching to new implementers
Who is the Program for?
The YAP social workers/clinicians provide a trauma-informed, psycho-educational model while partnering with parents/caregivers; supporting them to process misinformation, resistance, fear, and grief that families often struggle with when they learn that their child is LGBTQ+. The result of this intervention has significant positive impact on the family’s functioning as well as lasting positive impacts on the overall wellness of LGBTQ+ children.
YAP is being implemented in the following states:
- California
- Ohio
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Missouri
- Michigan
Program Data
This interim report presents key findings and progress from the Youth Acceptance Project, an innovative family intervention that works with parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth. The report details how YAP helps families move from rejection to support, reducing conflict and improving mental health and well-being for young people.
Inside, readers will find evidence of the program’s impact, stories that illustrate the journey of families, and insights into how this model addresses both immediate challenges and long-term resilience. It also outlines lessons learned and future directions for scaling and sustaining this critical work.
This short data dashboard gives a snapshot of the preliminary findings of YAP that should help agencies and providers determine whether YAP would meet their needs and goals. For questions on the data and information represented in this dashboard, please contact the National SOGIE Center at sogiecenter@gmail.com.
Testimonials
“Out of 26 families, 23 youth never left their families because they were stabilized, and the families became affirming of their child. Of the youth who were showing suicidal behaviors at the start of the program, 100% of them were no longer doing so by the end of the program.”
“The Youth Acceptance Project clinicians also work with parents’ reconciliation of their values and beliefs (faith, family, community) in such a way that allows them to be affirming of their child.”
How do I bring YAP to my organization?
To implement YAP in your practice or within your organization, please email the National SOGIE Center at sogiecenter@gmail.com.