AACTE Partner’s with HRC’s Project THRIVE to Support LGBTQ Youth
AACTE is honored to share that it has joined the leaders from the nation’s largest health, education, child welfare, legal, and juvenile justice organizations in support of the Human Rights Campaign’s Project THRIVE, a multi-year national campaign to create more equitable, inclusive support systems and communities for LGBTQ youth. The initiative will build the skills and capacities of all youth-serving professionals to better meet the needs of LGBTQ young people.
Every organization that is part of Project THRIVE has a unique role to play in strengthening family permanence and support, improving health and well-being, increasing school connection, and building a foundation of resilience so that all LGBTQ youth can thrive. Project THRIVE is committed to an intersectional approach in this work, and to ensuring that LGBTQ youth of color and those who are system-involved or have a history of homelessness are a priority focus.
As collaborators, the aimed is to consolidate work to address with singular focus the persistent challenges and barriers that not only prevent LGBTQ young people from thriving in schools but continue to compromise their health and safety in general.
According to GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey, which encompasses 20 years of data, school supports and resources can make a difference for LGBTQ youth by providing supportive educators, LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, and inclusive and supportive policies. All of these outcomes are directly related to the quality of our education preparation programs and there are many in the field that have led the charge to ensure LGBTQ youth are safe and thriving in school.
However, despite widespread efforts to achieve equality for LGBTQ youth in schools, students are still facing challenges that threaten their academic and social-emotional development. AACTE is committed to supporting its members and partners so that the educator preparation community is intentional about preparing a teacher workforce that embraces and advocates for the LGBTQ community.
Tags: diversity, equity, inclusion, teacher quality
