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LGBTQ+

(PS6-47) SOGIE SAFE: A Community-Partnered Initiative to Support LGBTQ+ Youth at Risk for Suicide

Saturday, November 22, 2025
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CST
Location: Elite Hall A, Level 1
Abstract Text: LGBTQ+ youth experience disproportionately high rates of suicide risk, often exacerbated by barriers to affirming mental health care. To address these disparities, we developed SOGIE SAFE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression Support, Advocacy, Families, and Engagement), a community-partnered initiative in Philadelphia and surrounding counties aimed to improve access to affirming care through a multi-faceted approach. This initiative facilitates research into clinical practice by continuously evaluating mechanisms such as affirmation and tracking our outcomes to assess its impact on LGBTQ+ youth and their families. The initiative was created in collaboration with a Community Advisory Board (CAB) comprised of individuals with lived experience, including providers, youth, and parents of queer youth at risk for suicide. SOGIE SAFE integrates four key components: (1) Community Partnerships and Outreach, establishing direct referral pathways with community based organizations to reduce gaps in care and facilitate smooth transitions to services; (2) Family Support, employing a non-clinical family support partner—a parent with lived experience—to provide guidance and emotional support to caregivers; (3) Direct services incorporating AFFIRM, Attachment-Based Family Therapy-LGBTQ+ (ABFT-LGBTQ), and Family Acceptance Project (FAP) principles to enhance affirming care for queer youth; and (4) Provider Training, expanding statewide education for community mental health professionals to improve competency in working with LGBTQ+ youth. Through a continually iterative process, this initiative seeks to evaluate the impact of a community-partnered approach in reducing barriers to affirming care, improving family acceptance, and enhancing clinical outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth. By integrating community feedback, direct clinical support, and training initiatives, SOGIE SAFE aims to create sustainable, affirming care systems for LGBTQ+ youth and their families.