Recommendations

For Educators

  1. Implement pre-service training in regional colleges of education to build competencies among future educators in working with and supporting LGBTQ youth.
  2. Ensure that emergency-certified educators receive training in working and supporting LGBTQ youth early in their employment.
  3. Hold staff training on understanding the basics of working with and supporting LGBTQ youth.
  4. Implement visible LGBTQ-affirming signs and messaging in school buildings and identify staff in each building who are willing to be visible allies of LGBTQ students.
  5. Adopt and implement LGBTQ-affirming, evidence-based social-emotional learning, bullying prevention, and medically accurate sex education programming in schools.
  6. Connect families to resources that will help them support their children in “coming out” as an LGBTQ person, such as Oklahomans for Equality, Youth Services of Tulsa, and PFLAG.
  7. Adopt anti-discrimination policies covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression and regularly communicate those policies to all staff, teachers, and students.
  8. Embed Hope-building practices into all touch-points with youth and families.
  9. Provide students and families with a general resource guide listing LGBTQ youth-supporting agencies and services.

For Youth-Serving Agencies

  1. Adopt goals, accountability measures, and action plans regarding program services provided to LGBTQ youth.
  2. Hold staff training on understanding the basics of working with and supporting LGBTQ youth and families.
  3. Implement visible LGBTQ-affirming signs and messaging in facilities.
  4. Connect parents to resources that will help them support their children in “coming out” as an LGBTQ person, such as Oklahomans for Equality, Youth Services of Tulsa, and PFLAG.
  5. Adopt anti-discrimination policies covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression and regularly communicate those policies to all staff and clients.
  6. Embed Hope-building practices into all touch-points with youth and families.
  7. Provide youth and families with a general resource guide listing LGBTQ-supporting agencies and services.

For Funders

  1. Require that grantees adopt anti-discrimination policies covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
  2. Request that grantees set goals, identify outcome measures, and collect data through application and reporting processes regarding program services provided to LGBTQ individuals.
  3. Fund the development and delivery of training for agencies and professionals working with and supporting LGBTQ youth and families.
  4. Fund community programs and initiatives that explicitly seek to improve the experiences and outcomes of LGBTQ individuals, as described in the Prism Project Report.

For Employers

  1. Hold training for all managerial positions on understanding the basics of building an LGBTQ-affirming workplace culture.
  2. Adopt anti-discrimination policies covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression and regularly communicate those policies to all employees.
  3. Implement visible LGBTQ-affirming signs and messaging in the workplace.
  4. Connect employees to resources that will help them support their children in “coming out” as an LGBTQ person, such as Oklahomans for Equality, Youth Services of Tulsa, and PFLAG.
  5. Provide employees with a general resource guide listing LGBTQ- supporting agencies and services.

For Healthcare and Mental Health Professionals

  1. Participate in the ongoing efforts of Oklahomans for Equality to establish a directory of culturally responsive mental health and medical professionals
  2. Implement pre-service training in regional schools of medicine, social work, counseling, and other healthcare and mental health preparation programs to build competencies among future practitioners in working with and supporting LGBTQ youth and adults.
  3. Provide culturally competent and affirming care to LGBTQ youth and adults.
  4. Hold staff training on understanding the basics of working with LGBTQ youth and adults.
  5. Implement visible LGBTQ-affirming signs and messaging in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
  6. Connect parents to resources that will help them support their children in “coming out” as an LGBTQ person, such as Oklahomans for Equality, Youth Services of Tulsa, and PFLAG.
  7. Adopt anti-discrimination policies covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression and regularly communicate those policies to all staff and patients.
  8. Provide patients with a general resource guide listing LGBTQ-supporting agencies and services.

For Faith-based Institutions

  1. Establish a definition and process in line with accepted standards for determining the institution’s commitment as an open and affirming community.
  2. Assist Oklahomans for Equality in maintaining a directory of open and affirming faith-based institutions.
  3. Hold training for staff on understanding the basics of working with and supporting LGBTQ youth and families.
  4. Implement visible LGBTQ-affirming signs and messaging in facilities.
  5. Connect parents to resources that will help them support their children in “coming out” as an LGBTQ person, such as Oklahomans for Equality, Youth Services of Tulsa, and PFLAG.
  6. Adopt anti-discrimination policies covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression and regularly communicate those policies to all constituents.
  7. Provide constituents with a general resource guide listing LGBTQ-supporting agencies and services.

For Law Enforcement

  1. Implement pre-service officer training to build competencies among future practitioners in working with LGBTQ youth and adults.
  2. Hold training for officers on understanding the basics of working with LGBTQ individuals.
  3. Adopt anti-discrimination policies covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression and regularly communicate those policies to all constituents.

For Policymakers & Policy Implementers

  1. Require the creation of a plan to recruit more LGBTQ-friendly foster homes.
  2. Require the inclusion of an SGM identifying question on existing statewide survey instruments such as the State Department of Mental Health’s Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment.
  3. Adopt anti-discrimination policies covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression and regularly communicate those policies to all constituents.
  4. Adopt policies supporting the implementation of trauma-informed and Hope-building practices across all government agencies.
  5. Fund the development and delivery of training for agencies and professionals working with and supporting LGBTQ youth and families.
  6. Conduct an audit of current practices and needs across all state agencies that affirm or deter identifying as an LGBTQ person.
  7. State Licensing Boards should require culturally competent and affirming curricula in all professional training programs.