HASP’s19thAnnualConference20/20Vision:FocusonourKeiki
FeaturedPresentationsbyTracyHobbs&AmyCannava
Best Practices in Meeting the Needs of LGBTQ+ Students
Wednesday, October 16, 2019, 8:30AM – 11:30AM
The climate of acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals is slowly improving in the United States, but manyschools remain blind, biased, and unreservedly discriminatory toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals. Educators have much work to do to make schools safe andaffirming for all youth, including LGBTQ+ youth. In particular, school psychologists are charged withupholding professional ethics and best practices to protect the dignity and rights of LGBTQ+ youth andensure an equal educational opportunity.
This presentation will give attendees an opportunity to explore their own beliefs around issues whichaffect LGBTQ+ youth, provide background information (including risk factors for LGBTQ+ youth) aboutthese issues, and will share concrete actions that can be taken by school psychologists to put theserecommendations into action. NASP resources related to meeting the needs of LGBTQ youth will beidentified and shared with attendees.
Beyond the Rainbow: School-Based Mental Health Supports for LGBT+ Youth
Wednesday ü October 16, 2019 ü 12:30PM – 3:30PM
LGBTQ youth are often classified as a homogeneous group, but the diversity among and within them ismore distinct than many people realize. The need for school-based mental health supports for LGBTQyouth is evident in higher rates of unhappiness, drug use, school dropout, truancy, suicide, harassment,family discord, and reduced self-referral rates. Despite the need and demand, little is available in terms ofresources to use in a counseling format.
During this session, strategies to encourage and foster resiliency in these at-risk students will be presentedalong with a counseling program designed to empower school-based mental health staff to serve asadvocates for LGBTQ youth and to provide counseling support for students in grades 6–12. Relevantresources will be identified and shared to assist school psychologists with the implementation of strategiesto ensure a safe and supportive school environment for LGBTQ+ youth. Participants will leave with theability to effectively advocate for sexual minority and gender-diverse youth as well as implement aninnovative counseling program within their own schools to support these students.
Tracy Hobbs has been a School Psychologist in Michigan for 37 years and is currently a NASPStrategic Liaison; he previously served as NASP’s LGBTQI2-S Committee Co-Chair, Interest GroupDevelopment Coordinator, Leadership Development Committee Chair, and the Michigan NASPDelegate. Tracy is a trainer and educational consultant for the Michigan Department of Education’s SafeSchools for Sexual Minority Youth Initiative as well as a member of NEA’s National Training Programon Safety, Bias, and GLBT Issues. For five years, Tracy was the faculty advisor for his high school’sGSA (Gay Straight Alliance).
Amy Cannava is in her 17th year of practice as a school psychologist specializing in marginalized youth.She is Chair of NASP’s LGBTQI2-S Committee and a requested speaker at local and nationalconferences. She consults with school districts, group homes, juvenile justice facilities, universities, andparents on affirmative and inclusive practices for queer and gender diverse youth, facilitates LGBTQ+peer support and counseling groups, and volunteers for numerous local Boards. Amy is the facultysponsor for her high school’s GSA and is the community sponsor for a cross-county Pride Prom whichgarnered national attention. A former crisis counselor for The Trevor Project, Amy remains passionateabout working with LGBTQ+ youth and considers them to be an amazing inspiration.
Follow our Social Stuff:
