CCFL recently collaborated with Outlinc, a nonprofit organization that engages in and fosters the well-being and advancement of the LGBTQ community in Nebraska through excellence in service, recreation, education, and celebration. Outlinc received a grant from the Sherwood Foundation and teamed up with CCFL to help LGBTQ people experiencing homelessness in Nebraska visible to policy makers, service providers, and other stakeholders.
Part of this grant allowed for collaboration with Cyndi Lauper’s nonprofit, True Colors Fund. The True Colors Fund works nationally to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. Through a broad continuum of training and education; youth collaboration; and advocacy programs, the True Colors Fund is creating a world where all young people can be their true selves.
Through this grant, True Colors Fund was able to assess one service provider from each Continuum of Care in Nebraska. The True Inclusion Assessment is an eight week evaluation of LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices which can help identify gaps in care. Individual reports were then generated for each agency including customized recommendations to increase inclusivity.
Following the assessments, True Colors Fund provided a one-day training for all interested service providers (whether they were assessed or not) in each of the three Continuums of Care in Nebraska. Realizing that service providers may have good intentions about offering care to LGBTQ youth, they may lack the baseline cultural competency needed to fully address or understand the unique needs and backgrounds of LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. The training included lectures on topics such as The Prevalence and Unique Needs of LGBTQ Youth Experiencing Homelessness, Using Personal Gender Pronouns, and How Systems of Oppression Perpetuate the Cycle of Homelessness for LGBTQ Youth. These lectures were combined with facilitated activities, providing participants the opportunity to practice and implement the concepts. The training concluded with a walk through of the True Inclusion Criteria, which serves as a guide for organizations that want to make their spaces more inclusive and affirming for LGBTQ young people.
These trainings took place November 7-9 in Grand Island, Omaha, and Lincoln. Overall, 88 participants representing 42 agencies and service providers were included in the trainings, helping put Nebraska on the map for providing safe and affirming places for LGBTQ persons experiencing homelessness!
Visit https://truecolorsfund.org/ to learn more about True Colors Fund, their mission, available resources, and online inclusivity trainings.
To learn more about Outlinc, their advocacy work for the LGBTQ community in Nebraska, and to find a directory of LGBT-owned and gay-friendly businesses in our community, please visit http://outlinc.org .