MCAP WORKS IN THE COMMUNITY BY:
Providing training to agencies and professionals in providing affirming and culturally competent services to the LGBTQ community and in developing protective and supportive policies to guide service and support staff in meeting the needs of LGBTQ youth primarily within child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
Providing an opportunity, through monthly meetings, for sharing information about individual, agency and organizational efforts, needs and activities in serving and strengthening the LGBTQ community. The meetings are an opportunity to support and learn from each other.
Providing an opportunity for leaders in communities of faith to learn from and support each other in responding to the LGBTQ community and in creating affirming faith communities.
Providing an opportunity for our community to recognize the strengths of the youth in our community who identify as LGBTQ through such efforts as the “Family Matters” exhibit – an exhibit of photographs of youth and their stories – which was shown at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and will be on tour in other parts of the country. Stay tuned for announcements about this and other projects.
Providing an opportunity to learn more about the work of Dr Caitlin Ryan, Director of Family Acceptance Project, San Francisco State University in a series of trainings and meetings October 20-24, 2014. The goal is to align the efforts and services of existing and developing resources around shared values and an understanding of the critical role of family acceptance in improving a wide range of outcomes for children, youth, adults and families who self-identify as LGBTQ.