Symposia
Dissemination & Implementation Science
Hanan Salem, PhD
Doctoral Student
University of California, Santa Barbara
Goleta, California
Miya Barnett, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Yessica Green Rosas, MA
Graduate Student
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Rocio Nunez Pepen, BA
Research Assistant
Boston Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts
Andrea Chu, MPH
Manager of Research Operations
Boston Medical Center
boston, Massachusetts
Emily Feinberg, ScD, CPNP
Associate Professor
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, Massachusetts
Sarabeth Broder-Fingert, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
UMass Chan Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts
Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, etc. (LGBTQ+) youth are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health difficulties (e.g., depression, PTSD, suicidality, substance use), with racially/ethnically diverse LGBTQ+ youth reporting higher rates of suicide attempts compared to White LGBTQ+ youth (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2020). Lack of support and access to mental health resources can exacerbate the challenges LGBTQ+ youth encounter (Fish, 2020). This underscores the importance of identifying culturally responsive strategies to increase the accessibility and utilization of services across diverse LGBTQ+ youth. Lay health workers (LHWs) have shown promise in addressing mental health disparities within traditionally underserved populations (Barnett, Gonzalez, et al., 2018). However, little is known about LHW training and supervision needs when working with diverse LGBTQ+ youth and families.
Methods: In the present study, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with LGBTQ+ youth (N=16), caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth (N=11), and LHWs (N=15) to identify the service needs of LGBTQ+ youth and families as well as LHW training and supervision needs. All LHWs and caregivers and 93.75 percent of youth identified as being from racially/ethnically diverse groups. A Rapid Qualitative Analysis was conducted to summarize and code interviews.
Results: LHWs reported limited experience working with LGBTQ+ youth and families and a need for training and supervision to better support this group. Common training needs identified across stakeholder groups included education around issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community (e.g., gender identity, pronouns), services (education, mediation, advocacy), and resources (e.g., mental health, medical, legal). They agreed that training for LHWs should include providers from diverse disciplines (e.g., psychologists, doctors, lawyers), but emphasized the importance of including LGBTQ+ community members in the training as well. Similarly, they expressed that LGBTQ+ community members should be included in supervision and highlighted the need for supervision to be a time in which providers come together to discuss and share resources.
Conclusion: LHWs may be able to address disparities for diverse LGBTQ+ youth, but they need training regarding common terminology, experiences, and resources.