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NYC Unity Project's support for LGBTQ+ foster youth

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Council Member Farah Louis asks about the Unity Project's efforts in supporting LGBTQ+ foster youth. Ronald Porcelli, Director of NYC Unity Project, provides a comprehensive overview of their initiatives and programs.

The Unity Project developed the Family Acceptance Program in collaboration with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
The program includes multimedia components to encourage acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth
Educational resources are provided on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression
The program offers therapy options, including group and peer therapy, and one-on-one counseling for families
The initiative aims to create affirming environments for LGBTQ+ youth and educate caregivers on the lifelong impact of acceptance

Farah Louis

0:52:34

Okay.

0:52:35

This is a quick question on the Unity project.

0:52:39

The Unity project is tasked with working across agencies to address issues facing the LGBTQ community in New York City.

0:52:46

One of its 3 core focuses focus areas includes addressing acceptance and anti discrimination.

0:52:53

Can you share with us what the Unity project has been doing in terms of supporting LGBTQ forced to youth?

Ronald Porcelli

0:52:59

Yeah.

0:53:00

So Oh,

Farah Louis

0:53:00

if you could turn on your right log.

Ronald Porcelli

0:53:06

Thank you.

0:53:06

And thank you for that question.

0:53:08

So this is a very important issue here in New York City.

0:53:12

Across the nation, and it's one that I often think about whether personally, professionally is how to encourage this sort of acceptance, particularly for LGBTQ plus youth.

0:53:23

And so starting out in the beginning of the administration, The mayor hosted a number of different roundtables, and coming from those roundtables was a focus on LGBTQ plus youth and encouraging this sort of acceptance.

0:53:37

And so we were happy to begin developing with Department of Health And Mental Hygiene, the Unity Project Family Acceptance Program.

0:53:46

This program runs through Canva, and it focuses on a multipronged approach to ensure that LGBTQ plus youth are able to find and and live with affirming caregivers.

0:53:59

And so that multipronged approach includes various multimedia that really encourages and allows people to see how being an affirming family makes an incredible difference in the lives of LGBTQ plus youth and how different people go through different phases of acceptance.

0:54:21

And what that means for their youth.

0:54:23

The program in addition to this multimedia component in addition to the social media includes education.

0:54:28

And so that is education on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and gender.

0:54:35

And then it also includes a number of different resources.

0:54:39

There is a wonderful reading list that is included as part of it and other materials on basic vocabulary that really get families and caregivers up to speed and understand basic LGBTQ plus cultural competency and the overall importance of creating this sort of affirming environment, not just up until 18, but how that has lifelong impacts for LGBTQ plus people.

0:55:03

And then The last point that I will finish off on regarding the program is that there is a component of therapy, whether that is group and peer therapy or one on one counseling for families.

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Addressing homophobia and transphobia in foster homes

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Council Member Stevens inquires about NYC Unity Project's role