What did we do?
The goal of this study was to understand parents’ experiences with navigating systems of care and inform the development of culturally responsive resources for LGBTQ+ youth and families in Middle Tennessee.
We conducted focus groups with parents to learn about their experiences. All parents had children and teens who had received mental health services and who also identified as LGBTQ+. Parents were asked questions about the stressors, supports, challenges, and opportunities they face in parenting their LGBTQ+ child in the current sociopolitical context. Each focus group was co-led by an Oasis Center leader and a Vanderbilt researcher to ensure that the research was community-centered.
Why is this research important?
There are a lack of evidence-based, supportive resources for parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ children and teens. This is particularly important given the sociopolitical context in Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas. Project EnCORE aims to bridge this gap by taking the first steps towards developing evidence-based parent-focused culturally responsive resources that are tailored to the local context to support LGBTQ+ youth and families’ mental health and wellness.
Report Leads:
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Kirsty A. Clark (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Health and Society
Assistant Professor of Public Policy Studies
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Human Development
College of Arts & Science
Peabody College of Education & Human Development