A Place for Everyone: Welcoming Gender Diverse Youth Training Series Fall 2023
Training Details
A Place for Everyone: Welcoming Gender Diverse Youth
Held virtually September 26th & 27th, 2023 from 10:00AM to 2:00 PM (2 day training)
Applications Open August 17th, 2023 thru September 25th, 2023
Transgender and gender-diverse youth and young adults have often experienced misunderstanding, discrimination, and harassment in youth-serving programs or educational settings. Homelessness is also a critical issue as one in five transgender adults have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. Youth whose gender expression doesn’t conform to traditional social norms (regardless of their gender identity) are at increased risk for bullying, homelessness, and negative health outcomes such as suicide, assault, and new HIV infection or other STI’s. Youth workers and educators can play a vital role in the lives of young people who may not have consistent family support and serve as advocates for inclusive and affirming policies in their settings.
Is your agency or school a safe place for young people who are transgender, nonbinary, or who hold other gender expansive identities? Regardless of the answer, would you like to help make it a more welcoming place? Would you like to increase your understanding of the unique challenges faced by gender-diverse youth – and improve your skills for supporting their healthy growth and development? This FREE training could be for you! This training opportunity is sponsored by New Beginnings, Inc., with support from the Maine Department of Education. Staff of youth-serving agencies and alternative schools are welcome to apply!
This training series addresses the specific needs of those working with transgender, nonbinary, and other gender-diverse youth in high-risk situations through interactive training modules and emphasizing the practice of new skills learned.
Training objectives include, but are not limited to:
- In-depth exploration of concepts to help promote understanding of gender identity and expression vs. sex
- Increasing knowledge and comfort with terminology and updates to language used
- Addressing peer-to-peer harassment and how to respond
- Addressing stigma and microaggressions
- Critical analysis of disparities experienced by transgender, nonbinary, or gender-diverse youth including risk of HIV, homelessness, self-harm, etc.
- Creating a safe and welcoming space for youth
Do you work with or otherwise mentor a young person who may be interested in learning the skills associated with participating in this training alongside you? Email jwyman@newbeginmaine.org for more info!
This training series is virtual; participation requires access to a device compatible with Zoom software, a stable internet connection, and working speakers, webcam, and microphone. Participants should also be able to successfully navigate the “chat” feature (i.e. working mouse and keyboard).
Certificates of Attendance will be provided upon completion of the entire training series.
***Please do not apply unless you can attend the entirety of the training series without contacting jwyman@newbeginmaine.org first.***
Training Application
Applications are closed for this event.
PLEASE NOTE: Application priority will be given to youth workers and staff from youth/social service agencies, residential programs, and alternative schools who work with teens and young adults at high risk for negative health outcomes or homelessness/out of home placements. Adults/educators who do not currently work directly with these youth (e.g. primarily work with younger adolescents, children, lower-risk populations, or in program administration) may submit an application request but will likely be placed on the waiting list until after the application deadline, and contacted as space allows.