Education and Training Needs of School Staff Relevant to Preventing Risk Behaviors and Promoting Health Behaviors Among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Questioning Youth

A national-level needs assessment of high school psychologists, social workers, counselors, and nurses was conducted to identify training and educational resource material needs of these staff relevant to providing health and mental health services to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning (GLBQ) y...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of HIV/AIDS prevention in children & youth 2006, Vol.7 (1), p.37-53
Main Authors: Sawyer, Richard J., Porter, J. Davidson, Lehman, Thomas C., Anderson, Clinton, Anderson, Karen M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
At Risk Persons
Caseworkers
Educational Needs
Educational Programs
gay
Health Behavior
Health Promotion
Health Services
High School Students
High Schools
HIV/AIDS school-based programs
Homosexual Relationships
Homosexuality
lesbian and bisexual youth
Mental Disorders
Mental Health
Mental Health Programs
National Organizations
Needs Assessment
Nurses
Prevention
Professional Development
Sampling
School Psychologists
Surveys
Teachers
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Summary:A national-level needs assessment of high school psychologists, social workers, counselors, and nurses was conducted to identify training and educational resource material needs of these staff relevant to providing health and mental health services to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning (GLBQ) youth. Systematic sampling procedures were employed with professional membership lists of five national organizations. A self-administered survey, extensively pilot tested, was completed by 941 school staff. Results revealed that most staff acknowledged the presence of GLBQ youth in their schools; reported "accepting" attitudes toward these students; perceived GLBQ students to be at much higher risk, than their heterosexual counterparts, for several health and mental health problems; indicated that they should be providing more services to these students; and identified a number of barriers related to school climate, lack of staff training, and community/parental opposition that hamper service provision to GLBQ youth. Based on these findings, the authors recommend that school professionals discuss effective strategies for risk prevention and health promotion for GLBQ youth within their specific school-based setting, and the delivery of professional development activities to school health professionals on topics of GLBQ youth and health.
ISSN:1553-8346
1553-8613
DOI:10.1300/J499v07n01_03