New Q Center Program
Beginning September 2010, the Q Center @ ACR will offer a new initiative to reach lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 14-19 who are no longer regularly attending school, who may be at high risk for dropping out of school, or who are not consistently living in their family home, may be at risk for homelessness or who have been living in institutional settings.
"Because the drop out rate and homeless statistics are so high, our Youth Group - which supports teens ages 13-18- is really geared toward helping them to navigate their family and school relationships so they can stay in the home and in school until graduation,” said Q Center Director Dr. Elizabethe Payne. “For kids who have already dropped out or who are already on the street, they need opportunities and support to set new goals for themselves and to move forward in a productive way toward adulthood. New Horizons will provide these young people with that support."
Though LGBTQ young people comprise only 10% of the adolescent population, nationally they account for 42% of the homeless youth population and are more than 3 times as likely as their heterosexual peers to have dropped out of school. Few services are available to support these young people and the New Horizons program will be tailored to the needs of the youth who attend. It will include drop-in hours every Wednesday between 3:00 and 5:30 pm to use the cyber-center and receive adult support and a youth group that will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, 6-8pm. Life skills, health information, education and job support, social opportunities, an evening meal, support for developing a healthy LGBTQ identity, GED preparation and HIV testing will be provided through the program.
New Horizons is funded through a one year federal grant supporting outreach to youth at-risk. For more information about the program, contact the Q Center @ ACR 315-701-2431. Visit us on Facebook.