LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Support: An Analysis of Challenges and Opportunities Within 4-H

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Youth Dev
• Personal Author:
  Rand, Joseph J. ; Paceley, Megan S. ; Fish, Jessica N. ; Anderson, Sloan Okrey
• Description:
  LGBTQ+ youth experience health disparities compared with heterosexual and cisgender youth. Community-based, positive youth development organizations are an important resource to support and affirm LGBTQ+ youth. This study aimed to identify the opportunities and challenges in supporting LGBTQ+ youth within 4-H. The study took place in one state in the United States within a 4-H program and employed qualitative, community-based methods using SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analyses and focus groups of 4-H staff, support staff, volunteers, and youth participants. The majority of participants were White and middle class with direct connections to the 4-H program. Thematic analyses were conducted by multiple analysts until consensus was reached. Challenges and opportunities emerged in 3 themes: (a) organizational climate; (b) policies and procedures; and (c) training, education, and resources. Two additional themes included opportunities only: (a) community engagement and (b) youth-specific resources. This study has important implications for the 4-H program, rural community practice, and research, including strategies to improve LGBTQ+ inclusivity through education, programs and policies, hiring, and community partnerships. Additionally, this study highlights the opportunity and unique positionality of the 4-H program to amplify youth voices in the creation of youth-specific resources.
• Subjects:
  4-H Article Bisexual Diversity Gay Inclusion Lesbian LGBTQ+ Trans Youth
• Source:
  J Youth Dev. 16(4):26-51
• Pubmed ID:
  35284581
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC8916108
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  P2C HD041041/HD/NICHD NIH HHSUnited States/ ; U48 DP006382/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  16
• Issue:
  4
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:e4084e45f7a6fc187fb277605c074f0842bf73e629a8370d7881368f240eb435
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/115441/cdc_115441_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 110.71 KB ]