The Southern Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Health Equity promotes advocacy and community engagement through the Reproductive Education and Advocacy Louisiana Program, which aims to increase provider and health professional student capacity to advocate for reproductive health, rights and justice in Louisiana. The Southern Center also holds community events and provider trainings to support LGBTQIA+ youth and their families.
Program Goals
•Increase access to quality adolescent sexual and reproductive health services through advocacy.
•Build current and future medical providers capacity as advocates for adolescent sexual and reproductive health policy through training
Community Engagement
Did you know that LGBTQ youth are more likely than their peers to experience negative health and life outcomes? They are at an increased risk for depression and suicide, bullying, substance use, risky sex and homelessness. According the Trevor Project's 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health:
- 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year;
- 60% of LGBTQ youth report who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it;
- LGBTQ youth who found school to be LGBTQ affirming reported lower rates of attempting suicide;
- 36% of LGBTQ youth reported that they have been physically threated or harmed due to either their sexual orientation or gender identity
The Southern Center engages the community through trainings and ongoing events aimed at supporting youth and families, with a particular focus on LGBTQIA+ youth.
Supporting Gender Diverse Youth & Families
Gender diverse youth and their families often feel isolated and we know transgender youth at an increased risk for depression and suicide.
The Southern Center, in partnership with Children's Hospital New Orleans and Tulane Medical School, holds community events to bring youth and families together in a supportive environment where they can network, learn about community resources available to them, and have fun! We have engaged nearly 100 young folks and their families to date. Through these events we hope to create a supportive environment and sense of community for these young people and their families.
Gender Diverse Youth and Families Social Event on January 24, 2020