SFIC ONLINE BRIEFING FOR COMMUNITY AND FAITH PARTNERS

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND DECREASING RISK
FOR SUICIDE AND HOMELESSNESS FOR LGBTQ YOUTH

Thursday, September 8, 2022
8:30 am - 9:45 am

ZOOM REGISTRATION LINK
(Follow the link below to register for the call. We are taking
this extra step to model best practices for holding virtual meetings).


(if you experience issues opening the link, 
please copy and paste the link into your browser bar or change browser)

In the midst of a mental health emergency for children and adolescents, support for LGBTQ youth and families is needed more than ever. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQ youth were 4-6 times more likely to attempt suicide compared with non-LGBTQ peers, and separation from services and support has increased isolation and risk. This week's Online Briefing for Community and Faith Partners, hosted by the San Francisco Interfaith Council, welcomes Family Acceptance Project (FAP) Founder and Director 
Caitlin Ryan whose presentation will provide information and access to multilingual resources from the FAP at San Francisco State University to help religious leaders
and congregations to decrease risk for LGBTQ young people by increasing family connectedness and support. Twenty years ago, the FAP conducted the first research on LGBTQ youth and families to help racially and religiously diverse families decrease their LGBTQ children’s risk for suicide, substance abuse and homelessness, to strengthen families and to support well-being. The FAP’s evidence-based family support model has enabled scores of diverse parents and families to support their LGBTQ children to prevent serious health risks related to stigma, rejection and discrimination and to increase well-being, grounded in the family’s religious and cultural values. Interfaith Councils, like our own, provide an important resource for helping to strengthen families to decrease rejection and risk rooted in core roles of building understanding and serving our communities.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY ONLINE BRIEFING MODERATOR

Michael G. Pappas, Executive Director

WELCOME & READING OF SFIC STATEMENT

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Chair
Senior Minister

REFLECTIVE MOMENT

Tyler Gregory, Chief Executive Officer

(Introduction of Guest Presenter and Presentation
by SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas)
Caitlin Ryan, PhD, ACSW is a clinical social worker and researcher who has worked on LGBTQ health and mental health for 45 years. She is the Director of the Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State University -- the first research, education, intervention and policy initiative that helps ethnically, racially and religiously diverse families to support their LGBTQ children to promote well-being and reduce risk for suicide, substance abuse, homelessness and other serious health concerns. Dr. Ryan and her team conducted the first research on LGBTQ youth and families and developed the first evidence-based family support model that helps families to reduce their children’s health risks, strength families and increase well-being. This work is carried out in the context of families’ cultures and faith traditions and includes multilingual, multicultural family educational resources. Dr. Ryan works with organizations, faith communities, families and providers to integrate FAP’s family support approach to build healthy futures for LGBTQ youth. Called paradigm-changing, her work has been recognized by professional, community and faith-based groups.

RESPONDENT

Robert A. Rees, Ph.D.
Former Visiting Professor and Director of Mormon Studies
CLOSING REMARKS

Michael G. Pappas, Executive Director
A special thanks…

The San Francisco Interfaith Council Online Briefings 
 are supported by a grant from

Support the SFIC and its ongoing efforts to keep you informed by clicking the DONATE button. Thank You!

is a Cooperation Circle of the United Religions Initiative. 
San Francisco Interfaith Council | https://www.sfinterfaithcouncil.org/