LGBTQ+ Community Provided Safe Space

More Trainers Needed to Support Program

Grassroots is seeking applicants for “Safe Space,” its training and certification program to learn how to provide a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. The program helps attendees become more culturally competent in providing services and dealing with issues specific to the LGBTQ+ population. Since 2017, over 200 people have been “Safe Space” trained by Grassroots, which designed the comprehensive program.

Through participation and completion of the “Safe Space” program, service providers, agencies and community members have the opportunity to:

  • Increase their knowledge and skills to work with LGBTQ+ individuals and their families
  • Increase cultural humility when talking to and about LGBTQ+ individuals
  • Become confident in connecting LGBTQ+ individuals and their families to appropriate services and resources
  • Recognize risk factors to suicide, employ active listening skills to a person-at-risk, and connect with appropriate resources for ongoing safety
  • Understand importance of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in language within conversations, policies, procedures and paperwork
  • Recognize changes that can be made in their own agencies to be more inclusive and welcoming to LGBTQ+ population
  • Become Grassroots “Safe Space” certified

Click here to view a seventeen-minute discussion on the “Safe Space” program. In the video, Tina Field, Director of Homeless Services, Maggie McCleary, therapist, and Katie Dant, Assistant Director of Crisis and Substance Use services, talk about the suicide prevention and intervention model that focuses on the LGBTQ+ population and the increased risk for suicide.

At this time, “Safe Space” is providing a 4.5-hour virtual training for certification. The training is without fee due to funding from The Horizon Foundation of Howard County. Applications close May 30, 2021. For more information contact Katie Dant, katieda@grassrootscrisis.org.


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