Michigan Learning Activities Series:

SOGIE

This SOGIE Webinar consists of three different learning activity opportunities:

• Video Part One: Basic Program Practices and Staff Skills to Engage Youth with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Gender Expression (SOGIE) – Featuring two National Experts, one with Lived Experience. This video is approximately 45 minutes long and features a seasoned expert in serving youth with diverse SOGIE and their families and an advocate/credible messenger who is trans and experienced residential as a youth, both of whom are with National SOGIE Center partner organizations, Family Builders and Unicorn Solutions, LLC, respectively. The faculty share information on what diverse SOGIE is and critical data about why it matters that we get it right when caring for youth with diverse SOGIE. They will also share important strategies that will increase learners’ knowledge about supporting youth with diverse SOGIE and improve program practices and staff skills to support these youth, and their families. Although this video is targeted to all levels of leadership and clinical staff, all residential staff and stakeholders will find this video relevant and learn information that may forever change their perspectives about for the needs of youth with diverse SOGIE and their families.
• Video Part Two: Basic Program Practices and Staff Skills to Engage Youth with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Gender Expression (SOGIE) – Featuring a nationally recognized SOGIE expert with 20+ year’s residential experience . This video is approximately 56 minutes long and highlights the long-term experiences and recommendations of a senior residential program leader with expertise in working with youth with diverse SOGIE and their families and who has her own experience caring for a child who has diverse SOGIE. Her organization (TLC Child and Family Services/CA) has a strong commitment to serving youth with diverse SOGIE as well as serving the LGTBQ+ community. They have been given special designation by the Human Rights Campaign and awarded their most prestigious Seal of Recognition as “Innovators” supporting and serving LGBTQ+ youth and families in part as a recognition of their Project Flare which is focused on creating a legacy of visibility for youth in foster care with diverse SOGIE. The faculty shares key strategies, program practices, and staff skills important to engaging, supporting, partnering with, empowering, and caring for youth with diverse SOGIE and their families. Although this video is targeted to all levels of leadership and clinical staff, all residential staff and stakeholders will find this video relevant and learn strategies to improve their own focus on improving care for youth with diverse SOGIE and their families.
• Video Part Three: Basic Program Practices and Staff Skills to Engage Youth with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Gender Expression (SOGIE) – Featuring a former residential leader. This video is approximately 26 minutes long and highlights the experiences and recommendations of a residential leader whose organization started in the past five years to improve their practices with youth with diverse SOGIE. The faculty shares key strategies, program practices, and staff skills important to engaging, supporting, partnering with, empowering, and caring for youth with diverse SOGIE and their families. Although this video is targeted to all levels of leadership and clinical staff, all residential staff and stakeholders will find this video relevant and learn strategies to improve their own focus on improving care for youth with diverse SOGIE and their families.
• Educational Materials: There are several educational materials included for viewers (e.g., the PowerPoint slide deck of the presentation; a document summarizing key points made during the webinar; a curated list of Youth with Diverse SOGIE and their Families resources for residential programs; etc.)

(Scroll down to view the three webinars and resource materials)

Julie Collins
VP Practice Excellence, CWLA and BBI Consultant

Vida Khavar
Youth Acceptance Project Director, Family Builders (CA)

Elliott Hinkle
Principal & Founder, Unicorn Solutions LLC (OR) and Former Youth in Care & Youth Advocate

Kelly Small
(Former) President, Vista Affordable Housing

Part One: Basic Program Practices and Staff Skills to Engage Youth with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Gender Expression (SOGIE)

Featuring Vida Khavar, Youth Acceptance Project Director, Family Builders and Elliott Hinkle, Principal and Founder, Unicorn Solutions LLC; Former Youth In Care with their Perspectives. This video is approximately 45 minutes long.

Part Two: Basic Program Practices and Staff Skills to Engage Youth with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Gender Expression (SOGIE)

Featuring Anna Richmond, Clinical Training & Competency Specialist, TLS Child and Family Services with a Senior Leader/Credible Messenger Perspective. This video is approximately 56 minutes long.

Part Three: Basic Program Practices and Staff Skills to Engage Youth with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Gender Expression (SOGIE)

Featuring Kelly Small, (Former) President, Vista Affordable Housing. This video is approximately 26 minutes long.

We hope that you enjoy these webinars, gain inspiration from what you learn, and share the videos and other learning materials with others throughout your organization. Your work with and support for families and youth is SO important! You are VALUED!