Cohen Clinic Awarded LGBTQIA+ Family Support Grant

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, Fayetteville was recently awarded a LGBTQIA+ Family Support Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Through this grant, our clinic will work to prevent health and behavioral health risks as well as promote well-being through staff and community trainings on LGBTQI+ competent treatment, outreach and engagement, and non-traditional holistic support activities for LGBTQIA+ youth and their caregivers and family members.

Our community is home to an estimated 37,800 children of active duty military members and 82,475 veteran households with children. Compared to their heterosexual peers, 23% of North Carolina’s LGBTQIA+ youth report electronic bullying (vs. 10%), 29% don’t go to school/feel unsafe there (vs. 13%), 25% experienced sexual violence (vs. 11%), 68% felt sad/hopeless (vs. 35%), and 48% considered suicide (vs. 15%).

Social support is strongly related to well-being for adolescents. Additionally, parental support and family acceptance are associated with positive mental health effects, higher life satisfaction and greater self-esteem, and protect against depression, substance misuse, and suicidal ideation among LGBTQI+ youth. This grant will allow our clinic to continue to improve outcomes for this vulnerable community.

Stay tuned for upcoming programs specifically designed for LGBTQIA+ youth!