We work with homeless youth serving organizations to assess their current level of LGBTQ-inclusive and affirming practices from a strengths-based perspective.
99% of service providers report working with LGBTQ youth.
We believe that everyone has a role to play in addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth homelessness, and that we are all always learning and improving. The True Colors Inclusion Assessment was developed with those beliefs in mind. Our Inclusion Assessment enables service providers to assess their current level of LGBTQ-inclusive and affirming practices from a strengths-based perspective. The tool has been reviewed by service providers and LGBTQ young people with lived experience of homelessness.
“If youth are saying something isn’t going as well as you thought, listen to it, let the seed plant, and go from there. Just because we are adults doesn’t mean we have all the answers.”
– Renee Trincanello, Associate Executive Director, Covenant House Florida
Inclusion requires buy-in at all levels of an organization.
The True Colors Inclusion Assessment is an eight-week process that focuses on strengthening programmatic and cultural aspects of the organization to better meet the needs of LGBTQ youth, creating a safer space for everyone. The process consists of three phases:
Phase 1
In the first phase of the assessment process, an organizational representative or committee uses the tool to assess the inclusivity of the organization’s policies, practices, physical space, and programs.
Phase 2
In the second phase, each employee completes an anonymous survey to assess their own individual practices, including their comfort and confidence levels in working with LGBTQ youth.
Phase 3
In the third and final phase of the Inclusion Assessment, young people who access services at the organization complete an anonymous survey to gauge their perceptions and experiences regarding LGBTQ inclusivity within the organization.
Following the completion of each phase, True Colors United provides custom recommendations to guide the organization toward creating more inclusive and affirming programs, policies, and spaces. We offer technical assistance and support to organizations as they implement the recommendations.
Interested in implementing a True Colors Inclusion Assessment?
