WestEd staff will present at the annual American Public Health Association 2020 Virtual Meeting & Expo from October 24–28, 2020. This year’s theme is “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Preventing Violence.”
The presentation will highlight research findings on how LGBTQ students perceive their school climate and how those perceptions relate to their academic success and emotional well-being and the differences that exist by race and ethnic group differences.
Using data drawn from the California Healthy Kids Survey, presenters from WestEd and the California Endowment will share implications for the implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs to support a positive school climate and social and emotional supports for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning or queer (LGBTQ) youth.
Monday October 26
Session: Understanding the Experiences of LGBTQ Youth in California: Race and Ethnic Subgroup Differences
Presenters: Rebeca Cerna. Tom Hanson, Gary Zhang, Elizabeth Rocha, The California Endowment, Lori Nascimento, The California Endowment
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PT
This presentation builds on an existing study, Understanding the Experiences of LGBTQ Students in California, by examining an added layer of race and ethnic group differences. Data analyzed include two years of California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) data from approximately 800,000 secondary students in grades 7, 9, and 11.
Presenters will:
- Share and discuss students’ perceptions of key school supports (the presence of caring adult relationships in school, being held to high expectations by adults in school), school safety (perceived school safety, experiences of harassment or bullying), and students’ mental health
- Highlight racial and ethnic (American Indian, Asian, Black, Pacific Islander, White, Hispanic, and Mixed) differences among LGBTQ youth
The results have important implications for policy and practice and act as a call to action to ensure that schools are safe, supportive, and affirming environments for LGBTQ students.