How to help struggling teens?

[Drew]

Is there a way for me to help teens struggling with their sexuality and who have home or school issues? Something like the Trevor Project or something? Suicidie prevention hotlines perhaps? I don't know if there is anybody here he belongs to a local organization that actively does this, but if you do, please tell me how you got involved and how I can too. Dan Savage might have started the It Gets Better project, but I'd love to help and actually Make It Better, if you know what I mean. Any advice?

[pellaz]

the the local lgbt center here in denver is active. be aware they are fairly protective

the city and county of denver has a child mentor program, either through torturing at the schools or on your own activity based events like sports events, movies. a straight guy at work has a child come by sometimes and play video games in his home, he feeds him, they work on home work together. the bring your child to work day he brought his latest adopted child. the organization interviews you quite heavy
-i am not going to tell them i am not gay. i am not going to take off my ring either.
-i dont know what their reactions would be.` i have a husband, a front yard, dogs/cats and a life.

[Drew]

the the local lgbt center here in denver is active. be aware they are fairly protective

the city and county of denver has a child mentor program, either through torturing at the schools or on your own activity based events like sports events, movies. a straight guy at work has a child come by sometimes and play video games in his home, he feeds him, they work on home work together. the bring your child to work day he brought his latest adopted child. the organization interviews you quite heavy
-i am not going to tell them i am not gay. i am not going to take off my ring either.
-i dont know what their reactions would be.` i have a husband, a front yard, dogs/cats and a life.

Hmm, your right, I should try my local Pride Center, but I'm not sure if they have what I'm intending.

And quasi-adopting/fostering kids isn't what I had in mind. I'd like to do something like a suicide hotline counselor or as an after-school mentor type.

[pellaz]

... or as an after-school mentor type ...

these children are super confidant they will do well and they are smart. tho sometimes all they need a safe, violence free place to think things through. you might de-rate your life as ho-hum but to them its a new reference.

[dfiant]

I'd like to do something like a suicide hotline counselor or as an after-school mentor type.

I think I understand what you are asking. You want to be a person that that struggling teens can come to with their problems and open up to you to that you can offer them tools to make a positive impact on their struggles. You want to make a bigger impact than just a big brother-little brother type program, which are a great idea but it sounds like you want to reach more than just one teen at a time.

Perhaps you could volunteer for a youth hotline, I do believe that some hotlines have phone counsellors that specialise in certain areas like gay and lesbian issues.

You could also consider night school or correspondence studies in the feild of social work/counselling to arm you with the tools to be more efficient in being a role model/mentor.

Contact some organisations like the Trevor Project and ask them what you can do and tell them what you would like to be able to do, those people would be the best to offer you advice and point you in the right direction

[azulai]

Here's the link to The Trevor Project Volunteer Opportunities.

Also, maybe contact your local LGBT Center and see if there are any opportunities there. Maybe not something you are interested in but there are usually local chapters of The Gay Men's Chorus and they do outreach through music. There is also the The Southern Poverty Law Center. I've attended one of their lectures on teaching tolerance. Maybe you could contact them and see if they are having a presentation near you? You might be able to connect with like minded people, and find some local groups. There should also be a local chapter of Human Rights Campaign, that you could call and see if they have any volunteer stuff.

[James]

trevor project, yellowribbonorg, glsen, local antisuicide hot lines, and as always, check the streets, I find many there, step in have them call home after they trust u by talking to them and buying them food and essentials, be he liason between them and their parents, James

[ManicReptile21]

I personally have been thinking at volenteering at these pflag meetings my town holds. check out your pflag stuff in your town. they should have a website and volenteer button. maybe---- lol. I may not be out of the closet yet- but i too have been severely hungering to send out some help. i may volenteer at the gay church here too. i hear they have meetings every month. I'm pretty much on your boat lol.

[72jay]

Good thread here especially considering the recent teen suicides that have been in the news...

At this time I'm not in a position where I could do anything to help anyone, but like you guys the thought has crossed my mind of how to help gay/bi teens if i was ever able.

[Kiid]

I go to to a queer youth support group. Pretty much a way to net work with other queer kids. Tho some of them can be a bit sticky with people just looking for a hookup. But we have got good facilitation and a good group of kids. It is just a safe place to talk about anything we want and to oragnise events like next weekend we are doing a big get together for queer youth (aged 12-24) and will be doing workshops. I get to do one on self-defense n.n