In an effort to better understand a rural community they will soon be serving, Columbus-based Kaleidoscope Youth Center (KYC) has launched a needs assessment for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults in Northwest Ohio.
KYC is stepping in to serve this under-resourced population as Spectrum of Findlay, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit that provided programming and support for queer youth, ceases operations.
A statewide organization, KYC is already the hub for Ohio’s student-run Gender Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) and supports LGBTQ+ youth through safe spaces, programming and leadership opportunities. But as the organization extends its reach intoNorthwest Ohio, KYC leaders want to make sure they are providing only the most-needed services, often in partnership with existing organizations, rather than “recreating any wheels already in motion.”.
“We know that there are organizations in Northwest Ohio doing fantastic work,” said Amanda Erickson, senior associate director of programs and operations at KYC.
LGBTQ+ youth and young adults ages 12-24 are invited to participate in the survey anonymously. It takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Participants will be asked questions about their school experience, LGBTQ+-related resources they currently access, virtual and in-person activities they would like to participate in and what they see as overall challenges to LGBTQ+ life in Northwest Ohio.
“We’re trying to get a feel for what people actually want out of an LGBTQ+ youth program in that area,” said Erickson. “For example, we have already heard that many youth don’t necessarily feel safe logging into a virtual group from their own home.”
Lack of transportation has also been identified as a barrier to accessing services. Erickson said that scarce public transportation and long distances between supportive spaces prevent youth from accessing resources.
“We visited a GSA in northwest Ohio recently and they would love to access the public library, but they cannot even get there after school to be able to access that type of community resource,” she said. “For them already as middle-schoolers, transportation is the number one thing on their list.”
Expanding services into Northwest Ohio also means encountering a far different political and social climate than Columbus, where KYC’s main headquarters is located.
“We know we’re going to now be operating in conservative communities that are not necessarily open to a conversation about trans youth,” Erickson said. “But those LGBTQ+ youth still need and deserve the same level of support.”
The survey is currently open and will be accepting submissions through August. 🔥
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- Kaleidoscope Youth Center’s needs assessment for Northwest Ohio LGBTQ+ youth (12-24) can be found here. Share far and wide to get as many responses as possible.
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