Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

With the concept of cultural safety as a frame of reference (shared respect, shared meaning, shared knowledge and experience of learning together (Williams, 1999,p.213)), I will explore the mental health and resilience outcomes for LGBTQ youth when connected to an LGBTQ mentor, to provide social, emotional and physical safety. When rejected by family, LGBTQ youth face poverty, health decline, and increased likelihood of high-risk behaviours. Physiological and psychological impacts of trans/homophobia are compounded by social stress caused by racism, classism, ableism, etc. Current research reinforces the need for intentional community supports, and explores positive, accessible role modeling to help to reduce stigma and shield LGBT youth from negative health risks (Bird et al, 2012, p.354). Yet scholars have not adequately emphasized the structural context of social alienation and social healing, recognizing a young person's complex identities andneed for a mentor who shares their lived experience of oppression. The intersections of identity strongly impact a youth's sense of self and are key factors in healthy development and resilience. I will develop a qualitative study of an established program that uses an anti-oppression framework to match LGBTQ youth with adult mentors, whose lived experience reflects that of the youth on multiple levels. Bird, J. (Ph.D., M.S.W.), Kuhns, L. (Ph.D., M.P.H.), & Garofalo, R. (M.D., M.P.H.) (2012). The impact of role models on health outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender youth. In Journal of adolescent health, 50: 353–357 Williams, R. (1999). Cultural safety – what does it mean for our work practice? Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 23(2), 213-214.