Until There is Acceptance

Abstract:
This article describes the initiatives of the Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) in New York City, which provides services for lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Its goals are to help youth understand their feelings, enhance self-esteem, diminish isolation, develop social and leisure skills, build peer friendships, prevent HIV infection, and prepare for jobs and careers. The author notes that until there is acceptance of sexual minority youth by mainstream institutions, there is the need for special services. At HMI, program planning and development revolve around the processes of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. HMI's direct services include an after-school drop-in/recreation center; the Harvey Milk School, an alternative high school; Project First Step, an outreach program for runaway, "throwaway," and homeless youth; individual, group, family, and leisure counseling; training programs for youth and professionals; a job skills internship program; and a national advocacy coalition. These services help youth to successfully negotiate the turbulent period of adolescence, to overcome the shame and self-hatred society places on them, and to enable them to hope for rich and satisfying lives.

Author(s): GROSSMAN, Arnold H.

Publication: The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, & Dance (JOPERD)


Date Published: 4/1/1995

Pages: 2

Location Code: 11153