AFFIRM Caregiver is an evidence-informed intervention aimed at enhancing affirmative parenting practices that promote LGBTQ+ youth safety and wellbeing. The seven-module training is supported by a detailed manual, workbook and implementation guide to support clinicians and clients throughout the process. The AFFIRM Caregiver model emerged from AFFIRM Youth, an evidence-based affirmative Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) intervention which reduces psychosocial distress and improves coping skills among LGBTQ+ young people.

AFFIRM is rooted in an affirmative practice framework and best practice research for LGBTQ+ youth well-being and has a growing base of empirical support for its effectiveness. As such, it was used as the foundation for creating the AFFIRM Caregiver model. In addition, research on family acceptance (Ryan et al., 2010), and emergent practices for promoting compassionate parenting (Kirby, 2019) were used to build the caregiver intervention.

AFFIRM Caregiver is aimed at improving the capacity of parents and other caregivers to support and affirm the LGBTQ+ young people in their care. AFFIRM caregiver was developed for use with any caregiver to LGBTQ+ children and youth. This includes foster parents, chosen family, biological family, legal guardians, and all other caregivers supporting LGBTQ+ young people.

Growing data from AFFIRM Caregiver shows statistically significant improvements in affirmative caregiving attitudes, behaviors and competence in caring for LGBTQ+ youth. Importantly, these improvements have been shown to persist over time. Moreover, data shows that gains were made for caregivers with lower and higher levels of affirmative parenting practices. In addition to positive outcomes with foster parents, AFFIRM Caregiver has been successfully implemented with a constellation of parents caring for LGBTQ+ children, teens, and young adults across diverse regions of North America.

AFFIRM Caregiver is typically delivered by trained and/or licensed certified counselors, social workers and other mental health professionals in a group-based format. The seven modules are designed for flexible implementation both in-person or virtual, making AFFIRM Caregiver groups easy to integrate into existing service delivery programs, including but not limited to child welfare, community mental health, school-based services, and gender clinics. SAMHSA and the Administration for Children and Families recognize AFFIRM Caregiver as a promising approach for advancing the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth and their families.

Register for our AFFIRM Caregiver training to start delivering AFFIRM Caregiver in your practice or organization.

For more information see our publications and recognitions

LEARN TO DELIVER AFFIRM CAREGIVER PROGRAMS

Our 3-day, interactive training will teach you the theories, concepts and practices of AFFIRM Caregiver. You will learn the skills needed to effectively facilitate a compassion-based caregiver therapy that will teach your clients affirmative parenting practices to promote the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth. Expert trainers will use activities and role playing to provide a stimulating and practical training experience. The elements of AFFIRM Caregiver are presented with a focus on: the supporting evidence, principles for creating an affirmative practice context and the clinical considerations necessary to effectively implement AFFIRM Caregiver interventions.

You will GAIN the skills to effectively:

1. Educate caregivers about youths’ diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.

2. Help caregivers understand the impact of anti-LGBTQ+ stress and discrimination on the youth in their lives.

3. Foster the development of affirmative parenting practices among caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth.

4. Implement strategies aimed at helping caregivers integrate self-compassion and compassionate parenting practices into their daily lives.

5. Flexibly deliver evidence-informed interventions.

6. Engage in ongoing assessment and evaluation of the intervention.