Attic Youth Center

THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, AND QUESTIONING (LGBTQ) YOUTH TO DEVELOP INTO HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT, CIVIC-MINDED ADULTS WITHIN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, AND PROMOTES THE ACCEPTANCE OF LGBTQ YOUTH IN SOCIETY.

INTRODUCTION THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER IS PHILADELPHIA'S ONLY AGENCY EXCLUSIVELY SERVING LGBTQ YOUTH. CURRENTLY, THE ATTIC OFFERS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: 1) THE LIFE SKILLS CENTER PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP OPPORTUNITIES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH TO LEARN, PRACTICE, AND MASTER THE SKILLS THEY WILL NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN SUPPORT GROUPS, WORKSHOPS, PAID INTERNSHIPS, INDIVIDUAL LIFE COACHING, MENTORING, CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING NAVIGATION, AND HIV COUNSELING. PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED IN FIVE CONCENTRATION AREAS: - WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT - HEALTH AND WELLNESS - HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND REMEDIATION - LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 2) MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY THERAPY AS WELL AS PEER SUPPORT GROUPS. COUNSELING IS PROVIDED BY SPECIALISTS IN ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT. ALL OF OUR COUNSELORS AND THERAPISTS ARE MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE SESSIONS IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. 3) THE BRYSON INSTITUTE OF THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER PROVIDES TRAINING, OUTREACH, AND CONSULTATION TO SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND FAITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE TRI-STATE AREA ON THE BEST PRACTICES FOR CREATING SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SPACES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH. ATTIC YOUTH PANELISTS ALSO LEAD TRAININGS, SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO QUESTIONS AND CONVERSATION. 4) ADDITIONAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDES DAILY MEALS AND ACCESS TO FOOD, ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY, DAILY DROP-IN, AND ACCESS TO OTHER BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS PERSONAL HYGIENE SUPPLIES. 2022 HIGHLIGHTS 1) AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN TO EASE AND VACCINATION BECAME AVAILABLE AND TRUSTED BY YOUTH, WE WERE ABLE TO FULLY RE-OPEN THE LIFE SKILLS CENTER TO PROVIDE WEEKDAY PROGRAMMING IN PERSON, INCLUDING ON-SITE DINNER (WITH TAKE-AWAY OPTION). 2) YOUTH WERE ALSO ABLE TO ACCESS COMPUTERS AND FREE INTERNET, ALLOWING THEM TO STUDY AND SOCIALIZE IN AN AFFIRMING SPACE WITH PEERS. 3) PROVIDED 31 TRANSGENDER AND GENDER DIVERSE YOUTH WITH EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND OTHER VITAL SUPPORTS THROUGH THE TRANS YOUTH RESILIENCE FUND. 4) THE ATTIC BOARD PRESIDENT, JASPER LIEM, LCSW, WAS APPOINTED INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN MARCH 2022. 5) WE HOSTED OUR FIRST OPEN HOUSE SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN 3 YEARS AGO, WITH OVER 75 YOUTH AND THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN JUNE 2022. 6) YOUTH AND STAFF PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW PHL PRIDE MARCH AND FESTIVAL. 7) THE ATTIC'S BRYSON INSTITUTE CONTINUED TO WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA TO DEVELOP A SECOND EDITION OF THE FACILITATOR'S MANUAL FOR GENDER & SEXUALITY ALLIANCES (GSA). 8) PARTNERED WITH MAZZONI CENTER, WHO WAS AWARDED A 5-YEAR CDC GRANT TO EXPAND STI AND HIV PREVENTION, TESTING, AND TREATMENT TO YOUNG MSM OF COLOR. 9)STRENGTHENED PROGRAM INFRASTRUCTURE BY PROMOTING SEVERAL DEDICATED EMPLOYEES INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES AND HIRING NEW STAFF IN OUR LIFE SKILLS AND COUNSELING DEPARTMENTS. YOUTH OUTCOMES IN 2022, THE ATTIC PROVIDED YOUTH WITH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: 1) CONNECTED OVER 500 LGBTQ YOUTH TO THE ATTIC'S FULL CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMMING, WHICH INCLUDES COUNSELING, LIFE SKILLS, CASE MANAGEMENT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, JOB READINESS, ART AND CULTURE, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. 2) SAW A DRAMATIC INCREASE OF YOUTH IN-PERSON PARTICIPATION, BRINGING US CLOSER TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS OF ATTENDANCE. 3) OFFERED OVER 300 LEARNING AND SUPPORT GROUP SESSIONS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS FROM PERSONAL IDENTITY, HEALTH EDUCATION, WORK READINESS, PERFORMING ARTS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. 4) PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR 75 PARTICIPANTS, WHICH INCLUDED DEVELOPING INDIVIDUAL RISK REDUCTION PLANS, ENCOURAGING CONDOM USE AND FREQUENT TESTING, AND CONNECTING YOUTH TO RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS MEDICAL CARE, MENTAL HEALTHCARE, AND LEGAL SERVICES. 5) PROVIDED 75 INITIAL CONSULTATIONS AND ONGOING WEEKLY INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING TO 59 YOUTH, THEIR FAMILIES, AND PARTNERS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THIS EQUATED NEARLY 1,600 COUNSELING SESSIONS. 6) INCLUDED YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS FOR ALL ATTIC EMPLOYMENT FINALISTS. 7) THE ATTIC'S BRYSON INSTITUTE TRAINED OVER 800 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THEIR TRAININGS ON THE BEST PRACTICES IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF LGBTQ YOUTH DURING THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2021 - JUNE 30, 2022. PROGRAMMING OUTCOME MEASURES THE ATTIC CONSISTENTLY EVALUATES ITS PROGRAMMING TO ENSURE THAT EACH YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATES IN ATTIC SERVICES HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE IN AN AFFIRMING ENVIRONMENT. THE ATTIC HAS FOUND THAT CONSISTENT PARTICIPATION IN ATTIC PROGRAMMING LEADS YOUTH TO: 1) INCREASED SELF-ESTEEM AND COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. 2)INCREASED KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF HEALTHY COPING BEHAVIORS AND LIFE SKILLS. 3)INCREASED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES (E.G., INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, ADAPTABILITY, TEAMWORK). 4)INCREASED LEADERSHIP SKILLS (E.G., PUBLIC SPEAKING, GROUP FACILITATION, ADVOCACY). 5)IMPROVED LITERACY, STUDY SKILLS, AND ACADEMIC COMPETENCIES. 6)IMPROVED JOB ACQUISITION SKILLS AND LONGER JOB RETENTION RATES. 7)IMPROVED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS, AND CONSULTATIONS LED BY THE BRYSON INSTITUTE OF THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER, SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND ORGANIZATIONS: 1) INCREASE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE LGBTQ YOUTH POPULATION. 2) INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE LGBTQ YOUTH THAT THEY SERVE. 3) WORK TOWARDS CREATING MORE ACCEPTING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR LGBTQ YOUTH.