Santa Cruz County Resource List of Organizations that Support Schools, LGBTQ Students and their Families (Updated: March 17, 2019)
Hotline Help for Students and Families (24 hours a day)
- National Suicide Hotline – 1-800-273-8255
- The Trevor Project (Helpline for LGBTQ youth and families) – 1-866-488-7386
- Crisis Text Line – Text 741741 for any crisis support
- Transgender LifeLine – 1-877-565-8860
- Medical or other emergencies – call 911.
For Principals, Counselors, Health Professionals, and Teachers
- Diversity Center – LGBT youth support groups and meetups
- Santa Cruz Safe Schools Project – Support for schools, administrators, teachers, students and families regarding safer and more inclusive school climate.
- Queer Youth Task Force – LGBT Youth council, queer youth leadership awards, adult ally program, and youth summits
- Trans Family Support Service – Transgender family support – youth and families
- Triangle Speakers – Adult panels to provide the shared experiences of LGBT people with classrooms, schools and other organizations. A program of the Diversity Center.
- Encompass Mental Health – Mental health, homeless and foster youth support
- Salud Para La Gente Mental Health – Wellness and mental health support for youth and families (South county)
- Santa Cruz County Health Services – Mental health, sexual health, addiction, HIV and other services for youth and families in Santa Cruz County (Offices in Santa Cruz and Watsonville)
- Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance – Mental health services for youth and families in Watsonville
- PFLAG Santa Cruz County – Support for families of LGBTQ youth
- Gender Spectrum – Understanding gender and professional learning resources
- Human Rights Campaign – Anti-bullying and list of resources for supporting LGBTQ youth and families
For Students
- About Coming Out from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
- Diversity Center Youth Programs – Youth support groups and other fun activities for SC County youth
- Queer Youth Leadership Awards – Annual awards celebration of LGBTQ youth and allies in Santa Cruz County. Nominate someone today.
- Queer Youth Task Force – Works with LGBTQ youth to improve the quality of all LGBTQ youth in the county. Join the Youth Council, become an intern or share a presentation at the annual summit.
- Santa Cruz Safe Schools Project – Works with schools to make all schools more safe and welcoming for LGBTQ youth. Address any equity or harassment issues in schools to the SSP.
For Families and Community
- Diversity Center – LGBT youth events, education, support groups and meetups
- Encompass Mental Health – Mental health, homeless and foster youth support
- PFLAG – Support for families of LGBTQ youth
- Salud Para La Gente Mental Health – Mental health support for youth and families
- Santa Cruz Safe Schools Project – Support for schools, administrators, teachers, students and families regarding safer and more inclusive school climate
- Trans Family Support Services – Transgender family support – youth and families
- Out in our Faith – Interfaith churches working to make all places of worship safe and inclusive
State and National LGBT Organizations
- Campus Pride College Index – Identifies LGBT friendly college campuses
- Gender Spectrum – Provides research, reports and professional learning for adults about gender and transgender student support systems
- Our Family Coalition – Advances equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) families with children through support, education, and advocacy.
- GSA Network – Empowers and trains queer, trans and allied youth leaders to advocate, organize, and mobilize an intersectional movement for safer schools and healthier communities. Sponsors yearly YES Conference for youth.
- Human Rights Campaign – Anti-bullying and list of resources for supporting LGBTQ youth and families
- GLSEN – Promoting safe and inclusive spaces in K-12 schools
- GLAAD – Media support and advocacy for LGBT people in media
- National Bisexual Resource Center
- National Center for Transgender Equality
- National Center for Lesbian Rights
- ACLU LGBT Rights – For legal questions