Safe Schools Project

Resources for Queer Youth and Educators in Santa Cruz County

Services

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)

For Principals, Counselors, Health Professionals, and Teachers

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

State and National LGBT Organizations

Professional Learning and Publications

The Safe Schools Project provides a wide range of services to schools, school districts and related organizations. Our professional staff is available to provide school district wide or school related professional learning experiences ranging from safe and inclusive school visioning, policy development, workshops, professional development days, staff meetings, one on one teaching guidance, curriculum development, and institutes – and we can provide this in person or online. We can provide this guidance for administrators, teachers, support staff, counselors and parents.  Just contact us for more information.

Curriculum Guides to Purchase

The Safe Schools Project has published the following curriculum guides for teachers:

Professional Learning, Professional Development and Training Topics

One time, one day, two-day, or several months consultation and presentations available on the following topics:

Teaching LGBT History

  • Audience: Teachers, History Teachers, English Teachers
  • Content: This session addresses LGBT history knowledge and strategies to teach LGBT lessons. One or two-day workshops for teachers or curriculum specialists customized for your school.
    See more info here.

Comprehensive and Inclusive Sex Education for Health Educators

  • Audience: Health educators and science teachers.
  • Content: This session addresses Inclusive Sex Education knowledge and strategies to teach LGBT lessons. One or two-day workshops for teachers customized for your school. Includes curriculum guide and online lessons.

Comprehensive and Inclusive Sex Education for Students

  • Audience: Students.
  • Content: Teaching classes of students about inclusive sex education that is aligned with the state history framework and the new California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) of 2015.  Customized for your school. One or two week series of lessons.

Safe School Environment

  • Audience: Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, Health Professionals and Staff
  • Content: Discusses all the necessary steps to create a safe environment for LGBT students in your school. Covers state laws, ed code, the importance of a QSA on campus, creating a safe classroom environment, school policies and processes. When students feel safe on a school campus, they achieve better in their studies and are more college and career ready.

Trans 101/Supporting Transgender Youth

  • Audience: Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, Health Professionals and Staff
  • Content: Discusses current laws and terminology, necessary procedures to protect trans students, bringing staff up to speed on helping trans students feel safe at school as well as working with parents of trans students. We can also work directly with a school site to make sure the site is in conformity with California law with regards to Gender Neutral Bathrooms, Locker rooms, attendance and name changes.

LGBT 101

  • Audience: Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, Health Professionals and Staff
  • Content: Provides school site staff a broad overview of LGBT issues with regards to California laws regarding a school’s duty to protect and support LGBT students, staff and parents.

LGBT Laws and Ed Code 101

  • Audience: Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, Health Professionals and Staff
  • Content: In depth presentation on all the California laws, California case law and Education Code governing all LGBT issue. It is intended for administrators, counselors and those who deal with the “process” of implementing the practice of protecting LGBT students, staff and parents. Some appropriate Federal laws will also be covered.

Administrator Professional Development

  • Audience: School Administrators
  • Content: Customized based on the needs and on the topics above. Administrators are guided in the policies, practices and structures that need to be in place to provide safe and inclusive school environments. One hour, one day or two-day sessions available.

One time or Ongoing Consultation for safe and inclusive school environments, inclusive sex education, and LGBT history is available.

LGBT History Webinars recorded in summer 2018 as part of the online course for teaching LGBT history.

Contact Rob Darrow to customize a professional learning opportunity for your school or organization. And, most importantly, to make your school a safe space for all students who will excel in your school.