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Growing American Youth

Crisis Management Plan
By: Lauren Chapin
Mission Statement:
Growing American Youth is a social support
organization for youth who live near St. Louis and who
are 21 and under and may identify as lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, asexual or questioning their
sexual orientation or gender identity. Growing American
Youth has been serving area youth for more than 30
years.
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Table of Contents:

Page 1: Cover Page

Page 2: Table of Contents
Page 3: Introductions
Pages 4-6: Past Crisis Events
Pages 6-8: Similar Crisis Events at Related Organizations
Page 9: Formal Acknowledgments
Page 10: Message from Scott Emanuel, Chief Advisor
Pages 11-12: Purpose, Objectives, Crisis Inventory Results
Page 13: Potential Crisis: Probability & Damage Bar Graph
Pages 13-14: Warning Signs of a Potential Crisis Event
Pages 14-17: Spokesperson Information (s)
Pages 18-21: Potential Trick Questions for the Spokesperson
Page 21: Emergency Information
Pages 22-24: Key Messages: The 3 S’s
Pages 24-25: Evaluation of the Crisis Management Plan
Page 25: Methods of Communication
Page 26: Pregathered Information
Page 27: Group Meeting Timeline
Page 28: Press Release
Pages 29-30: Social Media Responses
Pages 31-39: Fact Sheets
Pages 39-42: Glossary
Page 43: Volunteer-Employee Relations/ Important URL’s
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Introduction:
Growing American Youth, is an all-volunteer led non-profit, is a social
support organization that serves Queer youth, allies, and those questioning their
sexual orientation or gender identity, ages 11-21 within the Saint Louis and Saint
Charles area. This organization has been providing support, safe spaces, and
solidarity to at-risk youth for over 30 years. Holding two advised support groups
meetings a week, Growing American Youth aims to afford inclusion and resources
to vulnerable youth.
Why have a Crisis Management Plan?
Growing American Youth offers an accepting, non-judgmental atmosphere
where young people are adamantly welcomed regardless of race, religion, gender,
sexuality, ethnicity, ability or socio-economic status. Unfortunately, there are few
other places in our world today that are as welcoming. Therefore, to ensure the
safety of our volunteer staff advisors, our dozens of youth who attend the weekly
meetings and for the safety of our establishments that volunteer a space for our
groups to meet, the creation and implementation of a crisis management plan serves
as a breath of relief if a crisis were to occur. Having and then being versed on how to
enact a CMP is the difference between a bad situation turning into a crisis situation.
What would happen without a Crisis Management Plan?
Growing American Youth is well-equipped with trained volunteers who act as
advisors that help facilitate the group meetings. These volunteers are trained in crisis
intervention so as to be able to deal with at-risk youth in terms of potential group
attendees that may have mental health issues, suicidal ideations, self-harm histories,
violent or aggressive behavior, or dependencies to drugs or alcohol. Additionally,
trained in dealing with issues revolving around rape, sexual assault, physical assault
or unsafe homes, children who are in the foster care system, or youth who are
displaced/homeless; advisers are experienced with these potential crisis issues
through their training as mandated reporters.
However, as important all the mentioned training is, it cannot replace the all-
inclusive cohesiveness that a Crisis Management Plan has to offer. The CMP is
tasked with the job of bridging together the already existing knowledge of crisis
prevention as understood by the organization’s advisors to then the further extensive
information within a Crisis Management Plan. Through the linking of that
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preexisting training on behalf of the advisors to the fully developed CMP, safety and
security can be ensured not only on an internal level but also on an external level.
Past Crisis Situations at Growing American Youth:
Within Growing American Youth’s history of over 30 years of service to the
queer youth, allies and those questioning their sexuality or gender identity of Saint
Louis City/County and Saint Charles County there has certainly been instances
where a crisis has occurred, and or that the crisis prevention training on the part of
the advisors has helped divert a bad situation away from turning to a full-blown crisis.
Past crisis events include:
- Youth members dealing drugs either before or after group
- Youth members getting caught with drugs or alcohol in or on their person
- Youth members stealing items from the facility or from other group members
- Verbal altercations happening between members, during the group discussion
- Physical fights between youth members happening either before, after, or
outside of group
- Youth members lying about their age, or disclosing false information about
themselves to conceal their true identity to the group and or staff advisors
- Youth members actively confirming they are going to commit suicide in the
immediate future and have a plan to do so
- Youth members going unconscious, after or during a group session due to
issues with bulimia or anorexia
- Youth members going unconscious before, during, or after group meetings
due to health conditions, drug use, or improper self-care
- Youth members having to be taken away by ambulance to the hospital
- Youth members having to be taken away by a police force
- Youth members being stalked to group meetings or leaving group meetings by
past romantic partners
- Calling the police because the safety of a youth is being compromised
- Calling the police because the safety of the group setting which is full of youth
and staff is being compromised
- Youth members who are minors being involved in inappropriate relationships
with adults outside of group (Ex. 12-year-old boy (youth member) claiming to
be dating a 26-year-old man)
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- Youth members confess to being raped, molested, and or sexually/physically

assaulted by another group member
- Youth members confess to being raped, molested and or sexually/physically
assaulted by group advisor
- Youth members confess to being raped, molested and or sexually/physically
assaulted by someone outside of the group within their home
- Youth members confess to being raped, molested and or sexually/physically
assaulted by someone outside of the group, outside of their home that they do
know
- Youth members confess to being raped, molested and or sexually/physically
assaulted by someone outside of the group, outside of their home, that they
do not know
- Youth members trying to take their own life outside of group, failing and then
being placed into psychiatric care
- Youth members successfully taking their own life outside of group
- Youth members trying to commit murder
- Youth members being murdered
- Youth members being displaced (kicked out) from their home due to their
sexual orientation or gender identity
- Youth members being physically/sexually assaulted due to their sexual
orientation or gender identity
- Youth members being fired from a job due to their sexual orientation or
gender identity
- Youth members with severe drug or alcohol dependencies
- Youth members becoming wards of the state due to the termination of
parental rights of their biological parents or legal guardian
- Youth members entering the foster care system due to the termination of
parental rights of their biological parents or legal guardian
- Youth members becoming wards of the state due to the death of their parent
or their legal guardian
- Youth members entering the foster care system due to the death of their
parent or their legal guardian
- Youth members becoming wards of the state due to the incarceration of their
parent or legal guardian
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- Youth members entering the foster care system due to the incarceration of
their parent or legal guardian
- Youth members making inappropriate physical or sexual advances towards
group advisors
- Youth members bringing weapons to group

Have there been similar instances of Crisis issues at related organizations?

******Italicized and underlined descriptions below refer to incidents that
were reported to have happened either before, during, or after the given
organization’s meeting times, or business hours. *****
Metro Trans Umbrella Group: “We are a grassroots nonprofit
organization that is diligently working to create a more inclusive and supportive
community here in Saint Louis. Every 29 hours, a trans person is murdered. Help
end the violence and bigotry by empowering out leaders and supporting our work.”
- Group members have been verbally or physically threaten when arriving to
the group space, or while leaving
- The group as a whole has received threats of violence, aggression and or harm
- Staff of the group have been discriminated against when looking for last
minute locations to safely facilitate group in
- Members have felt unsafe due to other members in the group
- Police or other first responders have had to be called to deal with a physical
threat or a serious health issue
Saint Louis Chapter of TransParent USA: “We envision a world that
honors and affirms the naturally occurring human experience of gender
independence. Our mission is to normalize this experience through connection,
support and resources. Connecting families through locally established TransParent
support groups. Supporting and encouraging parents to act on behalf of their child’s
best interest. Organizing experienced and knowledgeable recourse to assist families
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with their child’s gender journey. By fulfilling this mission, we empower gender
independent children to live authentically.”
- Children are brought to the group with visible signs of physical abuse and are
then hot-lined
- Children make statements about physical or sexual abuse and are then hot-
lined
- Hospital staff are improperly trained on transgender issues such as pronoun
usage, preferred name usage and the concept of gender-nonconformity and
treat the patient incorrectly based on the child’s gender identity assigned to
them at birth
- TransParent as an organization does not uphold confidentiality policies for
their organizations child members and discloses information to the children’s
parents that the child did not want disclosed, which put the child’s safety at
risk
Other Related Organizations:
PROMO Missouri: is Missouri’s statewide organization advocating for
LGBTQ equality through legislative action, electoral politics, grassroots organizing,
and community education.

The SPOT (Supporting Positive Opportunities with Teens)

in the Saint Louis Area: Youth partnering with community for social justice
and health represents the vision for The SPOT. True, to this vision, The SPOT
welcomes ALL youth (13-24) and responds to their particular needs through a
comprehensive model of health and social services.

Youth In Need: Youth In Need is a nonprofit child and family services

agency that is dedicated to building positive futures for the community’s most
vulnerable children, teens and families.

LGBT Counseling STL: “We strictly adhere to the primary mission of

the social work profession which is to “enhance human wellbeing and help meet the
basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and
empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.”
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Safe Connections: “The mission of Safe Connections is to reduce the

impact and incidence of relationship violence and sexual assault through education,
crisis invention, counseling and support services.”

Covenant House: “Covenant House provides housing and supportive

services to youth facing homelessness. We help young people transform their lives
and put them on a path to independence.”

BHR (Behavioral Health Response): “BHR provides confidential

telephone counseling to people in mental health crises as well as mobile outreach
services, community referral services and critical incident stress management
(CISM). BHR’s crisis hotline and mobile outreach services are provided free of
charge to the public by paid professional staff who have master’s degrees in their
respective behavioral science disciplines.”
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Formal Acknowledgements:
Lead Board Member, Growing American Youth
(Print Full Name/Signature/Date Below)

Chief Advisor, Growing American Youth

(Print Full Name/Signature/Date Below)

Events Management Leader, Youth In Need

(Print Full Name/Signature/Date Below)

Events Coordinator, Trinity Episcopal Church

(Print Full Name/Signature/Date Below)
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Message from Scott Emanuel, Chief Advisor, Growing American Youth

To Youth Members and Youth Advisors,
Growing American Youth began as a place with safety, support and solidarity in
mind for all youth regardless of their sexual or gender identity or expression. The Saint
Louis area as whole is a community filled with vibrant and welcoming neighborhoods.
Nevertheless, often times these welcoming environments are not available for minors or
children. Therefore, Growing American Youth, over 30 years ago, decided that the safety,
support and solidarity that could be found throughout Saint Louis should also be accessible
for minors and children who may be queer, questioning or allies. That goal and mission
has remained the same since it was seen into fruition decades ago. We focus on providing
resources, advocacy and availability for the youth to succeed on their own, which when
provided the proper space to grow, we know they will flourish richly. At Growing American
Youth, we believe, listen to, trust, and respect young people as individuals with their own
autonomy. We have always believed in the power of young people authentically living their
lives while being given a safe space to do so, through support and the solidarity that being a
part of a community brings.
Though a crisis event in any capacity can never be fully avoided, we are dedicated in
assuring you that we will not succumb to any crisis event that comes our way, we refuse to
potentially let our youth members be denied the vital weekly support they each deserve.
We will continue to support and advocate for youth as we remain serving youth in the Saint
Louis and Saint Charles areas.
Growing American Youth’s Pledges:
- To provide a safe and inclusive space for Queer youth, those questioning or allies
ages 11-21
- To assure inclusive training for all volunteer staff and advisors on Gender issues
including, transgender, gender non-conforming, gender non-binary, gender-variant,
gender-queer issues
- To ensure the promotion and execution of our safety guidelines called ROPES, are
read and discussed before every group meeting
- That before, during and after every group meeting multiple advisors will be available
for youth to speak with privately about any questions, comments or concerns they
may have
Sincerely,

Scott Emanuel, Chief Advisor, Growing American Youth

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Purpose:
With taking into consideration the history of Growing American Youths past
issues of crisis situations and events and then also given the current climate of
incidents and or violence that our society is in, it is arguable that the top five most
likely crises to consider immediate preparation for are as follows. An intruder,
physical/sexual violence, natural disaster, hot-lining youth due to a mental health
issue, and youth displacement/homelessness. It is easy to perhaps see the danger
of an intruder, or a natural disaster in terms of a crisis situation. However, there
are other forms of a crisis that Growing American Youth must be ready to handle
in terms of internal crisis management as well.
Physical/sexual violence, unfortunately, can occur in a variety of ways as
mentioned previously in the past crisis events section of the CMP. This being
said, it is important to realize that the physical or sexual violence itself is of course
an issue, though with it carries a separate yet linked issue of potentially creating a
lack of trust between the youth attendees and the advisors. For example, if an
advisor was abusive to a youth member, this could cause youth to stop coming to
group which would threaten the existence of group entirely. Growing American
Youth is only in existence if there is youth to attend the meetings. Additionally,
the groups existence is again threatened if youth become displaced or homeless,
they usually get placed in foster care or live on the streets and in either situation
can hinder their attendance to group, again threatening the existence of Growing
American Youth. Similarly, if youth members are hot-lined and either go away
for extended periods of time to either jail, prison, mental health facilities or other
agencies such as those, then they are not able to attend group meetings, again
threatening the survival of group, and by default Growing American Youth itself.
Being ever vigilant of the common dangerous crisis events, such as the risk of a
tornado or active shooter, is of course a good idea, however; at Growing
American Youth to fully be prepared for a crisis event one must realize that a
seemingly not related incident could have lasting effects on the youth members
who decide to either attend or not attend group meetings, and without youth
members there is no Growing American Youth. Attendance by youth is vital to
the continuation of group and all the crises events mentioned could hinder the
not only continuation of Growing American Youth but so too the existence of the
organization at all.
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Objectives:
Growing American Youth will:
1. Notify youth members within 24 hours of the crisis event if the following
group meetings will be cancelled for a brief period of time following a crisis
event. These notifications will be expressed via social media.
2. Ensure all volunteer staff members and group advisors are able to recite their
mandated reporter training guidelines if questioned by reporters or journalists
about the crisis events.
3. Implement the Growing American Youth phone support line which will be
used for anonymous reporting of incidents or concerns from or by youth
members post a crisis event.
4. Designate a section on the home website to a question and answer section,
within the week of the crisis so as to provide youth members, our stakeholders
and the general public of the given or present facts. This page will be
monitored consistently by our Chief advisor and will be updated with accurate
information as it is relayed to the organization by authorities.
5. Within the first three months’ post crisis bring in formal clinical psychologists
and counseling options for the youth and advisors to benefit from before and
after group meetings in each group meeting location in response to the crisis
event.
Crisis Inventory & Results:
Below is a crisis inventory bar graph which indicates the five most plausible
crises that could happen within Growing American Youth. The graph breaks
down the probability of the crisis and the damage that given crisis would have
against the organization. This is a vital visual resource when discussing the
potential for a crisis within the organization. Between, an Intruder,
physical/sexual violence, a natural disaster, having to hotline a youth for serious
mental health issues, and finally displacement or homelessness for a youth
attendee. All five of these are examples of a potential crisis that could affect
Growing American Youth.
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The Potential Crisis’s for Growing American Youth:

Warning Signs of a Possible Crisis:

Intruder: Youth attending the group meetings could mention a suspicious
person in their lives who will not leave them alone. Perhaps an ex has made
threats to come and get them wherever they are. Or anti-LGBTQ personal could
see Growing American Youth as a target for homophobic or transphobic
violence. These are all examples of the possible dangers that an intruder could
pose, and the damage could be severe if they were then also armed.

Physical/Sexual violence: Continue to actively listen to youth

expressing concern for the person they are dating hurting them or potentially to a
family member at home being abusive. Continue open discussions about such issues
in the media surrounding violence so as to use examples like the #MeToo
movement as a Segway into discussions about these issues. Refer back to mandated
reporter training about these issues. Remember trust between the group facilitators
and group attendees is key, listen and react promptly and properly.
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Natural Disaster: Given that both locations where group meetings are
held are open spaces with huge windows there is the possibility of tornados,
floods, or heavy snowfall causing serious damage. Refer to the use of local
guidelines and research about having a safety back up plan if a disaster strikes.

Hot-lining Youth for Serious Mental Health Reasons: If youth

are expressing desires to harm themselves or others, or have expressed that they
have already tried or are going to try to kill themselves or other people this is a
moment as a mandated reporter that hot-lining a youth member should be
underwent. Additionally, if a youth is expressing self-harm issues, a lapse in taking
their medication, giving away their possessions, or writing goodbye letters to
friends then hot-lining them as a suicide risk should be considered upon
conversations with the youth themselves and also potentially their parent, legal
guardian and or therapist or counselor.

Displacement/Homelessness: Youth members who identify as

LGBTQ+ or even those who are simply questioning their gender or sexual
identity, perhaps even allies to the community are all potentially at risk for
displacement or homelessness is their homes, parents, or legal guardians does
not support their child’s identity. If youth members become homeless the ability
for them to attend group dwindles, therefore also putting the groups existence at
risk. This is why having prominent relationships with local youth resource and
advocacy shelters, like Growing American Youth does play a vital role in
continuing services to youth even beyond just the weekly meetings.

Spokesperson:
During a crisis event selecting a spokesperson last minute is something that
should be avoided entirely. Rather, as a means of proactivity and professionalism,
selecting a spokesperson in the event of a crisis beforehand is essential. While
understanding that no one person can have “all the right responses” we still can
assure that one person, being the spokesperson, is delegated the responsibility of
responding properly, immediately, and in a sophisticated manner before, during
and after a crisis event.
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Selection Criteria:
The selected spokesperson must be able to verbalize and conceptualize
for other people the mission statement of Growing American Youth.
This person should have proper media training and understanding.
Having the ability to differentiate facts from opinions is an imperative
skill they should have.
Proper communication skills, be it casual all the way to formal is
essential.
The selected spokesperson should be trained on the importance of
delivering proper information to the public or media in a timely
manner.
Should be well versed in Queer vernacular and terminology.
Should be well trained in issues related to youth and children.
The selected spokesperson should have a clear understanding of the
local, national, and federal laws regarding the relaying of information in
regards to potential minors.
The selected spokesperson should understand the difference
geographically between each Growing American Youth meeting
location and how each facility is not the same.
The selected spokesperson should be well-informed about the history
and current demographics of Growing American Youth.
The selected spokesperson should be knowledgeable about current
media news related to or in regards to Queer topics or issues.
The selected spokesperson would be able to show empathy without
becoming overwhelmed with emotions, they should remain
professional but not cold at a potentially tragic crisis event.
They should be invested in always reverting back to the key messages of
the given situation.
They should understand that speculations are essentially rumors and a
spokesperson relays only the facts, never rumors.
The selected spokesperson should be able to properly deflect questions
the investigation is not yet ready to answer by reverting back to the key
messages of the crisis event.
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Spokesperson Information:
Chief Advisor/Spokesperson: Scott Emanuel
Email: scottemanuel@gmail.com
Telephone: 314-276-5043
Address of Contact:
Youth In Need
Attn: Growing American Youth
1815 Boones Lick Road
Saint Charles, MO 63301
&
Trinity Episcopal Church
Attn: Growing American Youth
600 N Euclid Avenue
Saint Louis, MO 63108
Internet Locations:
Instagram: @growingamericanyouth
Facebook: Growing American Youth
Twitter: @LGBTQyouth
Tumblr: @growingamericanyouth
Website: www.growingamericanyouth.org
Interview Tips-For the Spokesperson:
Speak in a unified voice for the company or organization.
Understand the audience you’re speaking to.
Be aware that the audience you’re speaking to is relying on you for support
and service, be factual not just pleasing.
Keep your audience in mind when it comes to the use of technical or
professional jargon they may or may not understand.
What you say WILL impact someone, speak with a purpose.
Speak confidentiality, not robotically.
Be prepared for questions you may not know the answer to.
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Be prepared to reference a secondary source to answer the question you may

not have the proper response to.
Know your key messages like the back of your hand. Reiterate your key
messages frequently.
Don’t repeat the poison. Simply respond without repeating the question.
Understand the difference between dynamic deflection to key messages and
plainly avoiding questions.
Capture audience’s attention with FACTS, not fantasy.
Offer solutions, not speculations.
Explanations are good, but with facts ONLY.
It’s okay to not know all the facts right away, but if you assure your audience
you’ll provide them with those facts once you know them, do not forget to
provide that information later!
You may think you’re speaking crystal clearly; your own perception is not
everyone else’s reality.
Always annunciate and remember there could be those with disabilities or
handicaps listening or watching you too, be aware of that possibility.
Integrate your key messages in with the facts so that the audience is less likely
to become disinterested in what you’re saying.
When others are talking, actively listen.
When you’re talking practice a normal amount of eye contact and a quality
speech voice.
Speak how you speak. Big words only make you seem snobby and makes the
audience confused.
Understand that from the moment you begin talking until the moment you
stop talking you’re building trust, and trust can be broken easily.
When ending, be ready to answer multiple questions you cannot answer at
that given time, but will have to get back to those media outlets later with more
information when you have it available to you.
NEVER, EVER, respond to a question with “No Comment.”
Hold onto your key messages and revert back to them in the event that a
media consultant continues to push an issue or question you cannot at that
point answer.
Remember to be kind and respectful even if other people are not acting that
way.
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Potential Trick Questions:

Speculative Question that begin with “IF” Example:
Potential Question: “If your social support meeting times were earlier
in the day, would that have posed less of a risk to your youth who
attend your meetings?”
Potential Response: “Our social support meeting times are later in the
evening so as to provide our youth with a safe and inclusive space to
meet together during the after school hours of the day so as to not
interfere with our youths continued enrollment in school or other
positive influences outside of group.”
Leading Question Example:
Potential Question: “It is fair to say that Growing American Youth
could have foreseen this crisis given the state of our world today,
correct?”
Potential Response: “Our Mission at Growing American Youth is to
provide at-risk youth every opportunity for success and safety despite
the societal climate that seeks to undermine that safety.”
Loaded Question Example:
Potential Question: “Isn’t true that you knew that your former advisor
was having an inappropriate social media relationship with one of your
youth attendees?”
Potential Response: “Once it was brought to our attention that there
was a concern about one of our former advisors in regards to
potentially inappropriate behavior, we immediately notified our board
of the situation who then took the required measures to sort out and
identify the situation. That advisor in question no longer volunteers
with our organization.”
Naïve Question Example:
Potential Question: “What kind of youth does Growing American
Youth support?”
Potential Response: “Growing American Youth is a social support
organization that serves Queer youth, those questioning their sexuality
or gender identity or allies ages 11-21 years old by providing a safe and
inclusive space for solidarity and acceptance within the Saint Louis
area.”
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False Question Example (Containing Inaccurate Details That Reporters Want

You to Correct):
Potential Question: “All of the youth and advisors that attend the group
meetings must be members of the LGBTQ community, correct?”
Potential Response: “Growing American Youth is a safe and inclusive
space regardless of how a person may or may not identify. Neither
youth member or advisor is required to express their sexual preference
or gender identity when attending or facilitating group meetings. We
welcome all youth ages 11-21 years old and any adults who wish to sit in
on meetings if they provided prior notice first.”
Know It All Question Example:
Potential Question: “I think I have all the information I need, I just
wanted to confirm on last point with you that Growing American Youth
does not perform background checks on all non-minor youth members
of the group, correct?”
Potential Response: “Growing American Youth has a primary focus of
safety and because of that we never ask for a youth’s personal
information other than their age and preferred name and pronouns.”
Silence Example:
Potential Question: ***awkward silence, post a serious question***
Potential Response: “Again, I want to reiterate that Growing American
Youth is a volunteer lead organization which is filled with excellent
people taking the time to be leaders providing safety and a community
to handfuls of children who otherwise would not have anywhere else to
go to feel safe or secure in themselves. Growing American Youth
makes safety, on all levels a top priority.”
Accusatory Question Example (Designed to Make You Blame Someone
Else):
Potential Question: “The crisis is due to someone’s inaction, who is to
blame?”
Potential Response: “Growing American Youth seeks to provide every
avenue of support possible for the youth we serve and when the time
unfortunately comes where that support failed or was lacking in any
way, then all volunteers at Growing American Youth agree that it is only
as a group that we can fix a situation like that so we do not then find
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ourselves in the same position again. We plan to learn from this

situation and grow positivity from it.”
Multiple-Part Question Example (Designed to be Intentionally Confusing):
Potential Question: “Is Growing American Youth really able to provide
support for its youth members if it cannot even provide safety? Why do
you think you failed in providing safety this time? Who’s to say your
organization won’t fail again in providing safety to the youth you serve?”
Potential Response: “At Growing American Youth we aim to offer
inclusivity, safety and support. These are our founding goals and they
will continue to be our goals as we learn from this unfortunate
experience and move forward by remembering that inclusiveness, safety
and support for youth is why we do what we do.”
Jargon Question Example:
Potential Question: “Why do you focus on Queer youth safety, why not
transgender youth safety, or bisexual youth safety?
Potential Response: “In fact, Queer is an umbrella term for folks within
the LGBTQ community. It is an all-encompassing term for the many
identities that a person could have. Therefore, when Growing
American Youth says we focus on Queer safety what we really mean is
that we focus on safety for all persons regardless of how they choose to
identify.”
Chummy Question Example:
Potential Question: “Hey my brother is gay so I know what it’s like to
provide love and care for a gay person, so you know between you and
me, why do you really think this whole thing happened, do you think it
was a hate crime?”
Potential Response: “It is wonderful that you’re providing your family
member support regardless of how they identify, at Growing American
Youth we advocate for the same support, that regardless of a person’s
sexual orientation or gender identity they are deserving of love and
support.”
Labeling Question Example:
Potential Question: “Do you think your failing retention rate of
volunteers has anything to with this crisis happening?”
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Potential Response: “Our volunteers at Growing American Youth are

the backbone of our organization, without them our youth would not
have the safe and supportive environment that they have each week.
We are thankful for our past volunteers for their selfless acts of
kindness which has led us to the success we have today in serving youth
all across the Saint Louis and Saint Charles area.”
Good-Bye Question Example (Reporters Give the Impression the Interview
Is Over Before Asking Such Questions):
Potential Question: “Hey thanks again for being here, we’ll talk soon,
one more thing, do you think the youth have lost trust in your
advisors?”
Potential Response: “We really appreciate your interest in Growing
American Youth and hope for your continued support for our
organization as we continue to provide safety and support to at risk
youth throughout the Saint Louis and Saint Charles areas.”
Emergency Information:
Saint Louis:
Metropolitan Police Department:
1200 Clark Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63103
314- 444-5603

Saint Louis Children’s Hospital

1 Childrens Place
Saint Louis, MO 63110
314-454-6000
Saint Charles:
Saint Charles Police Department:
1781 Zumbehl Road
Saint Charles, MO 63303
636-949-3300
CenterPointe Hospital
763 New Ballas S Road
Saint Louis, MO 63141
314-292-7373
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Key Messages: The 3 S’s

1. SAFETY, is the priority.
2. SUPPORT, is our goal.
3. SOLIDAIRTY, for all youth regardless of their identity is the
mission.

1. Safety:
Within Growing American Youth, we aim to provide the
inclusivity that is often not found within other areas of life. During
our group meetings we practice and facilitate safety through our
presence by maintaining a zero tolerance drug or alcohol policy.
Additionally, we read and discuss our guidelines entitled ROPES
before each group meeting. Physical, emotional, mental, and
psychological safety is of the utmost importance for Growing
American Youth. We take wellbeing seriously and discuss
consistently with our volunteer staff multiple safety protocols that
exist in the event of a crisis where the safety of our youth and or our
advisors is being compromised. For example, if a natural disaster
such as a tornado were to occur, we Growing American Youth has a
plan in place of where to take shelter in either group meeting
location. This plan is known by youth members as well. Moreover,
we are open and honest with our youth if they ever have questions
or comments concerning safety if a possible crisis were to happen.
Transparency amongst our youth and amongst our volunteer staff is
essential so that the welfare of all group attendees is maintained.
2. Support:
While Growing American Youth is inherently a social support
organization for youth who may or may not be members of the
LGBTQ community, we advocate for support beyond just
 P a g e | 23

acceptance and respect for a person regardless of their identity. We

also advocate for support through self-advocacy in terms of mental
health issues for our youth, we also practice and show support for
our youth by actively listening during group sessions and not holding
side conversations. Support can appear in many different ways and it
is the goal of Growing American Youth that we offer that support to
these youths in a mirroring way or example so that they then are
able to see how support is given so that they then can turn around
and show support themselves for those who are in their lives. This is
why when preparing for a crisis event such as an intruder, we have a
supportive safety plan in place that both advisors and youth are
aware of. Youth rely on the support of advisors being properly
trained on how to deal with a crisis event that would involve an
intruder. Within Growing American Youth, we recognize that
support can take practice, understanding and commitment and we
are dedicated in taking the time needed so that each youth who
walks in our doors for the first time or for the hundredth time feels
and recognizes that support for their truth and their identity as they
choose to present it.
3. Solidarity:
Historically, the LGBTQ+ community was one that had to live
within the shadows of society and their only source of safety and
support was within themselves. As our society changes, and
becomes more inclusive and respectful, are mission at Growing
American Youth remains, and that is to assist and meet society
where it is at in terms of progress so as to best serve our youth. The
best way we can facilitate conversations about the importance of
safety and support for our youth is to do so within a community.
Solidarity is a community in harmony. Within Growing American
Youth, we strive to be that example of a community in harmony. It
is our understanding that the best way for change to occur is to
 P a g e | 24

practice the change you wish to see. This also means that in terms of
mental health issues, at Growing American Youth we pride
ourselves in providing a non-judgmental space regardless of your
mental health status. Nevertheless, safety, support, and solidarity for
the group must be maintained and if a crisis event occurred where
the mental health status of an individual was hindering any of safety,
support or solidarity of group then that would be immediately dealt
with by hot-lining that person. At Growing American Youth, we
practice safety for all people regardless of identity, support for those
people regardless of how they choose to identify and then relish in
the communal solidarity that can come about when youth are given
a safe and supportive place to flourish.
Evaluation of CMP Effectiveness:
It is after a Crisis event that Growing American Youth will take the proper
steps to evaluate what went wrong, how it went wrong, and how we as an organization
can assure it will never happen again. This evaluation is made so as to be another
pair of eyes to look at the pre-crisis, crisis, and post crisis. Talking about the tough
stuff now is what prevents an organization from having to deal with these issues again
later on. Now is the time, through an evaluation like this, to recognize the
importance of transparency and proactivity to avoid a crisis like this in the future.
1. Internal Relations: Did we relay enough proper information from our board
all the way down to our volunteer advisors? Was the information provided
easily accessible? Was the information provided clear and easily digestible?
What can we do in the future to assure that our internal dynamic does not
suffer similarly, before, during or after a crisis event?
2. Media Relations: After the reviewing of the Media’s coverage of the crisis
event involving Growing American Youth, in what ways did we assist in the
positive coverage of our organization? In what ways did we assist through
inaction the coverage of negative aspects of our organization that put our
name in faulty lighting? How can we avoid this in the future? What proactive
measures should we have taken?
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3. The Crisis Management Team: Was the team successful in their interpersonal
communication during the crisis event? During the post crisis event? Did the
CMT remain one united front when expressing ideas or delivering messages
to the public or media? In what ways could the team have been more unified?
In what ways did we still fail as a team despite our best efforts? In what ways
did we succeed in unexpected ways? Were we truly prepared? If not in what
ways must we improve?

Methods of Communication
If and when a Crisis event were to occur this is the way, the following
parties should be notified:

Email Phone Social Twitter Facebook Website Media Press

Media Coverage Release
Board x x
Members:
Advisors: x x
Group x x x x x
Facility
Locations:
Donors: x x x x
Youth x x x
Members:
General x x x x x x
Public:
Surrounding x x
Communities:
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Pregathered Information
The Beginning: Growing American Youth initially began due to a lacking of
local resources for LGBTQ+ youth. While historically, gay night clubs, bars
and drag shows have often been the place of community and support for
those who identify on the Queer spectrum, all of those installations are often
riddled with alcohol, drugs and or prostitution. Not to mention that most bars
regardless of their theme or customer basis have legal ages of entry, which do
not apply to children. This forced LGBTQ identifying children out into the
fringes of society and even to the fringes of their own queer community, a
community that was forgetting about its youngest most vulnerable members.
While mental health issues plague children regardless of their
identities, children that were growing up and coming out decided they needed
their own space too. Unfortunately, not all children who grew up and began
identifying as LGBTQ+ were welcomed and or accepted by their family, faith,
or even communities. Therefore, Growing American Youth decided to fulfil
that accepting role. Entitling itself cryptically so as to provide safety to children
who wanted to attend group. It has never been Growing American Youth’s
intention to be the “gay group for kids” so they never have advertised itself by
a name as a group that is meant for LGBTQ+ kids or allies. Instead they
promoted themselves as a group for youth that may or may not be LGBTQ+
identifying.
However, the acronym “GAY” as the name suggests remained for those
children looking for resources, much like a small porch light in the darkness
letting anyone who comes across the group to know that this group is one of
safety, support and a place of solidarity. It has been over 30 years since
Growing American Youth was formed. Since its establishment the group has
served over 5,000 local LGBTQ+ youth into adulthood. They have worked
closely with grassroots organizations to decrease the Saint Louis City youth
homeless populations by providing counseling and housing resources.
Additionally, walking annually in the Saint Louis PRIDE parade with over 500
supportive youth and their friends or families. Growing American Youth
continues to be a beacon for at risk youth who may or may not be LGBTQ+
identifying.
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General Timeline of Group Meetings:

6:40 pm Advisors arrive at group facility (Central West End/Saint Charles)
6:40 -7:00 pm Advisors will set up the space to hold meetings.
7:00-7:10 pm Advisors will wait for youth who may be running behind to
arrive.
7:10 Group begins
Advisors will begin group with a greeting.
Once the youth have read aloud the guiding principles of ROPES and
the GENDER STATEMENT, the advisors will begin with
introductions. Which are series of 7 questions:
1. What is your name or preferred name?
2. What are your preferred pronouns?
3. How old are you?
4. Do you go to school, if so where?
5. Do you work, if so where?
6. Is this your first time coming to group?
7. Question of the Day: (Ex. If you were a Halloween Candy what
Halloween Candy would you be?)
After Introductions take place then it is time for “Highs & Lows”. This
is the part of the group setting where youth members go around the
circle and express the “highs & lows” that are going on in their life.
8:30 pm Group Ends:
Advisors should end group with thanking the youth for attending.
Advisors should wait until all youth have been picked up before locking
up and leaving.
Once all youth have left, advisors should touch base with each other
about any potential notable events and then make sure the building is
left the way it was found before leaving for the evening.
 P a g e | 28

Generic Release: Intruder

Contact: Scott Emanuel
314-276-5043
scottemanuel@gmail.com
For Immediate Release

Intruder at Growing American Youth: Saint Charles Location

SAINT CHARLES, MO – Before the weekly youth meeting held at Youth in Need at 1815
Boones Lick Road in Saint Charles Missouri had begun an intruder was reported to be on the
property of the facility. A youth member, aged 16 notified an adult advisor who is the group
facilitator, of the intruder. The man allegedly approached the 16-year-old youth attendee as she got
out of her car to go inside for the meeting. The man was said to be a young white man, potentially
early 30’s with curly blond hair. He was wearing jeans, black converse sneakers and a Saint Louis
Cardinals t-shirt when he approached the young group attendee allegedly trying to demand that she
get into his car and go with him to his apartment. After telling the intruder no and to leave her
alone she ran away into the facility and asked the advisor to lock the door because a man tried to
“kidnap” her.
The advisor facilitating the group meeting immediately called 911 and locked all the doors
to the facility and told all the youth who had already arrived for group to go into the back safe
room and to not leave. The advisor facilitating the group went outside to look for the man and saw
a pickup truck speed off. The advisor reported to police that the truck was black and potentially a
Ford model. The police are looking for this truck in relation to the case.
Those who recall seeing a man matching this description or recall seeing a car matching
this description in the area that night is encouraged to get into contact with the Saint Charles Police
if they have any information, all tips are welcomed. The Saint Charles Police Department can be
reached at 636-949-3300 or at @SCCMOPD on all social media platforms.
###

Located just off Highway 70 going West, Youth In Need has held support group meetings for
Growing American Youth for decades. Growing American Youth is a social support organization
that provides safety, support and solidarity to youth ages 11-21 that may or may not be LGBTQ
members, those questioning their sexuality or gender identity or allies to the community.
For more information, www.growingamericanyouth.org
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Social Media Responses:

Facebook: Include screenshot photograph of written out press release in post.

Along with this brief statement:

“This evening at 7:15 PM a 911 call came in from the cellphone of a volunteer advisor at Youth in

Need located at 1815 Boones Lick Road, Saint Charles MO reporting that an intruder was

reported on the premises and had made contact with a minor female trying to lure her into his

vehicle. The young female, a youth member, ran away from the man to the inside of the building

where she notified the group facilitators of the man’s presence. Police arrived on scene shortly

after the call went out and have since secured the scene. No injuries reported. The investigation is

ongoing. The police are looking for a person of interest. The man who alleged attempted to lure a

minor into his vehicle was reported to be a young white male, potentially in his early 30’s, with

blonde curly hair. He was seen wearing jeans, black converse sneakers and a Saint Louis Cardinals

t-shirt. Additionally, police are looking for a vehicle of interest in the case. A black pickup truck,

potentially a Ford model.”

Include stock photos of what the clothing and vehicle could potentially look like.

Twitter:

Include screenshot photograph of written out press release in post.

Caption:

“This evening a man allegedly attempted to lure a minor into his vehicle in the parking lot of a

youth support group meeting. No injuries occurred. Police are looking for a young white male,

potentially in his early 30’s with blonde curly hair who was seen wearing jeans, black converse

sneakers, and a Saint Louis cardinal’s t-shirt as a person of interest in the case. Also a black pickup
 P a g e | 30

truck, potentially a Ford is also a vehicle of interest in the case. Any tips please call the Saint

Charles PD at 636-949-3300.”

Also in include pictures of what the potential clothing and vehicle could look like.

Instagram: Post the same caption as Twitter.

Include pictures of what the potentially clothing and vehicle could look like.

Also post the screenshot photograph of the press release.

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Fact Sheet:

Intruder Facts: A prevalent issue that our youth have commented on dealing with is

people that they have conversations with online or within the realms of social media then

trying to contact them in real life. Much of these people being adults looking to have

inappropriate relationships with minors. Reports of different kinds of people stalking our

youth members has come up. Here is some factual information about stalkers, which

would be the most likely form of an intruder, according to The National Center for Victims

of Crimes, the Stalking Resource Center:

What is Stalking?

While legal definitions of stalking vary from one jurisdiction to another,

a good working definition of stalking is a course of conduct directed at a

specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.

Stalking is serious, often violent and can escalate over time.

Some Things That Stalkers May Do:

 Follow you and show up wherever you are.

 Send unwanted gifts, letters, cards, or e-mails.
 Damage your home, car, or other property.
 Monitor your phone calls or computer use.
 Use technology, like hidden cameras or global positioning systems (GPS), to track where you go.
 Drive by or hang out at your home, school, or work.
 Threaten to hurt you, your family, friends, or pets.
 Find out about you by using public records or online search services, hiring investigators, going
through your garbage, or contacting friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers.
 Posting information or spreading rumors about you on the Internet, in a public place, or by word of
mouth.
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Physical/Sexual Violence Facts: Unfortunately, physical violence is something that has

been mentioned time and time again by youth members. Whether it be from friends,

family members or a romantic partner. Physical violence is very different that sexual

violence and according to the World Health Organization here are some facts about

physical violence in reference to children:

Violence Against Children:

Most violence against children involves at least one of six main types of interpersonal

violence that tend to occur at different stages in a child’s development.

 Maltreatment (including violent punishment) involves physical, sexual and

psychological/emotional violence; and neglect of infants, children and adolescents by

parents, caregivers and other authority figures, most often in the home but also in

settings such as schools and orphanages.

 Bullying (including cyber-bullying) is unwanted aggressive behavior by another child or

group of children who are neither siblings nor in a romantic relationship with the victim.

It involves repeated physical, psychological or social harm, and often takes place in

schools and other settings where children gather, and online.

 Youth violence is concentrated among children and young adults aged 10–29 years,

occurs most often in community settings between acquaintances and strangers, includes

bullying and physical assault with or without weapons (such as guns and knives), and

may involve gang violence.

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 Intimate partner violence (or domestic violence) involves physical, sexual and emotional

violence by an intimate partner or ex-partner. Although males can also be victims,

intimate partner violence disproportionately affects females. It commonly occurs against

girls within child marriages and early/forced marriages. Among romantically involved

but unmarried adolescents it is sometimes called “dating violence”.

 Sexual violence includes non-consensual completed or attempted sexual contact and

acts of a sexual nature not involving contact (such as voyeurism or sexual harassment);

acts of sexual trafficking committed against someone who is unable to consent or refuse;

and online exploitation.

 Emotional or psychological violence includes restricting a child’s movements,

denigration, ridicule, threats and intimidation, discrimination, rejection and other non-

physical forms of hostile treatment.

When directed against girls or boys because of their biological sex or gender identity,

any of these types of violence can also constitute gender-based violence.

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Sexual Violence Cont.: Additionally, sexual violence is unfortunately another issue that

time and time again is brought up by youth in terms of current, or past sexual violence or abuse.

Youth members often express being exposed to sexual violence as early as being a toddler all the

way until they are in college. Here are some facts from The Children’s Assessment Center about

sexual violence and abuse against children:

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

It is any sexual activity between adults and minors or between two minors when one forces

it on the other. This includes sexual touching and non-touching acts like exhibitionism, exposure

to pornography, photography of a child for sexual gratification, solicitation of a child for

prostitution, voyeurism and communication in a sexual way by phone, Internet or face-to-face. It is

a crime punishable by law that must be reported.

Natural Disasters Facts: Missouri is located in the midst of Tornado alley and is

notorious for unusual and unpredictable weather. Therefore, it is ever important in terms

of vigilance to know all the different facts about the potential natural disaster weather

related incidents you could find yourself in. Here as some important facts that The

National Severe Storm Laboratory considers the basics of information to know:

Thunderstorm Basics
What is a thunderstorm?
A thunderstorm is a rain shower during which you hear thunder. Since thunder comes
from lightning, all thunderstorms have lightning.
What is a severe thunderstorm?
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A thunderstorm is classified as “severe” when it contains one or more of the following:

hail one inch or greater, winds gusting in excess of 50 knots (57.5 mph), or a tornado.
What kinds of damage can thunderstorms cause?
Many hazardous weather events are associated with thunderstorms. Under the right
conditions, rainfall from thunderstorms causes flash flooding, killing more people each
year than hurricanes, tornadoes or lightning. Lightning is responsible for many fires
around the world each year, and causes fatalities. Hail up to the size of softballs
damages cars and windows, and kills livestock caught out in the open. Strong (up to
more than 120 mph) straight-line winds associated with thunderstorms knock down
trees, power lines and mobile homes. Tornadoes (with winds up to about 300 mph) can
destroy all but the best-built man-made structures.
What is the difference between a Severe Thunderstorm WATCH and a Severe
Thunderstorm WARNING?
A Severe Thunderstorm WATCH is issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center
meteorologists who are watching the weather 24/7 across the entire U.S. for weather
conditions that are favorable for severe thunderstorms. A watch can cover parts of a
state or several states. Watch and prepare for severe weather and stay tuned to NOAA
Weather Radio to know when warnings are issued.

A Severe Thunderstorm WARNING is issued by your local NOAA National Weather

Service Forecast Office meteorologists who watch a designated area 24/7 for severe
weather that has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings mean there
is a serious threat to life and property to those in the path of the storm. ACT now to
find safe shelter! A warning can cover parts of counties or several counties in the path of
danger.

Tornado Basics
What is a tornado?
A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of
a thunderstorm to the ground. Because wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado
unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust and debris.
Tornadoes are the most violent of all atmospheric storms.
What is the difference between a Tornado WATCH and a Tornado WARNING?
A Tornado WATCH is issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center
meteorologists who watch the weather 24/7 across the entire U.S. for weather
conditions that are favorable for tornadoes. A watch can cover parts of a state or
 P a g e | 36

several states. Watch and prepare for severe weather and stay tuned to NOAA
Weather Radio to know when warnings are issued.

A Tornado WARNING is issued by your local NOAA National Weather Service

Forecast Office meteorologists who watch the weather 24/7 over a designated area.
This means a tornado has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar and there
is a serious threat to life and property to those in the path of the tornado. ACT now
to find safe shelter! A warning can cover parts of counties or several counties in the
path of danger.

Flood Basics
What is flooding?

Flooding is an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods can
happen during heavy rains, when ocean waves come on shore, when snow melts too
fast, or when dams or levees break. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of
water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. They can occur quickly or over a long
period and may last days, weeks, or longer. Floods are the most common and
widespread of all weather-related natural disasters.

Flash floods are the most dangerous kind of floods, because they combine the
destructive power of a flood with incredible speed and unpredictability. Flash floods
occur when excessive water fills normally dry creeks or river beds along with
currently flowing creeks and rivers, causing rapid rises of water in a short amount of
time. They can happen with little or no warning.

FLASH FLOOD or FLOOD WATCH:

Flash flooding or flooding is possible within the designated watch area - be alert.
FLASH FLOOD or FLOOD WARNING:
Flash flooding or flooding has been reported or is imminent - take necessary
precautions at once! Get to higher ground!
URBAN and SMALL STREAM ADVISORY:
Flooding of small streams, streets and low-lying areas, such as railroad underpasses
and urban storm drains is occurring.
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Lightning Basics

What is lightning?

Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere between clouds, the air, or
the ground. In the early stages of development, air acts as an insulator between the
positive and negative charges in the cloud and between the cloud and the ground.
When the opposite charges build up enough, this insulating capacity of the air
breaks down and there is a rapid discharge of electricity that we know as lightning.
The flash of lightning temporarily equalizes the charged regions in the atmosphere
until the opposite charges build up again.

Hail Basics
What is hail?

Hail is a form of precipitation that occurs when updrafts in thunderstorms carry

raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere where they freeze
into balls of ice. Hail can damage aircraft, homes and cars, and can be deadly to
livestock and people.

Damaging Winds Basics

What are damaging winds?

Damaging winds are often called “straight-line” winds to differentiate the damage
they cause from tornado damage. Strong thunderstorm winds can come from a
number of different processes. Most thunderstorm winds that cause damage at the
ground are a result of outflow generated by a thunderstorm downdraft. Damaging
winds are classified as those exceeding 50-60 mph.
 P a g e | 38

Winter Weather Basics

A winter storm is an event in which the main types of precipitation are snow, sleet or
freezing rain.

Why can winter storms be so dangerous?

Most deaths from winter storms are not directly related to the storm itself.

 People die in traffic accidents on icy roads.

 People die of heart attacks while shoveling snow.
 People die of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold.

Everyone is potentially at risk during winter storms. The actual threat to you
depends on your specific situation. Recent observations show that:

 Of injuries related to ice and snow:

 About 70% occur in automobiles.
 About 25% are people caught out in the storm.

Hot-Lining Youth for Serious Mental Health Reasons: What it means to hot line

a child is that they verbally express interest in doing harm to themselves or ourselves or

have expressed that they already have done harm to themselves or others. Be it physical, or

sexual harm. Additionally, a youth may not say anything but you yourself witness seeing

self-harm marks, signs of physical abuse or you see another person assaulting a youth in

some capacity. These are all instances where mental health professionalism is needed.

Additionally, perhaps the police or paramedics. Here are some mental health facts about
 P a g e | 39

children that would be an asset to know and understand, according to the National Institute

of Mental Health:

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Mental health is an important part of overall health for children as well as adults.
For many adults who have mental disorders, symptoms were present—but often not
recognized or addressed—in childhood and youth. For a young person with symptoms of a
mental disorder, the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it can be. Early
treatment can help prevent more severe, lasting problems as a child grows up.

Warning Signs
 Often feels anxious or worried
 Has very frequent tantrums or is intensely irritable much of the time
 Has frequent stomachaches or headaches with no physical explanation
 Is in constant motion, can’t sit quietly for any length of time
 Has trouble sleeping, including frequent nightmares
 Loses interest in things he or she used to enjoy
 Avoids spending time with friends
 Has trouble doing well in school, or grades decline
 Fears gaining weight; exercises, diets obsessively
 Has low or no energy
 Has spells of intense, inexhaustible activity
 Harms herself/himself, such as cutting or burning her/his skin
 Engages in risky, destructive behavior
 Harms self or others
 Smokes, drinks, or uses drugs
 Has thoughts of suicide
 Thinks his or her mind is controlled or out of control, hears voices

You can always call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1.800.273.TALK
(8255).

Glossary:
Ally: An ally is a person who is not a member of the LGBTQ+ community
in anyway be it sexual orientation or gender identity but still respects and
supports LGBTQ advocacy and rights. Ex. Cameron was adopted when he
 P a g e | 40

was 9 years old by his dads, Ken & Harry. Though Cameron is not a
member of the LGBTQ he still fully supports and loves his fathers as gay
men.
Bisexual: A person who is sexually attracted to both men and women. Ex.
If Todd has a girlfriend that he finds sexually attractive but also finds the
boy in his class named Jack sexually attractive then Todd, regardless of
having a girlfriend is bisexual.
Cis-gender: A person who identifies with the gender assigned to them at
their birth. Ex. If Harper was born and given the gender female and agrees
she is a woman then Harper is Cis-gender.
FTM: This is an acronym for someone who is transgender, meaning
“Female to Male”. Meaning that they, when born were assigned “female” in
terms of gender identity but as they grew up they no longer identified as
being a girl and instead they identified as being a boy, making them
transgender. Ex. When Gregory was born, his parents gave him the name
Grace, but as he grew up he didn’t like being called Grace or being called a
girl for that matter. When Gregory turned 17 he realized he was transgender,
Female to Male, or FTM. Now Gregory uses he/him/his pronouns and has a
gender expression that is masculine.
Gay: A person who is sexually attracted to members of the same sex.
Usually a term used to refer to men. Ex. Ronald asked Victor to marry him.
They are both boys, they are in a homosexual relationship. Also known as
being “gay”.
Gender: A person’s perception of their own gender which may or may not
correspond to their birth sex. Ex. Lucy was born with the sex female and
identifies through gender also as female.
Gender expression: This is the idea that your gender identity and your
gender expression are not one in the same. Ex. You can identify, gender-
wise as a man but express that gender through wearing makeup and painting
your nails. Though both are historically feminine choices, gender expression
argues that there is no one right way to express how you want to identify
with your gender and how you want to express that gender.
Gender non-conforming: This is denoting or relating to a person whose
behavior or appearance does not conform to prevailing cultural and social
expectations about what is appropriate to their given gender. Ex. Just
because Krystal wears a suit & tie to a funeral does not mean she is not a girl
 P a g e | 41

or she is a lesbian. It just means that to her gender does not have to look one
certain way.
Gender-queer: This is denoting or relating to a person who does not
subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither,
both, or a combination of male and female genders. Ex. Janice looks like
how boys traditionally look and yet uses she/her pronouns and has a female
name. She’s not just one or the other she is she. She is Janice.
Group advisor: This is an adult volunteer who attends groups so as to be
an adult presence and group discussion facilitator for Growing American
Youth. Ex. Madelyn decided that since she had a loving and accepting
family growing up before and after coming out as a lesbian that she would
like to give back to the younger generations and become a volunteer group
advisor for Growing American Youth.
Hot-lining: This term refers to an adult who is either concerned about the
immediate physical, sexual, or mental safety of a person or in this case a
minor so they call professionals to come and advocate for the person or
minor in question. Group advisors will hot-line youth members if they speak
of current or past abuse or neglect as all volunteer advisers are mandated
reporters. Ex. Sebastian said that ever since his family kicked him out for
being gay he has had no will to live, he expressed to the group that he was
not going to come back next week and began saying goodbye to everyone.
When approached as to why he would not be returning to group he
responded that he wanted to die and was going to kill himself. It is in that
moment that Sebastian needs to be hot-lined and provided professional
attention and care outside of group.
Lesbian: A person who is sexually attracted to members of the same sex.
Usually a term used to refer to women. Ex. Susan asked Charlotte to marry
her. They are both girls, they are in a homosexual relationship. Also known
as being “lesbian”.
Minor: A person under the age of full legal responsibility. Ex. When Justin
got caught by the police for shoplifting at a gas station the police did not
take him to jail since he was only 14, instead they called Justin’s parents to
come and pick him up.
MTF: This is an acronym for someone who is transgender, meaning “Male
to Female”. Meaning that they, when born were assigned “male” in terms of
gender identity but as they grew up they no longer identified as being a boy
and instead they identified as being a girl, making them transgender. Ex.
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When Ruth was born, her parents gave her the name Roger, but as she grew
up she didn’t like being called Roger or being called a boy for that matter.
When Ruth turned 17 she realized she was transgender, Male to Female, or
MTF. Now Ruth uses she/her/hers pronouns and has a gender expression
that is feminine.
Queer: An umbrella term meant to be over-encompassing of all LGBTQ+
members of the community. Historically, a term that was used to degrade
and hurt LGBTQ+ people has since been taken back and been openly used
as a descriptive term for non cis-gender and heterosexual people. Ex. The
PRIDE parade every year is full of queer people wearing rainbow themed
clothing all day long.
Sex: Either of the two main categories that human beings are divided into at
birth based upon their reproductive organs. Ex. Timothy was born with a
penis so until he confirms otherwise his parents and family call him and
consider him to be a male.
Straight: A person who is sexually attracted to members of the opposite
sex. For example, Aaron asked Samantha to marry him. They are a girl and a
boy, they are in a heterosexual relationship. Also known as being “straight”.
Transgender: A person whose sense of personal identity and gender do
not correspond with their birth sex. Ex. Chad was born a girl named
Christine. Growing up Chad never liked being known as a girl and hated
being called by his birth name. After watching a video, he found on
YouTube Chad realized he might be transgender, then after some personal
discovery and conversations with his friends and family Chad came out as a
transgender male.
Youth member: This is a person who attends the Growing American
Youth support meetings as an attendee, they are between the ages of 11-21
and may or may not identify on the LGBTQ spectrum. Ex. When Patricia
was 15 she came out to her family as a lesbian. Her family now takes her to
weekly support group meetings at Growing American Youth so their
daughter can make friends within the LGBTQ+ community.
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Volunteer-Employee Relations
Growing American Youth is willing to accept most volunteer youth advisors with these
stipulations in mind:

- Limited to no criminal history

- Not a registered sex-offender in any state or province
- Must be a legal adult, preferably over the age 25
- Can be a member of the LGBTQ+ community, but does NOT have to be
- All volunteers must go through crisis training and intervention seminars
- All volunteers will become mandated reporters
- All volunteers will be expected to pick up at least one group shift a month so as to
remain being considered an active volunteer member of Growing American
Youth.

Important URL’s
http://victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center/stalking-information

http://www.youthinneed.org/ABOUT-US/Contact-Us

https://www.cachouston.org/child-sexual-abuse-facts/

https://www.diocesemo.org/about/diocese/congregations/trinity-episcopal-church-central-west-
end

https://www.growingamericanyouth.org/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml

https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/

https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/violence-against-children/en/

https://www.stcharlescitymo.gov/201/Police

http://www.slmpd.org/