Program areas at Out Maine
Creating safe and validating spaces and leadership training for queer youth that provide emotional support, acceptance, visibility, and connections. Includes weekly programming, regional overnights, weekend retreats, annual rainbow ball weekend for 200 lgbtq+ youth across the state, biannual lgbtq+ studio immersion weekend at haystack mountain school of crafts, attending state leadership conferences, building and supporting a youth policy board working on improving equitable and accessible mental health and health care services in Maine.
Weaving a rural provider safety net by training healthcare and mental health providers, clergy, crisis workers, and youth-serving organizations on the specific needs of lgbtq+ youth and how to support them. Professional development programs range from 2-hour to full-day training programs and an online self-paced training platform. Over 15,000 professionals have received training in the last six years. Out Maine continues to expand this network of trained professionals statewide.
Building safe schools through an integrated school climate initiative include consultation, review of and recommendations for school policies, the development, and support of gay-straight trans alliances (gsta) in schools, which are safe clubs for queer youth and their allies, student education, and staff training. Out Maine has prioritized building safety nets in Maine schools and developed an integrated school climate approach to help schools create safe and affirming environments.
Other program revenue