Affirmative Supportive Safe and Empowering Talk [ASSET]: Leveraging the strengths and resiliencies of sexual minority youth in school-based groups
Craig, S. L. (2013). Affirmative Supportive Safe and Empowering Talk [ASSET]: Leveraging the strengths and resiliencies of sexual minority youth in school-based groups. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 7,1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/15538605.2013.839342
Highlights
Background
School settings are often fraught with risks for sexual minority youth, yet there are few targeted and supportive services within educational contexts.
Study Description
This article describes the development of Affirmative Supportive Safe and Empowering Talk (ASSET), a gay-affirmative, school-based group counseling intervention created to promote the resilience of multiethnic sexual minority youth.
ASSET was delivered in 15 urban high schools and consisted of 8- 10 weekly sessions that averaged approximately 45 minutes with 6-12 participants.
Between 2008 and 2010, 263 MSMY participated in the ASSET program.
Participants identified as female (65%), male (30%), and transgender (5%) as well as primarily Hispanic (59%) and African-American/Black (31%); ages ranged from 14–19 (Mage = 16.66, SDage = 1.27).
95% of youth qualified for school lunches indicating fairly low socioeconomic status.
Key findings
ASSET is a promising intervention that bridges unique gaps in service for this vulnerable population.
Themes:
Who am I? What are my strengths?
Where am I going and what’s in my way?
What causes me stress and what can I do about it?
How will I remember my brilliance?
Critical practices:
Make groups accessible
Highlight strengths during every session
Integrate affirmative content
Attend to intersecting identities
Creatively engage families
Consider cognitive-behavioural strategies
