Safe Schools Program

The final part of my plan involves establishing a strong emotional support system for LGBTQ+ students at Fontbonne Academy. LGBTQ+ students face different issues than straight and cisgender students do, so they require specific resources that can help them work out these problems and feel safe and comfortable while doing so. A survey conducted in 2015 found that 58% of LGBTQ+ youth felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation, and 43% felt unsafe because of their gender identity. My goal is to assure that no student in Fontbonne feels that way, and that the staff has the proper training and guidance to create the needed environment.

I am currently working with Fontbonne counselors and faculty members to connect them with the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ+ Students offered by Mass.gov. The Fontbonne staff would attend a training session through this program to learn how to deal with LGBTQ+ specific issues. Training is requested through a Google form.