The Affirmative Research Newsletter!

Welcome to our inaugural Affirmative Research Newsletter! Affirmative Research (AR) led by Drs. Shelley Craig and Ashley Austin is a training and consulting company that bridges the research-practice divide through our evidence based AFFIRMative interventions.

Thank you for expressing interest in our organization and/ or completing an AFFIRM or AFFIRM Caregiver training with us in the past. Our newsletters will announce new AFFIRM trainings and events, spotlight AFFIRM news and research, offer new clinical tips, and cultivate a global AFFIRM community.

We hope you will find our newsletter engaging and consider sharing with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for being part of our AFFIRMative Research Community. Visit the subscribe page with the button below to sign up and receive a biannual edition of AR’s Rainbow Review

Link to Subscribe Page

We are excited to announce two open AFFIRM trainings!

AFFIRM Caregiver- June 5, 6 & 7

This interactive workshop provides participants with the theoretical and conceptual ideas underlying AFFIRM Caregiver and trains them to deliver affirmative caregiving strategies to parents and other caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth.

AFFIRM Youth- July 10, 11 & 12

This interactive workshop provides participants with the theoretical and conceptual ideas underlying AFFIRM Youth, with affirmative CBT treatment strategies for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing mental health concerns.

Space is Limited
18 spots per training!

Upcoming Event

AFFIRM Booster Class

90 Minute Group Supervision a Coaching Session

July 18th, 2023

12:00-1:30 EST

Boost Your AFFIRM Skills: Sign up to meet with AFFIRM creators and trainers Dr. Ashley Austin and Dr. Shelley Craig and consult on the application of AFFIRM interventions in your real-world settings. Gain advanced knowledge about some of the key AFFIRM concepts and emerging research, and learn from the clinical experiences of other AFFIRM practitioners across the globe. Feel free to come prepared with questions and lessons learned from your sites and ready to absorb new ideas from the AFFIRM trainers and other practitioners in our AFFIRM community!

Cost: $49 USD

Welcome our New Office Manager!

Sian Radaskiewicz-King (she/ they)

I am Queer, Transsexual, Non-Binary, Neurodivergent, a Lesbian, a Woman, a person, a Tailor. I was born and raised on Maryland’s farm-filled Eastern Shore and have resided in Baltimore City for the past eight years. Currently I live in Pigtown with my girlfriend, two cats, and many house and garden plants.

AFFIRM Spotlights

Trainings

We were thrilled to train a team of new AFFIRM Youth Facilitators working with and for LGBTQ+ students in the Northern Marianna Islands (NMI) School District. As the creators of AFFIRM this training provided another opportunity to work in partnership with the amazing NMI team to consider delivering AFFIRM in a manner that simultaneously honors the tenets of AFFIRM as well as the unique culture contexts for youth growing up in the NMI. We extend our gratitude to Dr Jennifer Maratita LMHC who is a Mental Health Specialist and Clinical Services Supervisor with CNMI Public School System for spearheading efforts to bring AFFIRM to the youth in her district.

Peer Reviewed Publications

“Towards an integrative self: a digital photo elicitation study of resilience…”

“Demonstrating LGBTQ+ Affirmative Practice in Groups: Developing Competence through Simulation-Based Learning”

Community

Dr. Shelley Craig presents on AFFIRM and related research for Sheppard Pratt’s Grand Rounds

February 8, 2023

Her presentation “Supporting the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Youth and Young Adults: The Role of Technology, Affirmative Practice and Trauma-informed Care” described the consistent and emerging mental health disparities faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ+) youth and young adults.

Participants learned about the role of technology in the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth and young adults and how to integrate into practice. Also discussed were competencies and conditions for affirmative clinical practice.

Partnering with the Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity!

Join us in welcoming these AFFIRM Caregiver sites! They have been selected to implement AFFIRM Caregiver in their communities. Groups are projected to start mid 2023.

Subscribe to the CoE mailing list

Bucks LGBTQ Center in Newtown PA assists individuals and family members to find clinical support, community events, and educational resources on topics like gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. (click logo for link)

Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora, CO is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of children and adolescents by expanding the reach of evidence-based, family-focused mental health care. (click logo for link)

CREOKS Health Services in Tulsa, OK promotes and improves the lives of the individuals and families we serve through our commitment to provide comprehensive health, wellness, and social services. (click logo for link)

Integrated Services of Kalamazoo in MI provides a community partnership to share effective resources that support youth, families, and adults with mental illnesses, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders. (click logo for link)

Facilitation Clinical Tip

Meet and Greet Sessions can be great for engagement and retention! Offering a “meet and greet” for participants the week prior to session 1 is an effective way to build group engagement, troubleshoot technology or transportation issues, and reduce any trepidation about participating in a group intervention

To visit the Affirmative Research website click here