What is Rainbow Connections?

Rainbow Connections and its collaborative partners aim to connect youth-serving systems with community-based organizations and create environments of belonging for LGBTQ+ youth across home, school, and community settings.

Rainbow Connections and its partners are dedicated to providing a tiered services program for LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults up to age 24 in Monterey County by offering various services to youth, communities, and professionals. 

Monterey County Behavioral Health

MCBH Integrated LGBTQ+ Affirming Care: Specialized Therapy Services

  • Specialized 1:1 therapy at The Epicenter or virtually for LGBTQ+
    identified youth/ young adults
  • Support youth and caregivers with accessing LGBTQ+
    gender-affirming care

Harmony at Home

Rainbow Connections Bullying Prevention Specialist

  • Collaborating with schools to educate, address, and prevent bullying and
    harassment of LGBTQ+ students using the Welcoming Schools Program®
  • On-the-spot interventions, classroom meetings, de-escalations, teacher
    coaching sessions, and parent workshops to address bullying and
    harassments of LGTBQ+ Students.

The Epicenter

Rainbow Connections Wellness Outreach and Engagement Coordinator

  • Delivers trainings in LGBTQ+ Best Practices and Welcoming Schools Wellness outreach at community and school events Gender Sexuality Alliance Club Support and TA Linkage to rainbow Connections continuum of affirming care.
  • Outreach in community and school events
  • Epicenter and GSA-related offerings, resources, services, and presentations
  • Hosting virtual Rainbow Connections Youth Empowerment Council for middle and high school students
  • RCYEC sign up: scan the QR code

Partners for Peace

Rainbow Connections Family Support Partner (FSP)

  • Culturally responsive support groups using the Family Acceptance
    Project® in English and Spanish
  • 1:1 individual support and Group Peer support
  • Support group sign-up form: scan the QR code

QTYC (Queer/Trans Youth Collective)

A youth leadership program of The Epicenter that provides workplace
experience in a non-profit environment as an introduction to LGBTQ+ social advocacy and activism. Youth leaders are responsible for creating and facilitating Our Gente programming and offer peer support to other LGBTQ+ youth in the community.

3 Tiers of LGBTQ+ Affirming Services and Supports for ALL

1. Education and Community

Community focus- LGBTQ+ education and trainings, community outreach and
engagement, referrals and linkage to LGBTQ+ affirming services and supports.

2. Support Groups

Group focus- Culturally grounded and responsive parent/caregiver virtual support groups, provider consultation groups, Rainbow Connections Youth Advisory Council.

3. Tailored services

Individual focus- Specialist consultation, individual therapy, linkage to Rainbow Connections Affirming Care continuum, 1:1 peer support for youth AND adults!

Aligning our Collective Forces and Resources to Support LGBTQ+ Youth and the Adults Who Care for Them

Rainbow Connections provides a variety of trainings available by request to help build understanding and capacity to support LGBTQ+ youth and their families: 

  • Family Acceptance Project®: Explores the role of family support in reducing health risks and increasing well-being; strategies for parents and caregivers to decrease family rejecting behaviors that contribute to increased health risks.
  • LGBTQ+ Best Practices: Provides foundational knowledge on LGBTQ+ terminology and statistics; risk and protective factors impacting mental health and wellness.
  • Gender Diversity for Providers: Explores gender-affirming care and medical practices that support congruence including hormones, hormone blockers, and gender-affirming surgeries.
  • Legal Protections for LGBTQ+ Youth: Provides insight on LGBTQ+ youth experiences in public schools and California laws protecting students’ privacy and non-discrimination rights.
  • Welcoming Schools: Provides LGBTQ+ and gender-inclusive professional development training, lesson plans, booklist, and resources for K-12 educators and youth-serving professionals to intervene in biasbased bullying and harassment targeting LGBTQ+ students.