Description
Strengths First is a strengths-based case management model for sexual and gender minority youth. Strengths First is a one-on-one social service intervention designed to help queer youth solve problems and reduce the barriers to their improvement in overall functioning. Strengths First is tailored specifically to address client-identified concerns; therefore, a wide variation exists in the complexity of issues discussed in an individual session. For that reason, no determinate dosage or amount of contact time has been established for engagement between case managers and youth. On average, though, studies have found that youth participated in a range of 6 to 12 Strengths First sessions with an average session lasting approximately 45 minutes. Participants have high rates of self referral to this program and low rates of attrition when enrolled. It is based on the work of Arnold and colleagues (2007) which described the use of strengths based case management with other vulnerable youth. To our knowledge, this study is the first to seek to understand the influence of case management on, and to capture strengths as part of a personalized intervention for this population.
Strengths First is a strengths-based case management model for sexual and gender minority youth. Strengths First is a one-on-one social service intervention designed to help queer youth solve problems and reduce the barriers to their improvement in overall functioning. ​

Integrated Stages
  1. Assessment, including an evaluation of risks and strengths in personal, family, school, and community domains 
  2. Planning case plan outcome
  3. Linking to resources and services
  4. Monitoring, including the adjustment of goals​
  5. Advocacy activities with schools and communities

Results

Publications