Contra Costa Safe Schools Coalition

The Contra Costa County Safe Schools Coalition (CCSSC) was committed to increasing safety and support in local school communities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and families. The Coalition, which included public agencies as well as non-profit organizations, developed and delivered an integrated package of peer- and adult-led educational workshops for school communities, mobilized youth activists and peer health educators, and provided LGBTQ-friendly counseling and support groups. Findings from Korwin Consulting’s four-year evaluation show that the Coalition was contributing to safer school environments for LGBTQ and gender non-conforming youth and was increasing LGBTQ and other young people’s understanding of key physical and mental health issues. The evaluation also showed that Coalition members were helping to ensure comprehensive, LGBTQ-inclusive policy development and implementation in local school districts.