AFFIRMATIVE RESEARCH LLC
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA

Using an integrated affirmative research and practice framework, ARC engages in innovative research and provides training and consultation aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer, etc.) youth and young adults. Develop, implementing, and disseminating research-informed, affirmative prevention and intervention programs to reduce risk and enhance wellbeing of LGBTQ+ young people Deliver individualized research and clinical training and consultation to enhance the delivery of affirming and supportive care for LGBTQ+ young people and support practitioner and organizational competence Provide mentoring and coaching to nurture burgeoning researchers whose work is focused on promoting LGBTQ+ young people’s wellbeing ARC was created to bridge the research-practice divide associated with the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. Combining empirical evidence, an affirmative practice framework, and decades of community-based service expertise, ARC aims to develop and disseminate LGBTQ+ affirmative practices to educators, health and mental health care providers, social workers, and policy makers across organizations and communities to create safe supportive worlds for LGBTQ+ populations. ARC’s current affirmative research initiatives also include inquiries aimed at improving social work education and health and mental health practice more broadly. Dr. Craig has over twenty years of community-based leadership, practice and research with sexual and gender minority and marginalized populations. As a registered and licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Craig is particularly adept at creating, delivering and evaluating affirmative practice and effective services to individuals, groups and communities. Selected experiences include: Founder/ Executive Director of the Alliance for LGBTQ Youth, Executive Director of ALSO for Out Youth; Medical/health social worker in the emergency care center of a community hospital; Program Director residential services (shelter for victims of domestic violence) at Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center. Dr. Craig’s research has been funded by federal organizations such as SSHRC and CIHR. Her most recent studies have been designed to: (1) create and test community-based interventions (AFFIRM) to improve mental health and coping of SGMY; (2) understand the impact of information and communication technologies (CTs) on the resilience of SGMY (#ProjectQueery) and (3) the use of simulation to enhance the competency of health social work students. Dr. Craig is an expert in intervention research and practice with SGMY. As principal investigator she has recently tested several interventions for sexual and gender minority youth including Strengths-First, a resilience-focused case management program for youth at risk; ASSET, an empowering group intervention for SGMY delivered in school settings and AFFIRM, an affirmative cognitive-behavioural group intervention delivered in community settings that positively impacts mental and sexual health. Dr. Craig directed an extensive community research plan, as well as developed and established a multi-million dollar comprehensive service delivery system for sexual minority youth and their families. Dr. Craig is an avid educator and has trained thousands of practitioners and policymakers on affirmative care for SGMY, intervention implementation as well as LGBT affirmative social work education. She has also been PI of an international study of LGBTQ students in social work programs. As a social justice oriented researcher and practitioner, Dr. Austin is committed to engaging in research, training and advocacy that reduces stigma and promotes the well-being of marginalized populations. Dr. Austin’s research has increasingly revolved around promoting transgender-affirmative education, mental health interventions and health care. Dr. Austin is the first author of multiple publications, as well as, local, regional, and national presentations aimed at advancing affirmative approaches to health care and education for transgender children, youth, and adults. She also serves as a consultant on transgender issues across a variety of contexts including the non-profit, primary educational settings, institutions of higher education, medical settings, and corporations. Dr. Austin is actively engaged in research projects aimed at elucidating the needs and experiences of transgender youth and adults. She works collaboratively with the transgender community to ensure projects are rooted in the lived experiences of trans people and adequately give voice to these realities. These collaborative projects have resulted in numerous publications and presentations to researchers, academics, and medical and mental health professionals which advance understanding of contemporary trans lives and foster trans-affirmative attitudes, behaviors, policies, and practices. In partnership Drs. Austin and Craig developed and published the Transgender-Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TA-CBT) model, an adapted, affirmative version of CBT which targets the specific mental health care needs of transgender clients. This model represents the first of its kind to integrate a transgender affirmative framework with empirically supported cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to address minority stress and resultant transdiagnositc mental health concerns. Dr. Austin is also actively involved in creating a community inclusive of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. She brought events such as the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience, and Transgender Week of Awareness to her university’s campus, and advocates for gender inclusive policies and practices at local, regional, and national levels. Finally, as a licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Austin supports gender diverse youth and adults and their loved ones through a developmentally informed, transgender affirmative practice approach. Her clinical work focuses on supporting transgender and gender nonconforming youth and their family members on their unique gender journey toward fully authentic and connected lives.