The Center of Excellence (CoE) is funded by SAMHSA to address behavioral health equity gaps for LGBTQ+ individuals. Its goal is to disseminate LGBTQ+ specific best practices, knowledge, skills, and interventions to behavioral health providers nationwide. Drs. Austin and Craig serve on the CoE's leadership team. Since 2021, Affirmative Research has partnered with the CoE, facilitating the implementation of the AFFIRM Youth, Caregiver, Adult, and Pro models at various LGBTQ+ serving organizations throughout the United States.

The Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Families is at the forefront of safe identification efforts for LGBTQ+ youth in their care. AFFIRM.ME is the practice model developed to support the safe identification of LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning +) young people within the Cuyahoga County, Ohio, child welfare system. In response to requests from the Cuyahoga County team, Affirmative Research is partnering with the Cuyahoga County DCF to pilot the latest intervention program, AFFIRM Pro. AFFIRM Pro is a program grounded in research and practice evidence, designed to help professionals celebrate, honor, and validate a variety of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences. It also aims to recognize the negative impact of macro-level forces, including heterosexism, cisgenderism, and homo/bi/transphobia, on the well-being of LGBTQ+ youth and adults.

The Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation in Pittsburgh, PA, provides health equity for LGBTQ folks and people who are HIV positive. The staff provides education and training to service systems that are lacking in their knowledge of issues that affect LGBTQ individuals. We have partnered with Hugh Lane since 2018 to bring the AFFIRM Youth and Caregiver programs to their organization to fill behavioral health gaps for LGBTQ people living in Western Pennsylvania.

SameSame Collective provides access and information in countries where LGBTQI+ individuals face discrimination, imprisonment, and the threat of violence. Affirmative Research partners with SameSame Collective to adapt and translate the AFFIRM youth intervention content into culturally relevant and accessible concepts that can be safely delivered to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults through virtual platforms in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Indonesia.

Drs. Austin and Craig worked with Dr. Alessi from Rutgers University and the Hopelab team to co-create the LGBTQ+ content for Hopelab’s imi tool. This innovative online mental health resource responds to the need for safe, accessible, and evidence-based support for LGBTQ+ youth within the digital health ecosystem, delivering freely available resources and activities that focus on topics like stress, LGBTQ+ identity, internalized stigma, and gender identity and expression.