Family Acceptance Project Practitioner Guidance

The Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration plans to negotiate a sole source contract with The Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State University to support the Innovations Program. This contract addresses the unique expertise of the Family Acceptance Project in providing technical services that align with SAMHSA’s goals to improve behavioral health outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. The Project specializes in guiding practitioners across various youth-serving systems—including behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, primary care, schools, and homeless services—on how family rejection or acceptance impacts the well-being of LGBT youth and how to foster supportive family environments. Under this agreement, the Family Acceptance Project will develop a practitioner guidance document that helps professionals implement evidence-based strategies to reduce family rejection and increase family support. This document will be shared at two national conferences to maximize its reach among stakeholders. The contract is awarded on a non-competitive basis under regulatory authority due to the Project’s unique qualifications and the unavailability of alternative sources capable of fulfilling the requirements. The contract’s scope encompasses the creation and dissemination of best practice guidance to enhance positive behavioral health outcomes among LGBT youth through family and community engagement.