A Survey to Understand the Health and Social Support Service Needs of LGBTQ+ Youth and Families in Box Elder County, Utah

The Box Elder County Health & Social Support Services Assessment: LGBTQ+ Youth & Families is a community-engaged research project facilitated by the Transforming Communities Institute in collaboration with local community partners and the USU Department of Social Work. LGBTQ+ youth experience significant health disparities as a marginalized population yet their service needs are poorly understood in rural Utah communities. This project addresses a community-identified need to understand gaps in health and social support services available to LGBTQ+ youth and families living in Box Elder County. Research includes a Phase I community needs assessment survey completed in June 2023 and a Phase II qualitative interview study that is currently underway. Phase III is a community solution building phase planned for Spring 2024 that will focus on developing a community action plan and implementing evidence-based solutions to improve local services for LGBTQ+ youth and families. The following fact sheet summarizes key findings from the Phase I survey and discusses next steps. For more information about this project, please contact the TCI project lead Maureen Boyle at maureen.boyle@usu.edu or TCI Director Jayme Walters at jayme.walters@usu.edu.