Making school health centers more welcoming for LGBTQ+ teens
Official title: Enhancing Structural Competency in School-Based Health Centers to Address LGBTQ+ Adolescent Health Equity
Funded at Pacific Institute for Res and Evaluation · NIH-11366147 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project implements staff training and policy changes to make school health centers safer and more supportive for LGBTQ+ adolescents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pacific Institute for Res and Evaluation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Beltsville, United States) |
| Project start | March 20, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $813,305 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR021019-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366147 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are LGBTQ+ adolescents who use or could use services at participating school-based health centers and who may have unmet behavioral or sexual health needs.
✕Less likely to help
Students who do not attend schools with participating SBHCs, adults, or those not interested in clinic-based care are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
This project partners with school-based health centers to train providers and staff on LGBTQ+ needs, update clinic policies, and change how services are offered to reduce stigma. Researchers will collect feedback from students and staff, use anonymous surveys, and analyze clinic records to track access and health outcomes related to mental, sexual, and reproductive care. The goal is to change everyday clinic practices so LGBTQ+ students feel respected, understood, and able to get care without fear. If your school participates, you may be invited to share feedback or have your de-identified clinic information included.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could make school health centers more inclusive and improve mental, sexual, and overall health for LGBTQ+ students.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows provider training and inclusive policies can improve care for LGBTQ+ youth, but applying structural competency in school clinics is a newer approach being tested here.
Where this research is happening
-
Pacific Institute for Res and Evaluation
Beltsville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Willging, Cathleen E. — Pacific Institute for Res and Evaluation
- Study coordinator: Willging, Cathleen E.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.