Cultivating ecosystems of affirming care for LGBTQIA2S+ youth & their families
What is Rainbow Connections?
Rainbow Connections is an innovations project funded by the Mental Health Services Act that interconnects youth serving systems with community-based organizations to cultivate environments of support, inclusion and belonging for LGBTQIA2S+ youth to provide optimal conditions for them to grow, learn, and thrive.
Project Goals
Empower youth to authentically express themselves, cultivate leadership skills and provide input and feedback on Rainbow Connections project offerings
Build capacity for adults to understand, identify and affirmatively respond to the mental health needs of LGBTQIA2S+ youth
Increase access to culturally responsive LGBTQIA2S+ affirming mental health and medical services
Enhance interagency and community collaboration to maximize collective impact and interconnect efforts across youth serving systems
Resources
Youth
Parents & Caregivers
Educators & School Personnel
Mental Health Clinicians & Providers
Monterey County Network of Affirming Care
The Monterey County Network of Affirming Care is a growing constellation of local providers with a shared commitment to providing safe, welcoming and inclusive care for LGBTQAI2S+ youth and their families across Monterey County.
Founding Partners
Network Partners
Rainbow Connections Everyone Belongs Community Mural at the Monterey County Office of Education
The Rainbow Connections Everyone Belongs Community Mural was designed by the artists of You Will Rise and shaped by the voices and creativity of young people who participated in Rainbow Connections' expressive arts workshops at elementary and middle schools throughout Monterey County. Through these workshops, students created original artwork exploring themes of identity, acceptance, and inclusion. The mural was then completed during a week of collaborative painting at The Epicenter in Salinas, transforming individual student expressions into a unified work of public art featuring bold, interconnected imagery that symbolizes unity, courage, and self-expression.