Florida Community Innovation (FCI) connects Florida’s citizens with trusted information and resources to navigate challenging times. We do this by empowering young innovators to build scalable social services technology, do research, and engage in community service for their own communities, with over 50 students and volunteers of all ages supported by FCI.

FCI has partnered with numerous universities to develop research publications that enhance the projects created by FCI.

Earlier this year, one of the American University (AU) graduate students who worked on Spring 2024 FCI research regarding LGBTQ+ resource access in Florida – Julian Baro – was on a panel of a Congressional Briefing.

The panel addressed mental health resource access for children, especially youth of color, as well indigenous and LGBTQ+ youth and other underserved categories of youth (such as rural, low-income and/or child and justice welfare systems youth; see The Forum on Youth Investment website for more details about these categories).

In this blog post, we provide more background about the AU research team, as well as the topics that Baro discussed on the panel, contextualizing them with FCI’s flagship project – the Florida Community Resource Map (FRM).

Background

FCI has collaborated with AU each semester, with multiple teams of grad students developing research for our projects:

• Gaps in Central Florida’s Access to Preventative Healthcare
• The Efficacy of Urban Farms in Reducing Food Insecurity 
• Enhancing Stakeholder Participation in the Florida Resource Map 
• How Municipalities in Florida Help Beneficiaries Access Resources  

Our most recent semester included Julian Baro, Kiersten Comer, Kyla Freeman, and Nakia Robinson, who conducted A Deep Dive into the Effects of The Parental Rights in Education Act on LGBTQ+ Communities.

Florida Resource Map: A Deep Dive into the Effects of The Parental Rights in Education Act on LGBTQ+ Communities

The report developed by Julian Baro, Kiersten Comer, Kyla Freeman, and Nakia Robinson explored the potential impacts of the “Don’t Say Gay” law on LGBTQ+ communities in Florida and nationwide. In their research, they found that the law creates significant barriers to accessing vital support services for LGBTQ+ youth.

The Parental Rights in Education Act passed in 2022 and banned classroom discussions on sexual orientation or gender identity from pre-kindergarten to third grade. As of July 1, 2023, the bill was expanded to ban these discussions up to eighth grade.

The law not only bans talking about LGBTQ+ topics in schools but also limits the use of personal pronouns and the dissemination of reproductive health information. It even allows individuals to challenge books they believe contain explicit content.

In addition, the law prevents teachers and school staff from offering support and resources to LGBTQ+ students, creating an environment where LGBTQ+ students feel invisible and unsupported.

The report drafted by the graduate student research team found that LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to experience mental health problems and struggle with unhealthy coping mechanisms. This makes it even more important to have good support systems, which the FRM can provide by improving access to reliable resources.

Julian Baro from the team used his experience conducting this research to present insights at a White House Congressional briefing. He addressed the youth mental health crisis and explored community-based solutions, such as the FRM.

Getting Involved with the Panel

Julian Baro’s participation on the panel began with an interview. Months before the panel, Baro interviewed for a job at The Forum for Youth Investment (TFFYI). During the interview process, the organization implemented a hiring freeze.

Due to his passion for their work and his connection with their team, Baro stayed in touch. When the Vice President for TFFYI posted on LinkedIn about their upcoming mental health panel, Baro commented on how the panel related to his FCI research. The Vice President then connected with Baro to hear more about his research. Within just a few days, Baro was preparing for his first Congressional panel.

During the panel, for about an hour and a half, Baro shared his research with a full room of Congressional staffers.

“There were maybe seven or eight questions, and like six of them were directed at me because they needed to go back and find out the name of that piece of legislation I was talking about so they could tell their Senator or representative about it later on… It was really fun,” Baro said.

For Baro, the panel was a perfect fit. It aligned with his passion for mental health and LGBTQ+ advocacy, his public speaking experience through theatre, his admiration for community-based organizations, and his academic research.

He was especially grateful to FCI for allowing him to participate in research addressing urgent LGBTQ+ issues. “I was able to use some of that research in a Congressional briefing and [translate it] into something that mattered outside of just academia,” said Baro.

The Panel

In May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, the Forum of Youth Investment and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America hosted this Congressional Briefing on Youth Mental Health, which Baro was on the panel of. 

The panel explored how young people, community groups, and policymakers have collaborated and can continue to work together to enhance mental health support for kids and their families. 

Baro and his fellow panelists focused on innovative methods for delivering mental health services to underserved communities, such as building stronger community partnerships and leveraging Medicaid funding.

The panel consisted of four professionals: 

• Julian A. Baro, MPAP, MurMur Presidential Impact Fellow
• Kimberly H. Robinson, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Youth Program Quality Forum for Youth Investment
• Andy Bischel, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada
• Megan Freeman, Ph.D., Senior Mental Health Consultant of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada. 

Baro offered insights from his research related to mental health in the LGBTQ+ youth community, specifically related to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

He shared, “In 2023, there were 500+ pieces of legislation introduced in different houses across the country just based on anti-LGBTQ+ policies…[According to UCLA School of Law], about 93% of 13-17-year-old trans youth living in a state where there was anti-LGBTQ+ policies, which has an effect on their mental health.” 

Topics covered include accessibility and access to mental health services, the importance of community-based organizations and cultural competency, social media, the advantages of technology, and LGBTQ+ youth-specific challenges. 

Bischel spoke to the success of cross-sector partnerships in increasing access to behavioral and mental health support to children at the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada by placing licensed mental health professionals in the communities they served. 

Freeman talked about how teaming up across different sectors has been key in creating a sustainable financial model to support communities in Southern Nevada.

Baro supported this, explaining that successful public-private-nonprofit partnerships often work best when they involve people who are already deeply connected to the community to provide these services.

He reflected after the panel that “Suicide prevention campaigns and mental health initiatives, while useful, can only go so far—advocacy at the federal level can help appropriately bridge resource gaps through comprehensive analysis of the current state of mental health policy on a national scale.”

Baro is a fierce advocate for mental health. Every year, he participates in the American Foundation for Suicide.

Recommendations from the Report

One of the recommendations from the research report developed by Julian and his team was:

• “Expansion of LGBTQ+ Resources on FRM through Community Partnership: FCI would benefit from reaching out to community-based organizations (CBOs) in central Florida dedicated to LGBTQ+ issues and services to provide the FRM with a more robust array of resources.”

This recommendation reflects what was discussed at the panel as well. Showcasing these organizations on the FRM would help bridge the gap in resource availability by highlighting valuable local services and support networks. 

By making information about these resources more accessible, FCI can contribute to a more equitable distribution of support for LGBTQ+ individuals in Florida. 

What did we do with this information?

We are actively working to connect FCI with LGBTQ+ resources across Central Florida. Our current list of resources is limited, and we are focused on expanding and strengthening it. 

While reaching out to these organizations, we noticed that many of them are operating at full capacity, which shows just how much more LGBTQ+ resources are needed in the community.

Why?

Driven by a commitment to fostering inclusivity and ensuring equal opportunities for all young people, FCI is working to bridge gaps in resource access and support systems through the FRM. 

By improving access to various resources and expanding coverage across the state, the FRM aims to provide crucial support for individuals facing economic, social, or emergency-related challenges.

About the Team

Julian Baro is a MurMur Presidential Impact Fellow and a Jazz Vocalist/Tour Guide for the Tea Around Town Tour Bus in Downtown Washington, D.C. He recently graduated with a master’s degree in Public Policy and Public Administration (MPAP) from American University.

In his current role as a MurMur Presidential Impact Fellow, Baro is adding his voice in the election and beyond by creating content about and for young voters, specifically Gen Z.

Prior to this fellowship, Baro was a Senior Program Coordinator at the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), where he oversaw NHHF’s work with fellowships, scholarships, and grants related to projects such as public health awareness campaigns. He also helped build a pipeline program between AU MPAP students and NHHF, similar to AU’s partnership with FCI.

Baro recently attended the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association Conference from August 7-9, where he attended panels and discussions focused on Hispanic and LGBTQ+ issues and policy.

He has noted that, in the past, he felt the need to conceal his Latino heritage to fit in. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to empower and serve Hispanic communities, especially in an environment that celebrates his identity. Baro explained, “…Being in an office where I can speak Spanish the whole time… it’s very much empowering and freeing…This [job] matters so much to me because…it makes me believe that I could be in [my directors’] shoes one day, and I can stand on the shoulders of giants.”

He says his work with FCI cemented his desire to work with community-based organizations because CBOs are “so powerful” and prioritize cultural competency. He explained, “I’ve chosen nonprofits for a reason. I think they are the epitome of giving back to the community and helping people.”

For Baro, researching how FCI can bridge gaps in care for LGBTQ+ communities was “empowering.” “It was nice to feel like our research contributed to something like that…I’m really grateful to [FCI] and Caroline for the opportunity.”

Kiersten Comer graduated in May 2024 from American University with a master’s degree in Public Policy and Public Administration. She has begun a career as a teacher, applying her academic background and degrees to make a difference in the classroom. 

With nearly seven years of experience working with students in the public school system, she has witnessed firsthand the challenges they face due to a lack of resources. 

Over time, she aims to advance in the field, working to improve public education by increasing access to “resources in public education that students need” by engaging in policy-making and securing funding to support students.

She learned from working on this research project with FCI that “while some organizations in Florida provide resources, not all of them are accessible to state residents because some cities are more proactive than others.”

Kyla Freeman just wrapped up her Master of Public Administration and Policy at American University.

Working with FCI gave Freeman a deeper understanding of how crucial resources and policies are for supporting marginalized communities. 

Her past experience as a school-based behavioral health counselor also helped her see the real-world impact of these policies. She “can attest to how integral schools are and have the potential to be in closing the gaps in care for marginalized groups.”

Freeman is currently gearing up for her Associate Professional Human Resources certification and has big plans to pursue a PhD in Business Management with a focus on Human Resources in the next few years. 

Nakia Robinson graduated in May 2024 from American University with a master’s degree in Public Policy and Public Administration. 

While working on the research report with FCI, she focused primarily on the legal and historical analysis section. She states that she has been “given the opportunity to truly understand the impact that partnerships can have on moving the goalpost and spreading a message.” 

Ultimately, she hopes that people learn from their research that, despite decades of disenfranchisement and marginalization of the LGBTQ+ community, significant progress has been made over time. It’s important to learn from this history to continue advancing in the future.

Robinson aspires to become a policy analyst for a government agency.

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