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We offer advocacy and support services to the LGBTQ+ community to:
We offer advocacy and support services to the LGBTQ+ community to:
- Combat LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness.
- Educate the Community on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion topics.
- Connect Community Members to LGBTQ+ Affirming Healthcare Providers.
- Advocate for the Needs of the LGBTQ+ community in Issues Related to Discrimination and Bullying.
- Fight for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Policies to create equitable communities.
Youth Homelessness Prevention
Youth Homelessness Prevention
Supporting LGBTQ+ youth through our Dandelion Homes program and wrap-around services to allow them the ability to live authentically and preventing youth from running away or being kicked out and becoming homeless.
Dandelion Homes
Less than 10% of the population identifies as LGBTQ+, yet 40% of unaccompanied homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+. Chosen Family of Michigan’s Dandelion Homes program reduces tension by providing some breathing room between LGBTQ+ youth & their Legal Guardians by serving as a liaison between the youth, Legal Guardians & affirming & vetted households, while connecting the youth to wraparound services, including mental health, healthcare, and food services.
Guardian & Child Led
Legal Guardians voluntarily consent to utilizing our program. CFM connects LGBTQ+ youth & their legal guardian(s) to LGBTQ+ affirming households, in an effort to reduce tension & to prevent homelessness and/or runaway youth.
Wraparound Services
All youth will be connected to LGBTQ+ affirming mental healthcare, food & medical resources, peer-to-peer groups, tutoring, job training & resume building, & more.
Transitional Housing & Reunification
Although reunification is the goal, we realize this is not always feasible or desired. Once a student graduates from high school, we will help transition them to college or the workforce and into stable, long-term housing.
If you are interested in applying to be a Dandelion Home, contact us.
If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Qualifies?
Middle & High School Students
Children at-risk of homelessness, or in tense/unaffirming households
Financial & Resource Criteria
Requires Consent of Legal Guardian
Are you a Child Placement Agency?
No, we are not a Child Placement Agency as defined by MDHHS. We do not place foster children or children who are up for adoption.
We are also not a runaway shelter for unaccompanied minors.
We are a homeless prevention program.
What Training do the Homes Receive?
Organization & Program Basics
LGBTQ+ Affirmation
Trauma-informed Care
Homes also go through a background check, a site visit, and meet with the Executive Director.
Community Education
Community Education
Hire us for your organizational diversity, equity and inclusion needs! We provide workshops, panels, online learning, speakers and consulting services to educate the community on a variety of topics!
Studies have shown that diversity, equity and inclusion lead to more robust teams, an increase in innovation and problem solving, less workplace conflict, and an increased ability to serve diverse markets. Our workshops do not advocate for affirmative action or quota policies, instead focusing on understanding diverse communities, and creating equitable policy that benefits the entire team so that everyone can succeed. All of our workshops can be tailored to meet your organization's needs.
If you would like to schedule a free consultation to discuss your organization's needs, contact us.
Workshop Options
LGBTQ+ Workplace DEI and Pronoun Workshop
This workshop includes:
Introduction to LGBTQ+ History
Definitions of LGBTQ+ Terms
Activities on the Topic of Gender
Information on Pronouns
Activities on Unconscious Bias
Introduction to Allyship
Discussion on Inclusive Policy Implementation
Living Within the Intersections: Is Ally Enough
This workshop includes:
Introduction to Intersectionality
Pre-recorded Interviews of Intersectional People
Data on Intersectional People
What Allyship Looks Like
Discussion on How to be a Better Ally
Lessons You Didn't Get In School: LGBTQ+ History & Health Education Workshop
This workshop includes:
LGBTQ+ History Curriculum
Introduction to Queer Theory
Gender Affirming Healthcare
Inclusive Reproductive Health
HIV/AIDs Prevention and De-stigmatization
Policy & Advocacy
Policy & Advocacy
From anti-discrimination to connecting you to affirming resources, we are your advocate! We strive for equity by fighting for inclusive policies and representing our community on boards and councils.
Advocacy Case Files
We can help you navigate issues involving:
Workplace Discrimination
School Bullying
Unaccepting Family Members
Harassment & Domestic Violence
By being your advocate, we can stand beside you and help improve your situation. If applicable, we can also connect you to LGBTQ+ resources for your legal or healthcare needs.
If you are in need of advocacy services, contact us.
Policy
Our Policy Squad consists of LGBTQ+ policy experts and other volunteer activists throughout the state who take the lead on voter education and LGBTQ+ legislative issues at the local, state and federal level.
We also represent the needs of the LGBTQ+ community on several alliances, committees & councils.
Additionally, we work with churches/religious organizations and government institutions (including schools) to help navigate LGBTQ issues and implement inclusive policies.
If you are interested in volunteering on our Policy Squad, sign up here.
If you are a church/religious organization, government institution, or school looking for help navigating LGBTQ+ issues, contact us.
Name Change Guide
Check out our Name Change Guide for information on navigating the name-change process in Michigan, which also includes relevant court forms for each step in the process. Find the Guide, forms and other relevant links here.
For many, changing their name is an important part of the gender affirmation process, which can also help lower suicide attempts. Additionally, changing a person's name to closer match their gender identity can reduce unintentional outing, bullying, discrimination and more.
Representation Matters! Book Ban Prevention Guide
Check out our Book Ban Prevention Guide for information on frequently banned LGBTQ+ books, as a tool to start on the conversation on content appropriateness for various age levels, balanced with the importance of our diverse communities and families being represented in our literature.
This Guide is Phase 1 of our Representation Matters! initiative and will be used a tool for our volunteers to use when advocating for inclusion in books, movies, and curriculum at school and library board meetings in their communities.
What's the Tea on HIV?
Our HIV programing aims to destigmatize HIV/AIDS, while also working to prevent it's spread through education and health resources. We serve as part of the Michigan HIV/AIDS Council and on a Medicaid Quality Improvement Project that seeks to raise viral suppression rates for those living with HIV and on Medicaid.
Referrals & LGBTQ+ Safe Space Resource Guide
We find and vet LGBTQ+ affirming services throughout the state to refer our clients to, including:
Mental Health Providers
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Gender Affirmation Services
General Healthcare
Addiction Services
LGBTQ+ Youth & Adult Homeless Services
Food & Housing Services
Legal Services
Inclusive Places of Worship
To be connected to LGBTQ+ Resources and Safe Spaces, contact us.
To view the LGBTQ+ Safe Space Resource Guide, click here.
To be added to our Safe Space Resource Guide, fill out this form. Following approval, information to process the initial $10 donation will be sent to the email on file. Annual renewals are a $5 donation.
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