P R O V I D I N G H E A L T H Y O U T H

A C C E S S

T O F O R

M E N T A L L G B T

S E R V I C E S

RECLAIM Staff

Summer / Fall 2011

Directors Notes
Janet Bystrom, MSW, LICSW Director / Therapist

N O V M E B E R

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We are in process of identifying the core values of RECLAIM that will inform the development of the organization at a structural and cultural level. They are: Intentionality Transparency/Accountability Rapid response to challenges both internal and external Value-directed decision making Openness to both transforming and being transformed Gratitude We will hold each of our decisions up to these values using them as guideposts so that we do not lose our way, particularly during times that are politically and economically challenging.

Nicholas Metcalf, MSW Development Director

Anna Stern, MSW Intern

Nikhil Kaistha, LPC Intern

Organizational Development
Beth Zemsky will be working with RECLAIM over the next year to assist with organizational development and restructuring. This support/ consultation is made possible through technical assistance funding from RHI and is critical in assisting RECLAIM to develop in ways that are congruent with its mission. It is our intention that that everyone involved with RECLAIM, staff, volunteers and clients alike are all reclaiming our lives from oppression in all its forms.

Advisory Board Members

Gilbert Achay

Roxanne Anderson

MJ Gilbert, MSW, LICSW

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Thanks to Gary Schoener for consulting with RECLAIM regarding building a framework for relationships at RECLAIM that are founded in ethical and respectful practices. Gary has been a clear voice in the community for decades for solid ethical thinking and practices. We stand in a long line of people and organizations who owe him our respect and gratitude.

"Care I received through IHS was an essential part of my process of getting clean and sober. The fact that these services were so easily accessible gave me the choice to turn to them rather than drugs and alcohol. Acupuncture I received was particularly important during a time when I was dealing with intense physiological withdrawal and cravings. Many times in my life I have felt that my only option was to turn to substances to deal with things that were beyond what I could handle. This accessible and effective support, given from a place of deep generosity and care, gave me the experience of different possibilities and allowed me to make different choices. This has had a huge impact on my mental and physical health." Client

Thank You!
RECLAIM owes much of its success to the dedication of volunteers who have contributed literally hundreds of hours of support. We wish to highlight some people who have made significant contributions and deeply regret any oversights!

RECLAIM Services
Individual and Family Therapy
Services are provided by a licensed mental health professional. These sessions are available to clients regardless of their ability to pay. Effective integration of sexual orientation and gender identity is critical to accomplish successful transition from adolescence to adulthood; this is the focus of most individual and family sessions.

Support Groups
There are two support groups, the Gender Exploration Group and RECLAIM Families. Group is a place where young people can articulate their hopes and fears and encourage one another to find the strength to live their lives with authenticity and power.

Volunteers
Katie Burgess Terry Dickelman Florence Dillon Dana Jeffries Marcy Micek Jennifer Mouchet Alex Iantaffi Alex Jackson Nelson Moe Norton-Westbook Drake Oakley Qamar Saadiq-Saoud Alex Younger

Integrative Health Services Continues...

74% report having been harassed due to perceived sexual orientation or gender expression 51% uninsured 38% of clients have used IHS

In 2011, these volunteers have provided in excess of 75 individual and group support sessions to RECLAIM Clients. The program is currently being co-led by Moe Norton-Westbrook, Dana Jeffries and Janet Bystrom.

Dr. Rhys Preston

Christy Lillibridge
Acupuncture

List of I.H.S Providers

Interns
Nikhil Kaistha, LPC Anna Stern, MSW Intern

Chiropractic / Nutritional Wellness

Maryrose Dolezal
Global Somatics

Stacy Husebo
Meditation

Funders
AHS Foundation Charter Oak Foundation Sisters of St. Joseph Rainbow Health Initiative

40% current smokers

Jake Kiakahi
RCT/EFT/ Homeopathy

Said Parker
Massage

Special Thanks
Andrew Schmitz for donating free hair cuts to RECLAIM clients Dr. Rhys Preston for allowing RELCAIM Families to share his space for their meetings Sage Meditation Lhasa OMS Pizza Luce Wedge Co-Op Linden Hills Co-Op

Building Connections: Anoka-Hennepin

We are acutely aware of the challenges being faced by the youth, families and school staff in the AnokaHennepin School District and anticipate this will be a challenging year. We are building bridges of relationships so we can respond rapidly when there are young people in crisis. Steps include: *Tabling at Anoka Youth Pride 8/8/11 *We spoke at a wellattended PFLAG chapter meeting in Anoka on 8/28/11 *A house party was hosted in Andover on 9/27/11 to further network with concerned community members on behalf of LGBT youth who may be in crisis

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or

at our website

http://reclaim-lgbtyouth.org/

RECLAIM Story
This is an excerpt of an e-mail from a participant who has approved this being shared (Note: It has been edited for length): ...So, thanks. I wanted to recognize this here, in a way that it might be saved. I don't want to forget it in the morning or tonight. I want to remember June 22. Because, I feel like, although there is a very deep longing, and although... A lot of sadness has been kind of waking up inside of me in a new way over these past few weeks, a lot of old habits that don't meld with what my truth is, have been resurfacing i feel more honest and able to face them. Even though it's scary. I'm kind of excited to face them in a more honest light. I've gone through old notes that I'd taken from other therapists. And, ruminated on how I interacted with them. It's, I feel, in a very, real way... that it's a miracle that I've found Reclaim. So, thank you for making this available. Thank you for heading this and making it affordable. Thank you for choosing this profession...You said before that you practice the way that you do because it allows you to love people the easiest. I do, in a very real way, despite all my insecurities and all of the doubts I've had and continue to have about how I interact with people, believe that you love me as a humanI used to always believe that was true of everyone but me. i feel as though, because of this past year and some change that Reclaim has helped me find a bit of that potential and hope for my future, and although it's difficult for me to picture a future sometimes, it is FAR easier for me to picture who I am. I'm finding that as each day passes, in a way, I'm beginning to like the portrait that has been laid out for me by Nature and God. So, thanks.

Thank You
RECLAIM thanks Alex Jackson Nelson for almost a decade of commitment to the Gender Exploration Group. RECLAIM thanks Alex Jackson Nelson for almost a decade of commitment to the Gender Exploration Group. We held a celebration of his contributions at the Exchange on June 30th. He concluded his position of cofacilitator of the Gender Exploration Group and has re-located to Washington D.C. where he is pursuing his Master's Degree in Social Work at Gallaudet University, the only deaf university in the world.
L

Lenny Hayes
Lenny served on the Advisory Board for over a year and recently relocated to Morton, MN to work as a Mental Health Therapist with Mille Lacs Band of Ojibeway! Thank you for service to LGBT youth.

Congrats & Good Luck!

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Welcome to RELCAIM
Alex Iantaffi Joins RECLAIM
Alex Iantaffi is a queer, transmasculine licensed marriage and family therapist. He is also a parent, activist, researcher and writer. Alex is Italian-born and has lived and worked in Italy, the United Kingdom and, for the past three years, in Minneapolis (MN). His research and writing have focused on gender, disability, sexuality and relationships and he is Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy. He is currently working at the University of Minnesota, in the School of Public Health, for the HIPS Program, as an HIV prevention researcher, after completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship with the Program in Human Sexuality. Alex's approach to therapy and healing is rooted in systemic approaches and Narrative Therapy, which have led to a firm belief in the importance of stories and relationships. He feels honored to have been able to work with trans and gender non-conforming children, young people and their families, and is looking forward to volunteering at Reclaim!

Anna Stern: New MSW Intern

Anna Stern (MSW Intern) For the past ten years, Anna Stern has worked with domestic and sexual violence victims in shelter, the court system, and as the coordinator of the statewide Day One network. She has also been actively engaged in social justice work, particularly around strengthening domestic and sexual violence services for marginalized communities. She comes to RECLAIM eager to broaden her experience working with individuals, and to be challenged in her beliefs and assumptions. Anna Stern is currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work at the University of MN.

Qamar Saadiq Saoud :

New Support Group Facilitator

We warmly welcome Qamar SaadiqSaoud as co-facilitator of the Gender Exploration Group. Qamar is a former group member and has been a youth worker at Avenues for Youth for the last 4 years. He is a wise, gentle selfproclaimed geek!
or at our website http://reclaim-lgbtyouth.org/

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Upcoming Event
RECLAIM is a member of TYSN as a demonstration of our commitment of accessible and respectful care to the trans community.

What is Give to the Max Day? Give to the Max Day is a day for Minnesotans to come together to raise as much money as possible for nonprofits in 24 hours starting at midnight on November 16 through midnight on November 17. By engaging as many donors as possible to give to their favorite Minnesota charities in one day Give to the Max Day GiveMN.org is showcasing Minnesotas unparalleled generosity to the world! What is GiveMN? GiveMN is a collaborative venture to transform philanthropy in Minnesota by growing overall giving and moving more of it online. GiveMN is an independent 501(c) (3) supporting organization of the Minnesota Community Foundation. Through its engaging web platform launched in November 2009, GiveMN helps nonprofit organizations of all sizes reach new donors, increases giving through fun and engaging campaigns and significantly reduces overall fundraising costs. GiveMN helps individuals find, learn and contribute to Minnesota and national programs, facilitates quick and easy online donations by credit card and organizes online charitable contributions in one location.

RECLAIM Training
MN Trans Health Coalition Conference Training for Prairie Care Janet Bystrom led a training on August 4th regarding working with adolescents, sexual orientation and gender identity. Approximately 80 people, primarily mental health professionals were in attendance. Thanks to Prairie Care for inviting us to share and for the participants who contributed to the dialogue.

Dana Jeffries, Moe NortonWestbrook and Janet Bystrom co-presented on The Powerful Client sharing about the IHS model at RECLAIM that addresses issues of power, safety and communication in mental health and health care interactions, particularly involving people who are marginalized and have had oppressive experiences receiving care.

In honor of the generosity and intentions of donors such as yourself, the following phrase is repeated at the beginning of every session: Many people you do not know and may never meet have given generously of themselves to make this support possible. They want you to know that you are beautiful just as you are. If you are ever feeling alone or unloved please remember this.-J. Bystrom
You may also make a one-time donation or schedule payments via credit card on-line at: http://givemn.razoo.com

So that we may thank you personally:

NAME_____________________________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________________________ PHONE____________________________________________________ E-MAIL____________________________________________________ _____Id like to give $100 _____Id like to give $___ _____Id like to give $25 _____Id like to give $50

I am open to being publicly acknowledged as a donor _____Yes _____No, Thank you Your tax deductible gift enables RECLAIM to offer support to every youth who is ready to take action to begin reclaiming their lives, regardless of access to resources. Enclosed is an addressed envelope for you to send in your donation.