LGBTQ+ Youth & Family Resources
The LGBTQ+ Community Center of Darke County is dedicated to ensuring LGBTQ+ youth and their families feel safe, valued, welcome, respected, supported, included and heard. On this page, you can learn more about:
- LGBTQ+ Youth Group
- LGBTQ+ Families Group
- Youth Program Advisory Committee
- Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth and Families
Need someone to talk to right away?
Call 988 24/7 or connect with the Trevor Project specifically for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
LGBTQ+ Families Group
The LGBTQ+ Families Group is a peer-to-peer activity group for LGBTQ+ parents/guardians with their youth, and LGBTQ+ youth with their parent/guardians. The group meets at the Center on the 1st Saturday of every month from 1:00-3:00pm. Activities range from arts and crafts, to cookies and creating. It’s a great way for LGBTQ+ families to connect!
LGBTQ+ Youth Group
The LGBTQ+ Center of Darke County is pleased to partner with NCCJ of Greater Dayton to provide community-building, leadership, life skills and prevention programming for middle school and high school aged LGBTQ+ youth and allies at the Center each Wednesday from 5:00-6:30pm at the Center beginning August 5, 2026. The group is led by NCCJ of Greater Dayton, which is known for Pride Rocks!, and has been engaged in youth services for nearly 50 years. Modeled after NCCJ’s SPIDEE program, the group meets for 1 ½ hours on Wednesdays each week. Each group includes facilitated peer-to-peer community building and support, as well as periodic whole person health and wellness education, substance use prevention, and opportunities to engage in peer-led community service and advocacy projects. There are also opportunities for career and college exploration. To join the group, youth and their parents/guardians can register here (select LGBTQ+ Community Center of Darke County)
Those who are joining for the first time can check in with Justin or Mikayla, the group facilitators, when they first arrive. Doors open at 5:00pm and rides for pick up should be there by 6:30pm. If a student or youth joins the first time without having registered first, we’ll ask them to get registered before coming back the next time.
FAQs For Youth Participants
- It’s my first time – What should I expect? You’ll get a tour of the Center and get introduced to the facilitators and other group members. There will be time for conversations, projects, and sometimes guest speakers. There are snacks and drinks available, as well arts and craft supplies, foosball table, and more!
- Can I bring a friend who is not LGBTQ+? Yes! They’ll need to register and be part of the group like everyone else, but all who support the community and want to participate are welcome to do so!
- I’m not sure if my parents/guardians will let me attend or I don’t know how to ask them. You or your parents/guardians are welcome to reach out directly to the NCCJ Facilitators to learn more and get guidance.
FAQs For Parents, Guardians and Community
- Who can participate? This program is for middle-high school students. Doors open at 5:00pm and rides for pick up should be there by 6:30pm.
- What is the need for this program? The LGBTQ+ Community Center of Darke County opened in May of 2024 in line with the Ohio Suicide Prevention Plan to address the increase in suicide, mental health crisis and substance use in our communities. Due to societal discrimination, LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk for experiencing addictions, mental health crisis, abuse, homelessness and poverty. This program aims to prevent those outcomes by ensuring LGBTQ+ youth and allies have community supports, life skills and prevention education, and leadership and growth opportunities.
- Is there a cost to attend? No. This community cares. This program is funded by general donations to the Center and the Darke County Opioid Settlement Fund to allow the Center to provide a program that aligns with best practices in youth development and prevention and recovery. The program provides and enhances opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth in Darke County as they take steps towards their future goals, including careers, colleges, community, and healthy relationships. It aims to provide youth with an opportunity to create lasting connections and positive learning opportunities that they can carry with them throughout their lives.
- What about Youth Safety? The Center cares deeply about the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth. Our partnership with NCCJ ensures that program facilitators are professionals who are credentialed to work with youth and receive regular background checks, mandatory reporting training, and additional annual training that ensures youth safety. The Center is reserved for youth programming on Wednesdays of each week, and at least at least two professional facilitators are always present.
- I can drop off my child, but I can’t pick them up. Can someone from the Center give them a ride?
Sorry, no. The Center’s team, including our partners at NCCJ, are not able to provide a ride. But, we encourage you to build relationships with other parents/guardians of youth in the group who might be able to help. Ask the facilitators about getting connected other parents/guardians.
- What if a youth’s parents or guardians don’t allow them to come?
The NCCJ team will make every effort to provide parents and guardians with information about being a parent/guardian of an LGBTQ+ person and the benefits of ensuring LGBTQ+ youth have the opportunity to connect with their peers empower youth to form community, learn, grow and thrive. Reach out to us to get the conversation going.
- What if I have other questions?
Feel free to reach out to us any time, and we’ll be sure to connect you with the NCCJ team.
LGBTQ+ Youth Program Advisory Committee
The Center’s LGBTQ+ Youth Programs are guided by a Youth Program Advisory Committee that helps to ensure youth voices are represented and included. The advisory committee is made of professionals who serve youth, community leaders, parent/guardians of LGBTQ+ youth, and LGBTQ+ youth. If you are interested in being a part of the Youth Program Advisory Committee, please email us here.
Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth & Families
Anytown Summer Camp
A youth leadership summer camp with NCCJ
Be Present Ohio
This is a new program for LGBTQ+ young adults and their friends and families to promote mental health and well-being.
Camp Lilac _Summer Camp for Transgender Youth in Ohio
Summer Camp for Transgender Youth in Ohio
Campus Pride (LGBTQ-Friendly College Index)
A list of LGBTQ+ friendly colleges
COLAGE (Children of LGBTQ+ Parents)
A place for youth of LGBTQ+ Parents to connect with other youth of LGBTQ+ parents
Daybreak – Homelessness and Housing Crisis for LGBTQ+ youth aged 10-24
Housing and crisis services – Please be sure to also reach out to your school counselor or NCCJ facilitators if you are experiencing this kind of crisis.
Healthy relationships for young adults | love is respect
Learn more about healthy relationships
It Gets Better
Stories from LGBTQ+ adults who know what it’s like to be an LGBTQ+ youth
National Runaway Safeline | National Runaway Safeline (1800runaway.org)
Support for youth – Please be sure to check in with your school counselor or NCCJ facilitators if you ever feel the need to leave home.
Parents, Friends and Families of LGBTQ+ People (PFLAG)
Resources for parents, friends and families of LGBTQ+ people
TrevorSpace – Online Chat for LGBTQ+ Youth
A safe place for LGBTQ+ youth to chat online
Trevor Project – Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ Young People
A place to connect if you or a friend are experiencing a mental health crisis or need someone to talk to right away
Additional Mental Health & Wellbeing Supports
If you know of an additional resource, or need an additional resource, please let us know.