Conceptualizing empowerment practice with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in Jamaica

Abstract

Stigma and human rights violations contribute to physical, mental, and sexual health inequities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in Jamaica—a country where homosexuality is criminalized. There is an emergence of local community-based LGBT and HIV agencies and organizations focused on promoting LGBT people’s health and human rights. Scant research, however, has focused on social work education and practice with LGBT people in the Jamaican context. This Ideas in Action article proposes that multi-level approaches to empowerment-oriented social work practice that include psychological, relational, community and structural dimensions hold the potential to address these inequities. This article describes social and structural contexts for LGBT youth in Jamaica, and articulates dimensions of empowerment. Jamaica AIDS Support for Life is then utilized as a case example of an organization promoting multi-level empowerment practice in health care. This case example advances understanding of the role for social workers in advocating for, and promoting, health and social justice with LGBT people. Social work approaches to empowerment at different levels of practice and intervention are discussed. Finally, contributions to social work education are made through presenting a sample syllabus of an empowerment-oriented social work course tailored for working with LGBT youth in Jamaica.