LA County Board

3. Care with Pride: Creating LGBTQ+ Third Spaces Across Los Angeles County Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Solis: Direct the Chief Executive Office’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative (ARDI), in partnership with the Directors of Public Health, Mental Health, Parks and Recreation, Library, Arts and Culture, Aging and Disabilities, Children and Family Services, Youth Development, and other relevant Departments, and in consultation with the Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Commission, the Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults, the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities, and the Los Angeles County Youth Commission, to establish a working group, and report back to the Board in writing in 60 days, with quarterly written updates thereafter, with: Potential sustainable funding pathways for the LGBTQ+ Third Space Initiative, including assessment of available discretionary funds, departmental budget allocations, Community Based Organization (CBO) contract mechanisms, grant opportunities, philanthropic support and public-private partnership opportunities; A Plan for a Countywide LGBTQ+ Third Space Initiative that would provide a sustained and coordinated effort for the identification and establishment of affirming community spaces for LGBTQ+ residents across the County, with a priority focus on youth ages 12 to 26 and older adults ages 60 and above, and with particular attention to TGEI2S+ individuals, LGBTQ+ people of color, immigrants, and people with disabilities, including older adults with disabilities, caregivers and residents in communities with limited access to LGBTQ+ specific organizations, based on any available funding identified. The Plan should include the following: An analysis of existing County facilities, organized by Supervisorial District and Service Planning Areas (SPAs), including libraries, parks, recreation centers, senior and community centers, and arts and cultural spaces, that can be designated or adapted to host recurring, pilot, mobile, pop-up, or permanent LGBTQ+-affirming third space programming, with priority given to underserved communities and geographic areas with limited access to existing LGBTQ+-specific organizations; and with analysis of transit access, paratransit access, parking, ADA accessibility, restroom access, language access, sensory considerations, and geographic distribution; An LGBTQ+ Third Space Programming Framework that establishes minimum standards for affirming programming, staff competency and (including cultural humility and implicit bias training), physical accessibility (including gender-neutral restrooms), safety protocols, and multilingual outreach materials, as well as disability-access and age friendly standards including ADA accessibility, accessible transportation and paratransit access, ASL interpretation, captioning/CART where appropriate, plain-language materials, sensory-considerate programming, mobility-accessible seating and room layouts, caregiver access, virtual or hybrid options where feasible, participant safety protocols, anti-harassment standards, confidentiality and privacy expectations, trauma-informed de-escalation practices, and referral pathways to County and community service, applicable to any County facility or department operating third space programming under this initiative; A plan for partnering with CBOs with established trust and cultural competency in LGBTQ+ communities to co-design, co-facilitate, and where appropriate, operate third space programming, prioritizing CBOs serving LGBTQ+ communities of color, TGEI2S+ communities, and immigrant LGBTQ+ communities; as well as CBO’s serving LGBTQ+ older adults, LGBTQ+ people with disabilities, caregivers, and residents outside traditional LGBTQ+ service hubs; and A plan for implementing age-specific and intergenerational programming that can be offered in third spaces, either through County Departments or CBOs, including: Youth-focused programming for LGBTQ+ individuals ages 13 to 26 that is affirming of TGEI2S+ identities, trauma-informed, and responsive to the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity with race, immigration status, and disability; and Elder-focused programming for LGBTQ+ individuals ages 60 and older, including older adults with disabilities and caregivers, designed to reduce social isolation, provide peer connection, support culturally responsive aging-in-place, and create warm handoffs to County and community aging, disability, caregiver, transportation, nutrition, benefits, health, and behavioral health services. The plan should identify opportunities to integrate programming with existing senior and community centers, Area Agency on Aging-funded services where legally allowable, the Aging and Disability Resource Connection/hub model, and trusted LGBTQ+ elder-serving and disability-serving community-based organizations. The Department of Aging and Disabilities shall serve as the subject-matter lead for the initiative's older adult and disability-access components, including identifying opportunities to integrate LGBTQ+ -affirming third-space programming into senior and community centers, aging and disability service navigation, caregiver supports, transportation linkages, benefits assistance, nutrition referrals, and Aging and Disability Resource Connection/hub-related pathways, where legally allowable and subject to available funding. Intergenerational programming that brings LGBTQ+ youth and elders together for mutual learning, mentorship, and community connection. (26-4060) Executive Office