Conceptualizing a healing-centered positive youth development model for LGBTQ+ youth of color living with mental health concerns

Positive youth development (PYD) is a strengths-based approach to support young people as they build on their collective assets, allowing them to thrive and contribute to their communities. Emphasis on the strengths and assets of youth has been shown to improve the overall mental and emotional well-being. Yet, traditional PYD models (i.e., five/six Cs models) were developed to meet the circumstances of primarily White cisgender heterosexual youth while not considering the experiences and developmental needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth of color (YOC) with mental health concerns (MHCs), including how mental health status interconnects with other systems of oppression that may impede their development. We integrate healing justice and intersectionality frameworks to address violence, trauma, and harm LGBTQ+ YOC with MHCs experience due to the intersecting systems of oppression reflected in U.S. social policy, health care, and other systems of care-while recognizing and promoting their resilience, joy, and power. The resulting healing-centered PYD model reconceptualizes the six Cs-competence, confidence, character, connection, caring/compassion, and contribution-of PYD to respond to the experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ YOC who are more likely than other youth to experience MHCs due to systemic oppression. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).