Trans Youth Organization Announces New Programs

March 19, 2012 - PRLog -- TransActive Education & Advocacy, the Portland-based non-profit that provides a wide range of services to families of transgender and gender nonconforming children and youth has announced the launch of their free-to-recipients chest binder program for male identified trans youth and young adults.

"There is currently  no other program like this and the need is certainly there", says TransActive staff member Kit Crosland about the organization's new "In A Bind" distribution program.

According to TransActive Executive Director Jenn Burleton, the planning for this new program has been in the works for almost a year and the inspiration came from the mother of a transgender child.

"Even though her child is very young, she was concerned about the trans teens who are unable to afford the cost of a new binder, or who do not access to making payment for one online"

Binders will be provided on a first come, first served to those who request them and who meet the criteria at no cost whatsoever. The cost of shipping and handling is being covered through donations for those who support the program and in many cases, from the actual donors of the binders themselves. At present, they will only be available with the United States.

Kit Crosland, TransActive coordinator for the "In A Bind" program said they plan to begin distribution in May 2012. "That will give us time to accumulate enough binders in different sizes and styles to meet the requests for binders, which have already begun coming in."

TransActive also announced the creation of two new support groups for children and youth. The "Butterflies" group is for kids age 4-9 while the "Fireflies" group serves youth age 10-13. Using a curriculum adapted by TransActive client services staff and student interns, the programs will focus on confidence building, coping skills, healthy expression of feelings and experiences and concerns related to the approach or onset of puberty.

Last week TransActive founder Jenn Burleton sent a letter to the leadership of several other trans-youth focused organizations from around the USA. in the letter, Ms. Burleton suggests a heightened degree of collaboration between the organizations in order to meet both the growing needs of families and to more effectively utilize existing organizational funding and resources.

"There are families throughout the United States and beyond who desperately need support for their children and youth, and there are so few organizations like TransActive able to respond to those needs." says Burleton. "We need to find the best way to serve these families and sometimes, that may involve either collaborating with another care provider, or referring the family to another organization altogether."

To read the Ms. Burleton's letter and view direct links to other organizations serving transgender and gender nonconforming children and youth, visit http://www.transactiveonline.org/resources/service_provid...

For more information on the "In A Bind" program, visit http://inabind.transactiveonline.org.

For more information about the "Butterflies" and "Fireflies" programs, visit http://www.transactiveonline.org/client%20services/butter...

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TransActive is a diverse and motivated volunteer team of people, working together to provide transgender children and youth a present and future in which they can thrive, achieve their dreams and express their individuality.