Vida Khavar is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist who has 25+ years’ experience in child welfare. She has assisted many organizations in developing programs that serve children and families. Vida was a consultant for the federal project: RISE, which aimed at improving the lives of LGBTQ+ youth in foster care in Los Angeles County. She is currently the Clinical Director at Family Builders. As such, she collaborates with the California Department of Social Services in developing and implementing affirming policies and practices for LGBTQ+ children in foster care. Vida also leads the Youth Acceptance Project and provides her clinical expertise to several jurisdictions throughout the country.

• vkhavar@familybuilders.org
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/vida-khavar-lmft-918a393/
• lgbtqequity.org/june-2024-podcast-series/#
• https://familybuilders.org/programs-services/youth-acceptance-project
• https://youtu.be/fyXRwX3aeOU - video (Support for LGBTQ Youth Starts at Home)
• Youth Acceptance Project – The National SOGIE Center
• www.samhsa.gov/behavioral-health-equity/lgbtqi

Dr. Bryant brings a plethora of experiences and knowledge dealing with substance use disorders (SUD), HIV/AIDS prevention and education, diversity, equity and inclusion training, anti-racism training, and sexual orientation education. He has been successful in developing and implementing a statewide strategic plan for Georgia in response to the opioid and prescription drug overdose epidemic. As a result of this formative work, Dr Bryant received a grant to do a multi-cultural needs assessment among vulnerable populations in support of the Statewide Strategic Plan from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Dr Bryant has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles in the areas of HIV/AIDS, homophobia, racism, and tobacco use prevention, and has been a registered respiratory therapist (RRT) for over 45 years, fighting on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a part-time Assistant Professor at Kennesaw State University and Capella, University, Dr Bryant teaches courses in SUD, health and wellness and does research and training in the areas of SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery. Dr Bryant also has over 30 years in long-term recovery.

• Lbryant1924@gmail.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-bryant-phd
• https://youtu.be/Tqryt-j94cY (video about LGBTQ+ Older Adults)
• lgbtqequity.org/june-2024-podcast-series/#
• www.samhsa.gov/behavioral-health-equity/lgbtqi

Angela Weeks brings extensive national experience creating, implementing, and evaluating programs and initiatives that improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people and communities. She has led the development of LGBTQ+ trainings and tools, policy revisions, webinars series, supported the design and implementation of interventions to support LGBTQ+ youth, and maintained resource databases and websites. In addition to directing this Center, Angela is the Project Director for The National Quality Improvement Center on Tailored Services, Placement Stability, and Permanency for LGBTQ2S Children and Youth in Foster Care (QIC-LGBTQ2S). As the Project Director for the QIC-LGBTQ2S, she has helped develop, implement, and evaluate 15 different LGBTQ+ programs and initiatives for LGBTQ+ foster youth, their families, and the workforce that serves them. She also has extensive experience supporting LGBTQ+ populations experiencing homelessness and the juvenile justice system. She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Maryland’s Global Campus and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

• angela.weeks@uconn.edu
• lgbtqequity.org/june-2024-podcast-series/#
• https://youtu.be/-CrjaFBF5dY (video - Learning about Sexual Orientation)
• www.samhsa.gov/behavioral-health-equity/lgbtqi