Current Research
Project COPES is a research project related to parental responses and child and family well-being in families with a LGB youth. We are currently recruiting adolescents and young adults and their parents for this project.
It is not always easy for parents to hear that their child is gay, lesbian or bisexual and it is usually not easy for children to disclose this information to their parents. Even if it is something that parents are very comfortable with as a concept, it is normal for parents to worry about what this will mean for their child. In our research project, we ask parents about what it means to them for their child to "come out" as LGB and how parents cope when this happens. We also ask adolescents and young adults about their experience of coming out to their parents. One of the goals of the project is to learn from families experiences so that we can develop effective therapy services in the future to help strengthen family relationships when a child discloses a LGB sexual orientation.
Project COPES
This research study, funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), allows the Project COPES to learn about young people (14-22 years of age) who are self-identified as LGB and their families. The main goal of Project COPES are to better understand the strengths these families possess as well as the challenges they face. One of the long-term goals of the project is to take the information we learn from research to develop low cost, easily available, state-of-the art therapeutic clinical services that are specially tailored to the needs of LGB youth and their families in the south Florida area.
Who can participate?
The following criteria must be met in order to participate:
- The adolescent/young adult must be between the ages of 12 and 24.
- The adolescent/young adult must have shared their sexual orientation with at least one parent and this parent must be willing to participate in the study.
- Participants who do not live near the University of Miami (or have a parent who would like to participate but does not live near University of Miami) may participate via mail. Questionnaires and consent forms will be mailed to you, along with a self-addressed envelope to return the questionnaires. Participants will not complete a discussion. Upon receiving the questionnaires back, Project COPES will mail the $100 compensation.
- NEW!: Participants who do not have a parent who is willing to participate may now participate without a parent. Participants younger than 18 will still need a parent to sign a consent form. Participants without a participating parent will receive $50 at the end of the session.
What does participating involve?
The following criteria must be met in order to participate:
- The initial visit will take between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, and will involve completing a series of questionnaires and participating in a discussion that includes both the adolescent/young adult and the parent. (Note: Participants without a participating parent will not complete the discussion portion)
- Families will be asked to tell us how they are doing at three additional time points over the course of two years after the initial research session. At six, twelve, and eighteen months following the initial research session, families will be invited to return to the laboratory and complete another series of questionnaires and to participate in another parent-child discussion. We are offering $500 total compensation to families who participate in all four research sessions.
- Participation in this project requires the youth and the parent (or just the youth, if applicable) to participate in all study assessments.
How will my family benefit?
The following criteria must be met in order to participate:
- Each family will be compensated $100 for their participation in each research session, with a total of $500 possible over the course of two years.
- Up to 4 supportive therapeutic sessions will be offered to all families who participate in this project. These sessions are optional and free of charge.
- Your willingness to share your personal experiences with us may help us better serve other LGB youth and their families in the future.
How can I get more information about participating?
The following criteria must be met in order to participate:
- If you are interested in participating in Project COPES, you may reach a Project COPES research or intake coordinator between 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday at (305) 284-6986 or by email at projectcopes@gmail.com.
- Calls and emails received after-hours or on weekends will be returned the next business day.