TransYouth Family Allies, commonly known as TYFA, is a national organization dedicated to providing tools, resources and support to families negotiating life with a gender variant or transgender child. We also provide education, training and resources for service providers that work with children; including health care workers, educators, social service agencies and day care facilities. TYFA was born in the fall of 2006 by moms who met in an online support forum. We quickly realized that our need for social support had evolved into a passion for creating social change. TYFA now works daily on a national level to develop supportive environments where gender is freely expressed and respected.

Many families realize that they need help educating their schools, health care providers and assisting their families through the often misunderstood journey of childhood transition. Since January 1, 2008, TYFA has provided these services to over 130 families. These families are located all over the United States and come from all different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. We offer our services free of charge to any family who needs us.

We are finding that many children are able to articulate their gender identity and realize that it doesn't match their assigned birth sex, as early as age 3, and some parents are more open and willing to help their children than ever before. Parents who have nurture their children's self-esteem are listening and believing what their children are expressing. Positive media portrayals have also contributed to parental awareness and contributed the influx of new families coming forward.

Childhood transition presents some of the same challenges that adult transitioners face, however, also presents other unique challenges. One such challenge is finding healthcare providers who are willing and able to treat these children. Many providers don't understand gender dysphoria in children and aren't aware of new treatment protocols, such as, puberty inhibitors. Many are fearful of malpractice suits for treating transgender children. Once a willing and able provider is located, the cost of such treatments is typically expensive, and as with adult transitioners, insurance typically will not cover them. Puberty inhibitors can cost a family up to $1200 per month for just the medications...that doesn't include any blood work or testing needed to accurately prescribe the necessary drugs.

Working with a child's school to facilitate a social transition can also be challenging. Sadly, many people confuse gender identity with sexual orientation. Clearly, 5 and 6 year old children are not yet overtly sexual beings. Many people not only view gender identity as a person's sexuality, but they also view it as a choice that one is making rather than it being an integral part of who one is. Educating schools on how to differentiate the two and to realize that these children are not "choosing" who they want to be, they are simply being who they are, can be challenging, especially in conservative communities. Educators worry about what to tell other children and what to tell other parents when questions are raised.

Another area of challenge is documentation. Transitioned children typically do not meet any of the requirements for changing gender markers on their personal identification documents such as social security, state identification and birth certificate. Therefore they are at increased risk when attempting to do routine things such as getting a job or traveling out of the country.

As with transitioning adults, family members are often not accepting of kids who transition or desire to transition. For a child whose parents do not accept him/her, they are faced with a bleak set of choices...suppress their true identity, begin a life on the streets or sadly take their own lives. Trans kids are at great risk for substance abuse, exposure to HIV/AIDS and STD's due to risky behaviors that they engage in to obtain money to live or to buy street hormones. Self mutilation and suicide ideation and attempts are very high in the youth community. Trans kids are 3 times more likely than their peers to ideate or attempt suicide. Current estimates are that 50% of trans kids ideate or attempt....sadly, many succeed.

Despite the many challenges, childhood transition is a wonderful gift for these children and often necessary to ensure their survival. Puberty inhibitors have made it possible to save children from having to go through the torture associated with puberty or the unwanted secondary sexual characteristics that come with it. They will not have to endure painful, costly surgical procedures to correct unwanted physical changes. The ability to be themselves from an early age will hopefully help them be affirmed by society in their gender identity, thus preventing them from enduring many of the challenges that those who transition as adults confront.

How do we reach common ground? How do we come together as a community to help everyone be accepted for who they are? How do we change the hearts and minds of America?

We begin with the children....we let the children pave the way. We continue to educate the world on the fact that gender identity is an integral part of who we are from our earliest memories. If we can help people see that a 5 year old child doesn't know who he or she will grow up to have an intimate relationship with, but he or she DOES know who they ARE, we can unlock understanding and acceptance for everyone. If we can implement programs in schools across the country that educate youth about difference in open and honest ways, we can change the way an entire generation of people understand each other. If we demand that all school districts everywhere create comprehensive anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies inclusive of gender identity and expression that keep all kids safe, we can stop the violence before more children die senselessly.

Everyone, regardless of their gender identity or expression, socio economic status, ethnicity, or place in society deserves to be respected and acknowledged for who they ARE. We have ambitious goals that include making the world a better place for all people, transgender or not.

Let's work together. Let's tap into the LOVE and understanding that people tend to have for children and use it to build understanding for all transgender people. THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE!