Image Credit: Empowered Jefferson
By Michelle Light [Empowered Jefferson] –
In January 2023 Concerned citizens became aware that our school’s mental/ behavioral health contractor was openly advertising its woke and transgender affirming ideology.
Through records requests, citizens obtained email correspondence to school administrators and reviewed Allied’s website and social media platforms which stated that they engage in LGBTQ+ affirming practices. Their content also included elements of critical race theory.
The detailed services listed under their Child and Adolescent page indicated their services include “gender exploration, and identity counseling services. “
The language used in their content goes beyond “inclusivity” and clearly enters into social activism.
Due to Empowered Jefferson’s discoveries about Allied, concerned citizens, as well as members of Empowered Jefferson, engaged the school board on this topic in February and March. We requested that Jefferson County Schools end the business relationship with Allied and not renew their contract after it expires in June.
Empowered Jefferson never advocated for “immediate” removal and termination of the Allied contract. Chairman Randy Bradley implied this could be the result at the April meeting, which resulted in a highly emotional response from many in attendance fearing an overnight loss of services.
School commissioner Danny Martin requested at the end of the March school board meeting that Allied be placed on the April Business Meeting agenda. At that meeting the school board voted to let Allied continue their contract until the end of June.
Allied has since removed most of the woke language and transgender images from their website and social media pages. However, nothing indicates their ideology has changed. This concerns Empowered Jefferson Members and others because Allied counsels children ages 4 to 17 in confidential meetings without parents present.
Empowered Jefferson makes the following recommendations to the school board regarding mental health care providers.
1) If mental health services are desired in the school district, then a fair bid process should occur every year. Active invitations to bid should be sent directly to several potential bidders.
2) A contract clause (see below) should be added to ALL future contracts with ALL mental/behavioral health providers that our school system contracts with.
3) Empowered Jefferson would like this contract language to state the following: “Discussions with children regarding gender identity, gender exploration and/or sexual orientation will NOT be permitted on school campuses. Any children requesting or requiring counseling on these topics should be referred to off campus counseling. Parents should be fully informed about the nature of Allied’s previous advertising of LGBTQ+ and transgender ideology during the student referral and parental consent process, and that a violation of said terms would constitute a violation of contract, resulting in immediate termination of contract and forfeiture of all payments by Jefferson County Schools.”
4) Empowered Jefferson believes that discussions of sexual orientation and transgenderism should NOT be permitted on school grounds.
5) Empowered Jefferson advocates for school system staff and their contractors to “affirm/promote abstinence” regarding sexual activity /orientation and relationships. (See TCA 49-6-1304. Family life instruction).
6) In addition, Empowered Jefferson believes that the school board should consider creating a policy that states “any staff members of the school becoming aware of a child using an alternate name that was not used at enrollment or an alternate gender identity that is not consistent with their biological sex and is different than their stated gender upon enrollment, should report it and parents should be notified within 3 days.”
One Response
Why are these school administrators and teachers not being fired?
The legislature passed, Billy signed state law prohibiting this BS
We finally got rid of Schwinn, now we have to get rid of her clone
Billy must truly hate America and Americans