Past Conference Sessions / Schedule
The 2012 LGBTQ Meaningful Care Conference program
To download the complete 2012 Conference program, please click here
Registration, Networking: 8:00-8:30am
Welcome and opening remarks from co-Chairs: 8:30-8:45am
Panel of three LGBTQ consumers sharing experiences in healthcare: 8:45-9:15am
BREAK / Networking: 9:15-9:30am
Session 1: 9:30-10:45am—workshops offered, attendees choose one:
Trans and Genderqueer Experiences of Health Care in Portland: Data from the Trans Health Education Initiative
Aura Lee Morse, MPH and Rachel Jackson
In 2010, the Trans Health Education Initiative (THE Initiative) gathered quantitative and qualitative data from 96 self-identified trans and genderqueer individuals in the Portland area on their experiences in clinical health care settings.Analysis of these data reveals a stark picture of the barriers to care faced by trans and genderqueer individuals in the Portland area. However, the qualitative data also provide practical, feasible suggestions for making clinical health care settings more trans/genderqueer inclusive. Attendees of this session will have the opportunity to learn how to better serve trans and genderqueer populations and to review one of the few data sources about these populations in our region.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Understand how Portland’s transgender/genderqueer populations differentially experience clinical health care settings.
- Take practical, feasible measures to make their health care or social service settings more trans/genderqueer inclusive.
- Understand how social determinants of health play a role in the health of trans/genderqueer populations in Portland.
Healthcare and Social Service Needs of Trans Children and Youth: Pediatric through Adolescent Years
Jenn Burleton and Dr. Karin Selva, MD
Common issues relevant to trans children prior to and during the initial onset of puberty through pubescent years will be presented. Topics will include: facilitating a social transition, the pros and cons of a GID diagnosis, puberty blockers, the right to access healthcare without parental consent, cross-sex hormones, and addressing potential self destructive survival behaviors.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Describe the differences between social, hormonal, and surgical transitions, and when they need to be explored with patients and their families
- Understand a child’s right to social and physical congruency, and the role of adults in facilitating those processes
- Explain the negative consequences of adopting a “wait and see” or “corrective” approach with transgender children and youth, including the development of co-morbid conditions, increased high risk behavior, and suicidality
Mental Health Care with Long Term Survivors of HIV/AIDS
Brad Larsen, PsyD and Renata Ackerman, PhD
Gay men who were diagnosed with HIV prior to the early 1990s were generally told to abandon careers, spend savings, party it up and prepare to say goodbye. As we know, many did in fact pass soon after being diagnosed. Many others spent life savings, abandoned careers and lost many chosen family members. 15+ years later they are still alive. Many are facing chronic physical and mental health challenges, living on minimal income and/or government assistance and struggling with the loss of career, community and living with minimal resources. Many of these men experience a general sense of purposelessness and hoplessness. It can be challenging for the mental health practitioner to avoid joining with these clients in their hopelessness. The presenters will share best practices for providing meaningful and valuable psychotherapy for/with these individuals.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Identify their own tendency to join their clients in hopelessness Identify three interventions to instill hope and purpose
- Feel refreshed in their determination to help
Supporting Survivors of Domestic & Sexual Violence in LGBT & Queer Communities of Color
Lupita Mendez, MSW and Gabby Santos
At the intersection of multiple oppressions (racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, ethnocentrism, classism, etc.), LGBT & Queer communities of color are met with very specific vulnerabilities, challenges, and strengths. A space will be provided to discuss the challenges of racism within LGBTQ mainstream culture, as well as to explore and rehearse practices to promote equity and social justice. Presenters will illustrate examples from their experiences in working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence in LGBT & Queer communities of color.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Understand the unique challenges faced by LGBT & Queer POC survivors of violence.
- Recognize and analyze oppressive policies and procedures that create barriers for LGBTQ POC survivors of violence.
- Cultivate an atmosphere where LGBTQ POC feel comfortable discussing their experiences with violence and trauma.
Implementing best practices for serving and engaging LGBT patients and healthcare professionals
Sue Orchard, PsyD and Riikka Salonen, MA
This interactive session will explore best practices and lessons learned in designing and implementing a strategic plan for diversity, inclusion and cultural awareness development in the LGBT context. Participants will have opportunities to share their experiences and tools in creating successful organizational initiatives that increase cultural inclusion of LGBT patients and employees.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Recognize opportunities to make the organizational policies and processes more inclusive and culturally sensitive for LGBT patients and employees.
- Identify training resources and tools for increasing cultural awareness of a diverse, interdisciplinary healthcare staff to better serve the LGBT patients and their families.
- Understand best practices for engaging LGBT employees and community organizations to promote wellness, education, and advocacy.
Organizing to Improve the Health of Rural LGBTQ Individuals
Frank Roa, Darrel Allston, and Kevin Castle
This panel presentation will discuss strategies for doing organizing work in rural areas to support LGBTQ individuals. Topics covered will include connecting with community members in a rural area who may identify as being LGBTQ, the unique challenges that face folks rurally vs. in urban environments, and challenges around doing work around HIV/HEP C prevention and treatment in a rural area.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Understand unique challenges facing LGBTQ individuals living in rural areas
- Identify strategies for doing community health work in rural areas
- Get ideas on how to connect with LGBTQ individuals living in rural areas
BREAK / Networking: 10:45-11:00am
Session 2: 11:00am-12:15pm—workshops offered, attendees choose one:
LGBT Family Building Options
Paula Amato, MD
Family-building options available to the LGBT community will be presented, including reproductive options available for LGBT persons, counseling issues unique to the LGBT population and resources for LGBT family building in communities.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Discuss the reproductive options available for LGBT persons Discuss counseling issues unique to the LGBT population.
- Identify resources for LGBT family building in your community.
The Therapist’s Role in Facilitating Transition
Reid Vanderburgh, LMFT
A staged model of transition will be presented as a process of identity emergence, outlining how therapists can be most useful to clients. Expectations of therapists under the WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) Standards of Care (“best practices”) will be included.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- The conceptual difference between sexual orientation and gender identity and basic definitions associated with transgender identity;
- What is expected of therapists under the WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) Standards of Care (“best practices”);
- How transition plays out as a “whole life” issue, e.g. transitioning at work or in school;
- What kinds of family reactions clients can expect
Intergenerational African-American Men: Identification and Conflict
Maurice Evans
There are various ways in which African American men present and identify sexually. This workshop will cover how generational issues can affect how African-American men identify sexually and address how to connect with clients regardless of age to link them into supportive services and eliminate barriers to care. The workshop will also discuss how to increase awareness of existing inequities in regards to access to resources and access to doctors and service providers for African-American men.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Connect better with black men that identify as gay or are part of the MSM population.
- Evaluate barriers that may exist when treating African-American men who are gay and or living with HIV.
- Convey to African-American clients confidentiality.
- Increase awareness of existing inequities in regards to access to resources and access to doctors and service providers for African-American men.
Increasing Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Healthcare through Inclusive Language
Lana Kirby, MA
Non-inclusive language reflects a broader lack of understanding of the health concerns of women who have sex with women and transgender people. Many lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people come to healthcare situations with additional stresses and challenges due to their status as sexual minorities. Non-inclusive language communicates that healthcare providers are not equipped to handle their concerns. Issues associated with non-inclusive language on community college health clinic documents will be presented. Examples of inclusive language will be highlighted while offering suggestions for a more respectful and effective approach.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Understand some of the stress factors for GLBTQ folks—especially students and youth.
- Identify non-inclusive language and attitudes on health intake forms and informational brochures.
- Begin to develop new frameworks for GLBTQ inclusive language and attitudes.
Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Definitions of Health, and Implications for Weight Loss Interventions
Leslie Calman, PhD and Sarah Fogel, PhD, RN
There is a gap in the literature surrounding the meaning of health to specific populations of people. Presenters will provide an analysis of a survey conducted by the Mautner Project in Washington D.C. looking at the meaning of health from the perspective of lesbian and bisexual women, and its implications for building interventions for health improvement initiatives.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Understand how lesbian and bisexual women understand health, and how it compares to the WHO definition of health.
- Understand what the implications of that understanding is for structuring weight loss interventions for lesbian and bisexual women.
- Know more about the efficacy, thus far, of a weigh loss intervention being conducted by Mautner Project in Washington DC.
Culturally Competent HIV Nursing Care
Kim Hutchinson, RN, MSN, ACRN
Stigma is understood to be a considerable barrier to public health action and was referred to “the chief reason the HIV epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world,” by United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-Moon. In this workshop, a curriculum for helping nurses and students to understand stigma, client perspective and experience, as well as to self reflect on own experiences, assumptions and perspectives will be presented.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Recite the disproportionate percentages of affected groups (people of color, MSM, substance use, mental health, poverty, homeless) who have HIV.
- Identify three or more characteristics of HIV related stigma that can affect access to care.
- Explain three tools that can be used to create an inclusive community for people with HIV.
BREAK / Networking: 12:15pm-12:30pm
Lunch-keynote address: 12:45-1:30pm:
Shane Snowdon, Founder and Executive Director of the UCSF Center for LGBT Health and Equity
BREAK / Networking: 1:30pm-1:45pm
Session 3: 1:45-3:00pm—workshops offered, attendees choose one:
Opciones Y Educacion (O.Y.E.) – Promoting Healthy Sexuality for LGBTQ Latinos
Ismael Garcia, Rae Trotta
The Latino community, when compared with non-Latinos, is burdened with higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly Chlamydia and HIV. As in other groups, gay and bi men and transgender Latinos are disproportionately affected by HIV. Many programs don’t talk about sexuality or LGBT issues at all or only promote condoms and HIV testing, overlooking the larger social, economic, and cultural influences on sexual health. The needs of LGBTQ Latinos/as will be discussed, promoting dialog about root causes of health inequities affecting LGBTQ Latinos/as while increasing knowledge of talking about sexuality, homophobia, transphobia and gender roles as they relate to Latinos/as.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Understand important issues in the lives of LGBTQ Latinos/as.
- Promote dialog about root causes of health inequities affecting LGBTQ Latinos/as.
- Feel more comfortable and confident talking about sexuality, homophobia, transphobia and gender roles as they relate to Latinos/as.
Breaking the Binary: Gaining tangible skills in working with gender non-conforming and transgender youth
Kaig Lighter, Kris Gowen, PhD
Youth who present as gender non-conforming may not necessarily identify as LGBTQ, but due to society’s gender binary system, youth who do not neatly fit into the male/female dichotomy face significant barriers based purely on their gender presentation. This interactive workshop aims to increase the cultural competency of service providers by challenging gender norms; increasing skills in creating safe spaces; critically analyzing intake forms; and working respectfully with young people of varying gender identities.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Identify the specific needs of gender non-conforming and transgender youth.
- Increase their cultural competency in respectfully engaging with gender non-conforming and transgender youth.
- Enhance their support and advocacy for gender non-conforming transgender youth within organizational settings.
Fulfilling the potential of HIV PEP and PrEP for gay/bi/trans men
Josh Ferrer, MA
Non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) is a valuable tool to prevent those exposed to HIV from becoming HIV infected. However, knowledge of nPEP and just as importantly, access to it, particularly for those at highest risk for HIV including gay/bi/trans and other men who have sex with men, is limited. Standards of care related to nPEP can vary widely from facility to facility as can provider awareness and comfort with this important biomedical HIV prevention tool.A concise overview of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV exposure, including clinical guidance, best practices, and available resources will be presented. The presentation will also focus on issues of concern to those serving gay/bi/trans men such as increasing general knowledge of PEP and PrEP, facilitating access, as well as handling concerns surrounding reimbursement and on-going patient care and monitoring.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Explain and articulate how biomedical interventions such as pre-exposure and post- exposure prophylaxis can be used to prevent HIV transmission.
- Identify barriers to access for pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis and potential solutions for overcoming these barriers.
- Work towards facilitating access to pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis in their workplaces and communities with gay/bi/trans men.
Substance Use and the LGBTQ Community
Gary Cash, CADC
Are LGBTQ more at risk for isolation, social anxiety, substance abuse and dependences? If so, what are the communication skills, boundaries, healthy options and resources sensitive to the culture of our community? This workshop will include a discussion and interactive forum on the challenges that exist for many people in the LGBTQ community around substance use as it relates to social networking, socializing, meeting people and dating in order to equip providers with tools for communicating these issues to clients.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Identify comfortable communication tools/ alternatives for social settings and interactions where substance use is not the only option to “loosen up” to use with clients
- Develop strategies to normalize the awkward and sometimes paralyzing moments of social interactions for LGBTQ clients wanting or choosing to avoid use of mood altering substances
- Evaluate personal barriers based around self-esteem, worth, and perceptions that can reinforce the discomfort of being one’s “clean & sober” self in groups or one-on-one interactions.
Understanding Aging Among LGBT Elders
Panel of Elders from Gay & Grey Speaker’s Bureau
A panel of local LGBT elders will provide context for the challenges specific to LGBTQ older adults and elders, including but not limited to: coming of age in a more homophobic time and issue around housing, health care and interpersonal relationships.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Understand unique needs and challenges facing LGBTQ elders and older adults (housing, re-closeting, social support issues)
- Learn tools to engage with and provide culturally competent care to this growing population
Trans Care: Giving and Receiving Quality Medical Care
Carol Blenning, MD, Amanda Risser, MD, and Christina Milano, MD
Transgendered individuals can have difficulty accessing culturally sensitive, quality medical care. Some medical practices struggle to be trans friendly, as staff and providers can be unfamiliar with appropriate communication and care, and even biased in their beliefs about the trans community. Trans folks can improve their care through education and self-advocacy. We aim to spark discussion about the ways that both providers and receivers of care can improve their experience.Sensitive and appropriate care for transgendered individuals will be included as well as methods for peer based sharing of information of evidenced based practices.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Attendees will be able to describe methods that improve the comfort and quality of medical care for transgendered individuals.
- Attendees will be able to describe ways in which transgendered individuals can inform themselves and others about appropriate and evidence-based medical care.
- Attendees will share and/or hear about experiences they or others have had which can help educate all of us about sensitive and appropriate care for transgendered individuals.
BREAK / Networking: 3:00pm-3:15pm
Session 4: 3:15-4:30pm—workshops offered, attendees choose one:
Recognition, Acceptance, Congruence, and Empowerment: Best Practices for Supporting Transgender Children and Their Families in Social Services and Healthcare
Jenn Burleton and Sheryl Rindel, LPC
In this workshop, practitioners will learn how to utilize a four step standard of prevention and care called RACE, which stands for Recognition, Acceptance, Congruence, and Empowerment. As a parent education model, the RACE standard of care gives parents the tools to understand their child’s gender identity and prepares them to embrace the role as advocate for their child. For services providers, RACE can be used as a form of early intervention and as a model of inter- agency collaboration.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Define gender non-conforming and transgender youth as populations, and how they do and do not overlap with sexual minority youth as a population
- Understand the pathologization of gender non-conformity in children and youth, and of the parents/adults who support these youth
- Identify commonly accepted parenting and professional practices that constitute gender- based violence and abuse against gender non-conforming and transgender children and youth, and how to incorporate the RACE standards of care as a prevention tool with caregivers and service providers alike
Trans 201: Intermediate-level transgender healthcare
Suzanne Scopes, ND, Marcy Feibelman, ND, Jose Cruz, RN, Jill Winsor
This workshop will cover more advanced issues related to hormone replacement therapy and longterm care for transgender patients. Participants will develop an understanding of medical issues and concerns associated with trans healthcare and how to provide competent and respectful care for transgender patients from a panel of providers that run the Trans Clinic at Outside In.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Have an understanding of the protocols for hormone replacement therapy
- Understand the medical issues/concerns associated with trans healthcare.
- Be more informed about how to provide competent and respectful care for transgender patients.
Creating a “Hate Free” Zone
Megan Kidd, MSW and staff from SAFES shelter
Unique to a women’s program, the Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (SAFES) provides services to any person identifying as female, including LGBTQ persons. At times acceptance of non-traditional female participants has created acceptance challenges by program participants. SAFES has developed a “Hate Free Zone” model that does not tolerate homophobic or hate speech towards program participants by other participants in the day access program or in the transitional housing dorm program. Challenges in serving clients identifying as female and concurrently experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse and domestic violence will be presented. The discussion will include program issues and inter-client gender perceptions.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Participants will understand needs of female-identified clients accessing shelter services (addictions, mental health, DV, etc)
- Participants will understand complex needs of LGBTQ clients seeking shelter services/social services in a female-identified setting.
- Participants will be able to advocate for a greater acceptance and better access to services for female and LGBTQ populations.
Tobacco disparities in specific populations: LGBTQ tobacco use, social norms, and prevention and cessation resources
Becky Wright, MPH
Although the Oregon tobacco prevention program has been successful in reducing tobacco use and consumption in the state, there are still glaring gaps in which communities have been affected by these reductions. The LGBTQ community still has disproportionately high number of tobacco use, for both adults and youth, ranging from 40-70% higher rates then non-LGBTQ folks (depending on the study). The American Cancer Society estimates that over 30,000 LGBT people die each year of tobacco related diseases, and fewer LGBTQ folks attempt to quit smoking then non-LGBTQ folks. This presentation will explore these disparities, tobacco industry marketing tactics and other social causes for these disparities. The session will end with a discussion of available cessation resources specifically for the LGBTQ community, as well as for the general population, and ways to increase access and referrals to these resources.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Explain tobacco related disparities experienced by the LGBTQ community. Analyze tobacco industry marketing to specific populations.
- Identify available cessation resources for tobacco users.
Providing care to LGBT Oregonians: Voices from the Oregon Primary Care Association
Scott Ekblad and Jim Coffee, MPA
Members of the Oregon Primary Care Association that lead the Office of Rural Health and the Astoria-based Coastal Family Health Center will lead a discussion of healthcare and social service challenges that face non-metro area LGBTQ Oregonians. Topics in this dialogue include providing LGBTQ-affirmative care in rural primary care settings, health disparities affecting individuals in rural areas that may intersect with disparities faced by LGBTQ individuals, and increasing LGBTQ cultural competency to rural areas.
After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Better understand challenges faced by rural healthcare consumers and service providers
- Learn ways that primary care providers can offer LGBTQ-affirmative care to patients
- Understand health disparities in rural areas that may be experienced by LGBTQ patients
End of program, CEU/CME certificates distributed: 4:30pm
Previous year’s Conference session information can be found at the following links: