The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64302

Janelle R. Heimberger, BS and Christiana Coggins, MPH. Santa Fe Community Center of Excellence in Women's Health, Women's Health Services Family Care and Counseling Center, 901 W. Alameda, Suite 25, Santa Fe, NM 87501, (505)982-8907, jheimberger@alumni.antioch-college.edu

Women’s Health Services Family Care and Counseling Center (WHS) is a community-based, nonprofit health care clinic in Santa Fe, NM. In 2002, WHS received a grant to improve health access for culturally diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) populations within Santa Fe. Through key informant interviews and clinic assessment, we recognized that staff education was essential for increased health access for GLBT patients. Once underway, it became clear that consideration of cultural diversity among GLBT communities was not enough: to successfully assimilate GLBT awareness into clinic practice, we needed to create a training curriculum for culturally-diverse staff. We incorporated the following elements into the training process to produce a more effective clinic outcome; MULTIPLE DISCOURSE: Acknowledgement of race, sex, class, religion and gender as societal barriers all staff encounter, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; SAFE SPACE: Inclusion of a facilitator using non-violent communication techniques, whereby participants could openly voice oppositions and concerns; and COMMUNITY MODELLING: Incorporation into staff trainings of other culturally diverse community organizations that specifically work with GLBT populations. As of February 2003, this project is still underway. The staff training will cover an eight-week period and be completed in early April. A pre- and post-training survey to assess clinic staff comfort and familiarity with GLBT issues will be used to evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness of the training process. When complete, we are hopeful that this project will provide a model for effective GLBT education in a clinic environment.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to:
• ´ List the five steps taken at Women's Health Services to complete the education portion of the GLBT health access grant.
• ´ Define the necessary elements for successful integration of increased GLBT health access through staff education within a clinic environment.
• ´ Create a program that contains elements for creating positive organizational change in regard to increased health care access for the GLBT community.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.