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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Philip McCabe, CSW, CAS, Office of Public Health Practice, UMDNJ- School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ 08854, 732-235-8229, mccabept@umdnj.edu

While county and local, social service agencies in New Jersey, offer assistance to sexual assault and domestic violence victims, there is a notable lack of availability of services for LGBT Individuals. NJ has limited shelters where lesbians have received services, and often it is reported the women lives in fear, that if her sexual orientation is discovered or disclosed, she will face ridicule, alienation, and even evection. No shelter programs are offered for gay men. Transgender Individuals face additional difficulties, based on conflicts with assigned and or perceived gender and how others in the system will relate to them. A pilot project was developed in 2000 for Monmouth County's Rape Care Advocacy Program, Project 180 Inc. This has lead to an increase of awareness and LGBT sensitivity for clinical staff and volunteers in the Rape Care Advocacy Program. In Oct of 2005, an expanded twelve hour curriculum was developed and delivered for all staff of Project 180. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners have also received discipline specific training. In addition to advocacy services provided by volunteers, Professional Staff provide clinical services including sexual assault, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health counseling. Additionally educators have integrated LGBT awareness into the Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Curriculum that is offered to law enforcement professionals. LGBT Sensitivity and Clinical awareness of the problems associated with LGBT sexual assault have increased staff ability to meet the needs of LGBT survivors of abuse.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will identify the diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, age, class and other subcultures within the GLBT Communities.
• Participants will become familiar with issues of abuse and sexual assault specific to the LGBT communities
• Participants will be able to recognize and learn more about appropriate interventions for a range of special issues facing theses communities.

Keywords: Sexual Assault, Underserved Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered