186979 Integrating prevention and services for issues of risk and resilience among transgender youth

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 9:42 AM

Leslie Clark, PhD , Adolescent, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
This panel describes services, research and programs for transgender youth ages 13 to 24 available through the Risk Reduction Program (RRP) at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Division of Adolescent Medicine. Many transgender youth have experienced rejection, discrimination, and violence, resulting in damaging effects including the internalization of these experiences, feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness. Given these challenges, it is not surprising that many transgender youth put themselves at risk for HIV infection, reject offers of help, and face struggles in their transition to adulthood.

Presentation 1 (Physiologic changes to cross hormone therapy in transgender youth, J. Olson) describes research on the effects of hormone therapy in male-to-female transgender youth. Presentation 2 (Healthy development and positive mental health for transgender youth: A group therapy approach, S. Collotzi) addresses utilizing group therapy to promote a positive transitioning process for male-to-female and female-to-male youth. The third and fourth presentations (Transgender Adult Identity Mentoring (TG-AIM): HIV prevention through positive possible futures, C. Forbes and Tranny Rockstar project: Changing social norms, B. Salcedo) discuss two evidence-based behavioral interventions adapted specifically for male-to-female transgender youth. “Tranny Rockstar,” an adaptation of the Popular Opinion Leader intervention, trains transgender youth to diffuse safer sex messages among their peers and social networks. “TG-AIM”, an adaptation of Project AIM, builds individual capacity for a positive future and reduces motivation to engage in current risky behaviors.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe medical, mental health, and prevention services, research and programs for transgender youth 2. Identify the varied prevention and service needs of transgender youth 3. Articulate the value of an interdisciplinary approach when working with transgender youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Clark has worked with HIV-infected populations and in the field of sexual risk among minority adolescents for more than 15 years. Dr. Clark is an Associate Professor in the Division of Children, Youth and Family, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the Pediatrics Department of Keck Medical School, University of Southern California. She is the original developer of the Adult Identity Mentoring (Project AIM) curriculum on which TG-AIM is based.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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