218024 Advancing the LGBT health agenda: The role of state government

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Mari Gasiorowicz, MA , Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison, WI
Molly Herrmann, MS , Humble Pie Consulting, Madison, WI
Chitra Karki, BAMS, MPH , Bureau of Communicable Diseases and Emergency Preparedness, Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Madison, WI
Gary Hollander, PhD , Diverse and Resilient, Inc., Milwaukee, WI
        
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and adults experience significant health disparities compared to their non-LGBT peers. Yet few states health departments (SHDs) have offices of LGBT health or targeted funding directed to reach these communities. This session describes the Wisconsin SHD's ongoing efforts to address these gaps. Examples of activities conducted in Wisconsin, organized by the core public health functions, are provided below. Two assessment functions are inclusion of questions regarding sexual orientation and sex of sexual partners on the YRBS and BRFS and analysis and dissemination of data; and key informant interviews with community leaders and LGBT community meetings around the state to guide the state's plans for LGBT health efforts. Assurance activities include state funding of LGBT health projects addressing tobacco use and breast cancer; and LGBT cultural competence training for service providers. Policy development activities include prominent placement of LGBT health disparities data and objectives in the 2020 state health plan; development on a web site devoted to the state's LGBT health efforts and community partnerships parallel to the Minority Health Program site; and letters from high-level state government officials to federal policy-makers advocating for promising health policies. Creative use of state government staff and graduate students has enabled steps to building structures in state government.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe partnerships between state government and communities that strengthen and support the functions that each entity conducts. 2. Name three examples of activities conducted within state government that can advance the LGBT health agenda.

Keywords: Public Health Advocacy, Government

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conduct research and policy work on LGBT issues within state government.
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.

Back to: 3225.0: Policy, Advocacy, and Social Justice for LGBT Communities