334615
An Assessment of Effective Training Programs for LGBTQ Undergraduate and Graduate Students: Implications for Affirming Educational Environments and Policy Factors in Allied Health
Monday, November 2, 2015
: 1:22 p.m. - 1:35 p.m.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals are up to five times more likely to seek mental services than their heterosexual counterparts, yet many LGBTQ clients report experiences of discrimination and subpar treatment during visits with health and mental health care providers (Bassett & Day, 2003; Rutter et al., 2008). As mental health providers are increasingly called to attend to LGBTQ issues, it is critical to educate practitioner-trainees to deliver competent services to sexual and gender minority populations. The purpose of this mixed-method study was to explore the training and educational experiences of LGBTQ social work students (n=1,018) enrolled in Master of Social Work (76%) or Bachelor of Social Work programs (24%). Participants completed an internet-based questionnaire and data was gathered from 136 programs across fifty-two states/provinces in the U.S. and Canada. Findings revealed that only 44% of students received LGBTQ-content in their classes while simultaneously experiencing challenges associated with student and faculty homophobia and transphobia. Students also reported low levels of self-assessed readiness to practice with LGBT populations, with participants reporting moderate levels of self-assessed readiness with gay individuals when compared to low levels of self-assessed readiness with transgender individuals. The authors describe implications for undergraduate and graduate education and training programs; implicit and explicit program challenges and opportunities; as well as explore the intersection with health and mental health policy factors impacting LGBTQ populations.
Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Discuss implications for undergraduate and graduate education and training programs; implicit and explicit program challenges and needs; as well as the intersection with health and mental health policy factors impacting LGBTQ populations
Keyword(s): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), Teaching
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-principal investigator of multiple state, local, foundation and university grants focusing on LGBTQ health and health disparities. Findings from these studies have been presented at various conferences and peer-reviewed manuscripts centering on the intersection of practice, policy and health factors impacting sexual minority communities; the role of minority stress theory; as well as providing implications for student preparedness, the field of education, policy and the field.
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.
