Promoting Behavioral Health & Wellness in LGBTQ+ Communities
In this webinar, attendees will learn the fundamentals of LGBTQ+ competency. The first half of the presentation will provide an overview of appropriate terminology, identity development timelines, and variations in the LGBTQ experience from an intersectional perspective. Presenters will help attendees to reflect upon their own sexual and gender identity development/expression, and aid in understanding the need for holistic, competent, and affirming services for this historically marginalized population. The latter half of the presentation will include a more in-depth discussion of the social disparities, political issues, and barriers to care impacting the health and wellness of LGBTQ+ communities. Presenters will also provide guidance for LGBTQ+ sensitive clinical practices, as well as strategies for countering marginalization and trauma.
Presenters:
Andrew Spiers, LSW - Director of Training & Technical Assistance, Pathways to Housing PA
Andrew Spiers, LSW (he/him/his) holds a Master of Social Service from Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, where he concentrated in Community Practice, Policy, & Advocacy. Upon graduating, he worked as the Co-Coordinator of the Trans-Health Information Project (TIP) at GALAEI, and served as the Lead Therapist at RHD’s Morris Home— a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation program in South-West Philadelphia exclusively serving members of the transgender and gender non-conforming community, from 2015-2018. Currently, Andrew is the Director of Training & Technical Assistance at Pathways to Housing PA. Since 2012, he has presented at conferences nationwide on harm reduction, Housing First, and behavioral health best practices for LGBTQ+ communities.
Erica Smith, M.Ed. - Sexuality Educator, Erica Smith Education & Consulting, LLC
Erica Smith, M.Ed (she/her) is an award winning and nationally recognized sexuality educator with over 20 years of experience. She received her BA in Women’s Studies from Penn State University and a Master of Education from Widener University's Center for Human Sexuality Studies. For 18 years, Erica provided comprehensive sex education, HIV prevention services, and supportive services to young women and LGBTQ+ youth detained in Philadelphia’s juvenile justice system and child welfare system as part of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Adolescent Initiative. She has also supported transgender youth and their families since 2002. Erica’s areas of expertise are LGBTQ+ issues, adolescent sexuality, adolescent sexual health, LGBTQ+ youth, and the sexual health needs of justice-involved youth.
Learning objectives
When attendees return to the workplace, they will be able to:
- Demonstrate basic competency with use of modern LGBTQ+ terminology, including pronouns
- Name at least three reasons why LGBTQ+ individuals are at increased risk for poor health and social outcomes
- Name and demonstrate at least three actionable strategies to make your service provision more LGBTQ+ affirming
Target Audience: Social service providers and helping professionals with direct client contact, clinical supervisors, agency administrators, policy-makers, and anyone seeking to gain a greater understanding of LGBTQ+ communities.
Social Work Practice level: This course is appropriate for beginner and intermediate BSW/ MSW learners
Content level: This course covers beginner and intermediate level material
Interactivity: This course will offer 15 minutes of Q&A time, as well as real-time polling, and group discussion prompts.
LSW/LCSW Credit hours offered: 2*
* We can provide continuing education credits to licensed social workers in 48 of the 50 U.S. states and all 13 Canadian provinces. Due to current regulations, CE credits cannot be offered to social workers in the states of New Jersey or New York.
Fees: $25 general registration; additional $5 for registration with LSW/LCSW CE credit
Registration includes access to the live event and recording, PDF of slides, and relevant training tip sheets/resources.
ACE Statement: Housing First University: a program of Pathways to Housing PA, Provider number 1759, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Housing First University: a program of Pathways to Housing PA maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 1/12/2021-1/12/2022. Social workers completing this course receive 2 social and cultural competence continuing education credits.
