Improving Care for LGBTQ+ Communities
The Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity provides behavioral health practitioners with vital information on supporting the population of people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, two-spirit, and other diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.
Through training, coaching, and technical assistance we are implementing change strategies within mental health and substance use disorder treatment systems to address disparities effecting LGBTQ+ people across all stages of life.
Purpose
Current disparities and disproportionalities data on LGBTQ+ communities highlight the importance of more tailored and culturally responsive substance use and mental health services throughout the lifespan. This data has shown that LGBTQ+ populations of all ages disproportionately experience more instances of mental health and substance use disorders, suicidality, and poor wellbeing outcomes compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Intersectionality is an important consideration when serving LGBTQ+ populations, considering age as well as race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and ability.
Behavioral health disparities experienced by LGBTQ+ populations can be attributed to
- Minority Stress; increased stress caused by pervasive rejection, discrimination, and stigma
- Verbal, emotional, or physical abuse from unsupportive family members and communities
- Discrimination in health care, employment, housing, and retirement
- Unremitted bullying in school
- Absence of social programs specializing in LGBTQ+ services
- A shortage of health care providers who are knowledgeable about LGBTQ+-specific needs
about
Addressing behavioral health disparities among LGBTQ+ communities
This Center of Excellence, funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is designed to support the implementation of change strategies within mental health and substance use disorder treatment systems to address disparities impacting the LGBTQ+ community.
Accessible Experts
Updated Resources
Rapid Technical Assistance
Professional Development
Peer to Peer Learning
OUR GOALS
Increase awareness and understanding
of LGBTQ+ disparities, unmet treatment needs, minority stress, evidence-based and best practices, workforce challenges, and opportunities among practitioners, families, youth, states, and communities through free, publicly-available and coordinated training and technical assistance.
Increase practitioner knowledge and skills
about effective strategies to decrease health disparities and stigma including through evidence informed practices and evidence-based practices.
Accelerate adoption and implementation of evidence-based practices
through the implementation of evidence-based LGBTQ+ group clinical models as well as training and coaching models for the workforce.
What We offer
We host webinars on effectively addressing disparities and bias within mental health and substance use disorder treatment systems.
We offer tailored technical assistance (time limited) and monthly office hours.
We provide up-to-date information and education related to the provision of evidence-based mental health and substance use disorder treatment to the LGBTQ+ community with an emphasis on engaging and retaining individuals in care.
We disseminate comprehensive resources and training modules for system administrators and leadership to ensure organizations are welcoming and inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community.
Who We Are
This Center for Excellence is led by the National SOGIE Center at Innovations Institute, University of Connecticut School of Social Work and is a partnership with Affirmative Research, The Baker Center for Children & Families, and The Institute for Innovation and Implementation, University of Maryland School of Social Work.
The Work of this Center relies on:
- an expert pool that includes individuals with lived experience
- leaders from provider organizations that are implementing best practices to address behavioral health disparities among the LBGTQ+ community
- and researchers and clinical experts skilled in translating research into practice in mental health and substance use practice settings.
PARTICIPATE
Join Our Webinar and Panel Discussions!
This Center of Excellence hosts webinars for health practitioners focused on best and latest practices to decrease behavioral health disparities impacting LGBTQ+ children, youth, young adults, adults, and older adults.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on new webinars as they become available and to receive the recordings.
Our Ask Our Expert virtual sessions & panel discussions connect practitioners with experts from across the country who provide technical assistance on a variety of subjects.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest resources & learning opportunities!
Connect with us on Linkedin!