Poster Presentations (Group I)

This session will explore the unmet health needs of LGBTQ youth.  It is designed for staffs who work with youth in the clinic or health care setting. Training will emphasize but not be limited to sexual and reproductive health.  Participants will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to improve access and outcomes for all youth in their care.

To date, there has been a fair amount of research done on disparate health outcomes for LGBTQ youth versus their peers. This includes increased rates of unintended pregnancies and involvement with parenting for LGB teens, increased rates of tobacco use and higher truancy rates. The reasons for this are many but mostly result from socio-cultural expectations at the individual, family, community and institutional levels. It is also the result of the lack of protective factors in these same areas. The purpose of this session is to offer a practical hands-on approach to providing culturally competent care for all youth, especially LGBTQ youth. Specific intervention skills will be explored that support inclusion.

Learning modalities will include a didactic presentation covering what is known about the health status of and engagement in risk behaviors by LGBTQ youth. An interactive values exploration will encourage participants to understand how personal values may impact the provision of quality care and how we can mitigate that impact through a client centered approach. Inclusion of personal reflection and an examination of real life and composite case studies will provide an action and solution focused discussion.

Participants will leave with a glossary of terms, an annotated bibliography and a listing of national and regional resources to assist in the provision of quality care for LGBTQ youth. Participants will also leave with a better understanding of their own health care settings and what small and large improvements can be made to address unmet needs and improve outcomes for LGBTQ youth.