Integrating LGBT issues into the cultural competence agenda

Although LGBT people comprise 5-10% or more of the population, health and human services providers are often unprepared to welcome them as consumers, or treat them with the respect they deserve.  
This interactive workshop will provide participants with information about the prevalence of LGBT people accessing mental health services, their mental health needs, and the obstacles they face when seeking care. Non-LGBT providers will learn how they can effectively meet the needs of their LGBT consumers in a culturally competent and sensitive way, and recognize ways they might be inadvertently making LGBT consumers in recovery feel invisible or unwelcome.  The best practices recommended in this workshop will help providers affirm the sexuality and gender identity of all people in recovery.
The workshop also describes the genesis of the Rainbow Heights Club program, which for six years provided LGBT affirming mental health and support services with little or no additional resources, funding or staff.  Guidelines for developing culturally specific programing with minimal resources, and for promoting and finding additional support for that programming, will be reviewed.
The presenters are experienced and dynamic public speakers who are skilled at creating a safe and welcoming environment within which issues of sexuality and gender identity can be explored.  Although the focus of the workshop is on the provision of LGBT affirming services, the basic principles can be applied to any marginalized or underserved population.