Diverse SOGIE Training Series: Gender-Affirming Care

Three CEU Credits (Social Work): Approved by the NASW-Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative. Please check with your local accrediting body for reciprocity.

This training provides an overview of gender-affirming care and transitioning (socially, medically, and legally). These practices serve to increase safety, access to resources, and mental/emotional well-being for gender diverse people. Whether a medical professional or someone who is interested in advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, participants will leave with concrete behaviors which can be implemented in a variety of roles when serving individuals with diverse gender identity and expression.

This training series is interactive, and participants are asked to be on camera and able to interact with other participants through video, audio, and chat periodically. While this is an expectation of the training, we understand that there can be barriers to this type of involvement. Reach out to the trainers ahead of time at for more information or accommodations.

Objectives

• Why we are discussing SOGIE (statistics, evidence-based practices, personal narratives)
• Introduction to gender-affirming care (medically, socially, and legally) as well as hearing directly from youth who have accessed gender-affirming care at the Ruth Ellis Center and the medical and behavioral health professionals who practice this work
• Address common assumptions/myths related to gender diversity and gender-affirming care

Who Should Participate

• Professionals who work with children, youth, young adults, and/or families who have previous introductory knowledge on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression
• Participants can be individuals who directly with others or be involved in supervision, management, and leadership
• Professionals who work in integrated health would especially benefit from this training, but the content is applicable in many areas of work (case managers, social workers, foster parents, case supervisors, program staff, program managers, program directors, quality assurance)

Courses in this Series

SOGIE 101
Monday, May 23 from 1-4 p.m. ET

Inclusive Data Collection: How to Ask About SOGIE In Systems of Care
Tuesday, May 24 from 1-4 p.m. ET

Family Support with LGBTQ Children
Wednesday, May 25 from 1-4 p.m. ET

Gender Affirming Care
Thursday, May 26 from 1-4 p.m. ET

About the Training Series

Ruth Ellis Institute has developed the following training content through researching how adult practitioners, government health and human service employees, and staff at community-based organizations leverage their existing experience to integrate more affirming practices for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

The development of this curriculum is embedded within a LGBTQ-specific direct service organization, ensuring that on-the-ground implementation is informing training content. Ruth Ellis’ model connects:

• Youth and their families lived experience
• Direct practice
• Research and evaluation
• Coaching and consulting
• Policy and regulations

Content in Gender-Affirming Care has been developed at the Ruth Ellis Center in partnership with the University of Michigan and Henry Ford Health System. Centering the lived experience of Black and Brown people who are transgender and non-binary, the framing of the training objectives was developed through two focus groups by and with the community. Ruth Ellis Institute produced and developed a film which anchors the content through featuring wisdom from Black and Brown transgender and non-binary individuals. Participants will leave with urgent recommendations for all agencies who serve youth, especially in integrated health care.