5. Community and social accountability
- Date: Friday, September 20, 2019
- Concurrent Session E
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Time: 11:00am–11:45am
- Room: Pier 8
- Style: Presentation (information provided to audience, with opportunity for audience to ask question)
- Focus: Balance between both (e.g. Presentation of a best-practice guideline that combines research evidence, policy issues and practical steps for implementation)
- Target Audience: Leadership (ED, clinical lead, board chair, board member, etc.), Clinical providers, Representatives of stakeholder/partner organizations
Learning Objectives
In spring of 2018, the Couchiching Family Health Team secured annualized funding for their Trans Health Services program. This presentation will focus on the history of the program, including the regional study that helped to guide its development, the needs in the region, and how the funding was used. We will also share ways that we have addressed barriers, including the lack of affordable trans voice therapy in Ontario and how we were able to provide this free of charge to trans women in our region. Our hope is that others may utilize this information to advocate for similar services.
Summary/Abstract
Programs providing trans-affirming health care are few and far between in Ontario. The Trans Health Program at the CFHT was created in the spirit of working toward this reality. The journey to fund a trans health program at the CFHT began at our local hospital, Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) where a passionate LGBTQ Committee commissioned a local LGBTQ organization (The Gilbert Centre) to conduct a regional study on the needs of trans people in the area. The results from this study were consistent with other studies conducted on trans health experiences in Ontario: many are not receiving adequate health care due to fear of discrimination, experiences of discrimination, and lack of practitioner knowledge. The CFHT submitted a proposal to the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN and was awarded annualized funding to provide trans-specific health care in the region. In this presentation we will discuss our processes, learning points, and ways we have addressed barriers. Most recently, we have started the process of implementing a Two-Spirit Peer Support Navigator position, and have been able, through strong collaboration and partnerships, to offer free trans voice therapy to trans women in the region. As this program continues, it is also our vision that through education and connection with our Nurse Practitioner, we will contribute to building further capacity, offering more Primary Care Practitioners (PCP’s) the tools needed to deliver health care with the understanding that trans health care is primary care.
Presenter
- Angela Munday MSW, RSW, Clinical Program Manager, Couchiching Family Health Team
- Carl Lemesurier, Peer Support Navigator, Couchiching Family Health Team
- Gavrel Feldman BA, NSM Trans Health Steering Committee Member, Community Member
Authors/Contributors