ODL 302: LGBTQ+ Health Education and Advocacy Summit: Foundations for Inclusive Care and Ethical Considerations

Created on: 10/17/24

Attention New Jersey Social Workers: 

This course is approved for all social workers, including New Jersey. The Board Adopted Amendments: N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.3, 6.4, and 6.7 Content Areas for Continuing Education Credit on April 15, 2024. This updates the Board’s regulation. This amendment states that  attendance at programs or courses offered by providers approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) are now acceptable sources of CE credit. 

At the June 12, 2024 public meeting, the Board voted to allow “any applications submitted, or audits which take place, on or after September 1, 2022” to be able “to submit CE from the sources updated in the new amendment adopted on April 15, 2024.”

For more information please refer to https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/sw/Pages/Additional-Information.aspx#CE

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, case managers, nurses, and counselors.

Overview:

In today’s world, we are expected to trust and connect with our primary health providers when they only have moments to spend with each patient. We are expected to develop trust and rapport in a quick ten minute appointment. The LGBTQ+ Health and Advocacy Summit is designed for helping professionals to gain essential knowledge and skills in supporting and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community. This summit will cover fundamental topics such as LGBTQ+ terminology, health disparities, and effective allyship. Through engaging sessions led by experienced speakers, attendees will learn how to create inclusive and affirming environments in their professional and personal lives. Whether you are new to LGBTQ+ advocacy or looking to strengthen your foundational understanding, this presentation offers valuable insights and practical tools to enhance your impact.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session – the participant will be able to:

• Identify basic LGBTQ+ terminology and concepts to improve communication and understanding.
• Recognize health disparities experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals and explore strategies to address these disparities.
• Formulate skills for advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and supporting individuals as an effective ally.
• Examine best practices for creating safe and affirming spaces in various professional settings.
• Analyze personal stories and professional insights to gain a deeper understanding of the LGBTQ+ experience.
• Give examples of networking opportunities to build connections and share knowledge with peers.

Presenters:

Fran Hutchins (They/She), Executive Director at Equality Federation

Fran is the Executive Director at Equality Federation, the national strategic partner to state-based organizations working to win equality in the communities we call home. She has been with the Federation since 2012 and has worked on the ground with our partners to build strong organizations, develop tailored strategies, and create data-driven solutions to meet the needs of our movement. Fran’s career has focused on building a strong progressive movement that changes the way we approach some of our most pressing social problems: poverty, homelessness, education, economic inequality, and discrimination. She is especially proud to have served as Regional Field Director for Mainers United for Marriage, the successful 2012 campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples in Maine.

M. Greg Green (He/Him), Author, Advocate for Transgender Rights, Transitional Consultant, Diversity, Equality, Justice, Inclusion Conversation Facilitator

M. Greg Green is an author, diversity & inclusion facilitator, Community Health Worker, and community advocate that uses his years of experience as a police officer and firefighter to facilitate and humanize access to public resources while shifting the corporate culture for his communities. As an advocate, corporate trainer, and entrepreneur, he currently serves as the Executive Director of Transgender Awareness Alliance,  CEO of Miskonception LLC, is on the Board of Directors for The Citadel’s African American Alumni Association and is a 2024 Clyburn Fellow.
Greg is a skilled and engaging speaker on transformative public service, trans visibility and awareness in the corporate world, and intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community. He has spoken in Washington DC with the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Dorn VA Hospital, Federal Correctional Institution in Edgefield, SC, Federation of Families Summer Summit, The International Conference on Stigma, and many other engagements and keynotes.

Chandler Massengale (She/They), LISW-CP, We Are Family

Chandler Massengale, a versatile professional in the fields of social work, therapy, advocacy, and a valued member of the WAF family, is recognized for taking on various roles. Their journey commenced as a Registered Behavioral Technician, engaging in Applied Behavior Analysis with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. This early experience ignited a keen interest in comprehending behavior and recognizing the unique strengths and needs of individuals. Above all, Chandler is dedicated to social justice, service, and upholding integrity in their role as a social worker. Proudly graduated from the College of Charleston with a B.A. in Psychology in 2017, she went on to earn her master’s degree in Social Work from Louisiana State University in 2020. Chandler employs an eclectic therapeutic approach, drawing inspiration from the Systems Perspective and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Her practice is characterized by a sex-positive, LGBTQIA+ affirming, feminist, and client-centered approach, focusing on the intersection of neurodiversity and queerness. At We Are Family, she owns the Mental Health Assistance Program. A program that provides accessible mental health services for LGBTQI+ youth in South Carolina by connecting them with affirming and knowledgeable therapists for free. Since its creation in 2020, the program has provided over 2,000 hours of free therapy sessions for over 190 youth with a growing network of affirming therapists. Chandler also includes care for the parents of LGBTQI+ youth by co-facilitating a parent support group and play therapy group for elementary aged young people with another affirming therapist in Charleston, SC.

Luca Valentine (They/Them), LMSW, CMFT

Luca is a non-binary provider that serves clients in Georgia. They have both lived and professional experience at the intersection of gender and neurodiversity. Luca graduated with their MSW in 2017 from UGA, has been teaching and training since 2011, and working in mental health since 2013. Luca works in a solo practice providing individual, group, and family therapy as well as occasional in-home services.

Chase Glenn (He/Him), AFFA

Chase Glenn is the Executive Director of the Alliance For Full Acceptance (AFFA), and a highly regarded public speaker, workshop facilitator, and LGBTQ+ community advocate, boasting over 15 years of experience in advocating for LGBTQ-identified children, youth, and adults. Drawing from both professional training and personal experience as a transgender man, Chase delivers impactful education on the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as best practices for fostering inclusive and affirming spaces. Originally from Illinois, Chase has resided in South Carolina since 2006. He holds a B.A. in Religion from Belmont University and an M.A. in Counseling from Webster University. He is a Furman University Diversity Leaders Initiative Riley Fellow, class of 2018, and an Aspen Institute Liberty Fellow, Class of 2023.

Panelists:

Kendra O’Berry, LCSW, (She/Her) is a graduate of Valdosta State University with her Bachelor’s in English and Master’s degree in Social Work. She is an LCSW and has been working in the medical and mental health fields for most of her career. She is a wife, mother, and travel enthusiast. It is her hope to be able to educate not only her peers but as many in the community as possible of their rights, and how to live their best lives. 

Tucker Duval (He/Him) grew up in Auburn, Georgia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2012 and served for five years as a US Army Engineer Officer. After leaving active duty in 2017, he joined the National Center for Transgender Equality to advocate for the full inclusion of transgender members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Following a stint in the finance and operations department at NCTE, he returned home to pursue an MBA at the University of Georgia, where he fell in love with Athens and discovered his passion for local government. He now serves as the Treasurer for Athens-Clarke County Unified Government. He lives contentedly near downtown Athens with his spouse, Sarah, and their two dogs and one cat.

Sarah Harbin-Coleman (She/Her/Mx) is a therapist and advocate for LGBTQIA+ communities. She owns Park Circle Counseling, where she practices therapy and trains graduate students in queer and trans competencies for mental health.  She is also a board member for We Are Family. 

Kenya Cummings (They/Them/Theirs) – Kenya is a Black organizer and Healer from the South. They have a deep commitment to the South and South Carolina. Kenya is focused on community building and joy cultivation as the center of their life’s work They are proud to call South Carolina Housing Justice Network their political home. They are a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Science with a minor in African American Studies. Kenya is a graduate of Methodist Theological School in Ohio with a Master’s of Divinity.

6 CREDIT HOURS APPROVED FOR:

Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 6 Ethics CEs Credits
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 6 Contact Hours
Case Managers
CCMC – 6 Ethics Hours
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 6 Contact Hours
Counselors –  6 Ethics or 6 Contact Hours*
NBCC ACEP – 6 Contact Hours
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 6 Contact Hours

* Some states do not require/accept ethics hours for counselors, for those cases contact hours will be awarded.

Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.