Transgender Health Program

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Transgender Health Program

• Community Forum
• December 12, 2006

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Tonight

• Introductions of Advisory Group and Staff
• SRS in BC
• FAQ Regarding MSP Process
• Questions
• Follow Up on Kopala Report Recommendations
• THP Plans
• Questions

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Who is the THP?

• Lukas Walther, Community Counsellor
• Amy Hunter, Administrative Assistant
• Advisory Group Gayle Roberts (Chair)
• Lorna Howes, Director Vancouver Mental Health
  Acute and Community
• Robena Sirett, Manager Transgender Health Program
• Dr. Soma Ganesan, Acting Medical Director

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Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS)

• Dr. Bowmans Salary
• Already funded by the Ministry of Health
• SRS Clinic and Operating Room Time
• Vancouver Coastal Health has developed a business
  case for consideration by the Ministry of Health
  for a Sex Reassignment Surgical Program

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Questions?
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FAQ Regarding MSP Process

• Please refer to handouts
• Handout will be posted on THP website

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Follow-up on Kopala Report Recommendations

• Completed and Ongoing
• Create a new community-based Transgender Health
  Centre in Vancouver to coordinate referrals, case
  management, education, advocacy, outreach,
  evaluation, and research.
• Establish a advisory committee.
• Employ the principles developed by primary Health
  Care Reform and Harm Reduction movements to
  articulate the values.

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• Adopt the Harry Benjamin International Gender
  Dysphoria Association (HBIGDA) Standards of Care
  (now World Professional Association for
  Transgender Health (WPATH). Endeavour to provide
  all services identified in these standards.
• Require all members of the program, along with
  affiliated organizations, to follow the WPATH
  Standards of Care, along with specific clinical
  guidelines.

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• Develop clinical guidelines for all practitioners
  to ensure professional competence in the various
  specialty transition/crossdressing services.
• Develop a resource list of professionals and
  agencies throughout the province who provide
  services to transgendered individuals and their
  family members. These providers of care must
  abide by the WPATH standards.

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• Develop a province-wide toll-free phone line, so
  that service users and service providers can
  obtain information and assistance in crisis
  situations or with reference to new referrals.
• Encourage the adoption of a harm reduction
  approach to hormone prescription and maintenance.
  
• Encourage the advisory committee to develop
  strategies to reach populations under represented
  in consultation and planning.

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• Educate primary care providers about cross-gender
  hormone use, and provide sample protocols and a
  list of endocrinologists with expertise in
  transgender medicine.
• Provide ongoing, continuing medical education in
  the area of transgender medicine.

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• Create a third-party body, which could act as a
  complaint centre. Follow the lead that many
  hospitals and community clinics have adopted for
  the resolution of consumer complaints. Jan
  Fisher 604-736-2033.
• Create a formal mechanism through a professional
  advisory committee to sustain ongoing
  collaboration between health planners, health
  practitioners, and service users.

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• Not Fully Implemented
• Make information about health resources available
  through a website and quarterly newsletters.
• Create a working group of VCHA educators, health
  providers and transgendered community members to
  develop Transgender Health Information packages,
  workshop curricula, an interactive website, and
  education materials for youth and
  secondary/postsecondary institutions.

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• Assist peer support groups in their role as
  health care providers (e.g., subsidize crisis
  intervention training and other professional
  development for peer support leaders).
• Develop a program evaluation component such that
  data from all clients is compiled and
  subsequently analyzed. Outcome measures must be
  articulated by the advisory group and reported to
  the VCHA.

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Strategic Plan

• Priorities
• Improve access to counselling
• Education of medical and mental health
  professionals
• Continue advocacy for adoption for WPATH
  Standards of Care access to SRS
• Improve communication

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Counselling

• Review hours available for community counselor
• Develop capacity for peer support
• Educate Community Crisis Counsellors
• Provide counselling student practicum's

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Education

• Contract conference planner for annual intensive
  workshops
• Reactive Education Working Group

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Youth

• Increase support of Youth Group

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Sex Trade Workers

• Review Sex-Trade Worker Drop-In and increase
  support as necessary

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Collaboration With MSP

• Continue collaboration on SRS Program
• Continue advocacy regarding adoption of WPATH
  Standards of Care

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Community Relations

• Address misinformation and rumours through
  quarterly web based and print newsletter
  targeting youth and adults
• Update website

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Diversity

• Contract education regarding cultural diversity
  for THP staff, for Advisory Group and Trans
  community

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Housing

• Invite housing providers/co-ops to list on our
  website and Resource Guide
• Assess need for Housing Working Group

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Employment

• Assess need for Employment Working Group

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Program Evaluation

• Develop outcome indicators and measures

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Questions?