Gender-Affirming Care for System-Involved Transition Age Youth

Kelsey Pacha

Training Description

This training will educate those who support system involved transition age youth (TAY) about gender-affirming care for transgender, nonbinary, and gender questioning youth & children. Participants will define gender-affirming care in terms of both medical and mental health care through exploring its six premises: 1) gender variations are not disorders 2) gender is diverse and varied across cultures 3) gender is: bio-psycho-social 4) gender is not binary but fluid 5) dysphoria is not always limited to the body and 6) that acceptance by family/other caregivers significantly improves mental health. Participants will define three types of gender transition and explore how gender-affirming care relates. We will also review AB 2119 Gender Health in Foster Care, which establishes the legal right to gender-affirming care for foster youth. Finally, participants will discuss how they can make their support for system involved transition age youth more gender-affirming based on the material reviewed.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

· Identify six premises of gender-affirming support for system involved youth

· Distinguish between a social, medical, and legal transition

· Explain AB 2119, Gender Health in Foster Care

Agenda

1:00-2:30 pm Introductions: name, gender pronoun, one thing you wish to learn; Community agreements, agenda; Review foundational premises—define sex assigned at birth, gender expression, and gender identity; Review research on transgender youth in foster care and health disparities, as well as supporting trans children’s resiliency (use of correct name, pronoun, gender-segregated facilities, etc.); Review laws that protect trans and gender expansive children in foster care, school, and social systems; Best practice recommendations and community resources; Presenter models how to fill out Gender Support Plan.

2:30-2:45 pm Break (CEs hours will not be offered for this time)

2:45-4:00 pm Review 4-step conversation structure for advocacy; Advocating for trans and gender expansive youth/children with parents/caregivers and within systems; Apply to video case study; Final Questions & Answers; Wrap-up.

Meet Our Trainer

Kelsey Pacha, MA, M.Div. is a trans man who has worked with marginalized communities for 15+ years in a variety of settings. He holds a Master of Religion and

Psychology, Master of Divinity, and Certificate of Sexuality and Religion from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. He also holds a Bachelor of   Science in Human Development and Psychological Services from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He is the owner of Kelsey Pacha Consulting, which supports the work of institutions and individuals in increasing their capacity for cultural humility and social justice-informed institutional change. Kelsey offers educational trainings and LGBTQ workplace policy expertise with an emphasis on practical skills, identity awareness, and   personal empowerment. He regularly works with corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion officers and LGBTQ affinity groups, as well as legal, clinical, medical, and direct service (including child welfare and faith leader)  personnel.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.75) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.