Understanding Gender Identity Development Among System Involved Youth Ages 2-18

Kelsey Pacha

Training Description

This training will educate those who support system involved yotuh about five gender identity frameworks, three considered traditional (Kohlberg’s Cognitive Developmental Theory of Gender Identity Development, Bem’s Gender Schema Theory, & Bandura’s Social Learning Theory of Gender), and two newer iterations (Veale’s Identity Defense Model of Gender Variant Development & Diamond’s Biased-Interaction Theory of Psychosexual Development.) Participants will explore the socioemotional & intersectional contexts in which gender identity development occurs for all children, compare & contrast these six models, and apply them to a video case study. Participants will identify best practices to engage introspection about gender based on developmental & chronological age for cisgender, transgender, gender nonconforming, & gender creative system involved youth.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. Explain  the biopsychosocial model of gender and distinguish between cisgender, transgender, gender nonconforming, and gender creative system involved youth.

2. Identify four best practices to engage introspection about gender based on developmental & chronological age for cisgender, transgender, gender nonconforming, & gender creative children

Discuss six community and clinical resources for caregivers of gender diverse youth

Agenda 

9-9:45am  Introductions: name, gender pronoun, one thing you wish to learn. Review three dimensions of gender--define sex assigned at birth, gender expression, and gender identity. Define cisgender, transgender, gender nonconforming, & gender creative & how they relate to the three dimensions.

9:45-10:45am Review traditional models of gender identity development (Kohlberg, Bem, etc.) and discuss limitations of these models for gender creative and trans children.

10:45-11am Break (CE Hours will not be offered for this time)

11am-12pm Explore two recent models of transgender identity development (Diamond, Veale, etc.) Complete one video case study reflecting on gender identity development.

12-12:30pm Identify four best practices to engage introspection about gender based on developmental & chronological age for cisgender, transgender, gender nonconforming, & gender creative children. Discuss six community and clinical resources for caregivers of gender diverse youth. Final Q&A and 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 (3.25) 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.