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Making A Leap 2
Pathways to LGBT Service Competency
A York Region LGBT Community Outreach Project Conference
For Service Providers
Wednesday, June 10th, 9.00am-4.30pm.
Service providers in York Region often say they don't have lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) clients. However, we know this not to be true. We also know that LGBT clients often do not access services in the region and/or do not feel safe discussing their sexual orientation/gender identity. This one-day conference will provide a forum and learning opportunity to explore issues of competency in offering services to LGBT persons. The purpose of this conference is to take a systemic and coordinated approach to eliminate discrimination and oppression on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
    Participants Will Have An Opportunity To:
  • increase their understanding
  • heighten their awareness and sensitivity
  • continue to lay the groundwork for systemic change and set an agenda that includes LGBT health and wellness in York Region
  • understand the importance of supporting diversity through policy setting
    Who Should Attend:
  • Front line service providers
  • Support staff
  • Management
  • Board members
  • Educators
  • Students
  • Agency leaders
  • Those wanting to make systemic change in their organizations
  • Key stakeholders and decision makers who want to make a difference
Program Highlights
Key Note Speaker - Alison Kemper
Alison Kemper has had a long history as an LGBT activist. In 1994-95, she and her partner Joyce Barnett fought for their children's right to have two parents and changed Ontario's adoption laws. In 2003, they were one of the couples who won the marriage case, becoming the first lesbians in Canada with a marriage license. Alison was the Executive Director of The 519 Church Street Community Centre from 1992-2007, where she was able to create extensive programming for LGBT families, seniors and youth. She is now completing her PhD in Corporate Social Responsibility at the University of Toronto.
Youth Presentation
Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School presents a short vignette titled "Love is Love". The vignette displays moments in the lives of teens who are questioning issues related to sexual orientation and the ways in which they are so often "silenced" by social pressure.
A Youth speaker will share his transition from living in a close-minded small-town to an urban queer party culture and his hopeful and courageous recovery from both.
Morning Workshops: **(participants will choose one)**
A: Same Sex Partner Abuse
The workshop will provide a general overview of the issues and identify particular challenges working with these situations. The presentation will cover assessment and work with individuals experiencing abuse. Information about work with individuals mandated for service will also be discussed. Workshop will include presentation and Q & A time.
Facilitated by: Laurie Chesley, M.S.W., R.S.W. - Manager, David Kelley LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS
Counselling, Family Service Toronto

B: Working with LGB Youth
This interactive workshop will draw on both current research and our collective clinical experience to look at 'coming out' issues among the youth we work with. To be discussed are how youth's social locations change identity development trajectories in arriving at an LGB identity; physical and mental health risk issues; questions to co-consider with your client in coming out; and how to strengthen resilience in the youth we work with. We will leave some time for a period of open consultation to raise questions and/or discuss difficult cases.
Facilitated by: Dr. Nicola Brown - Psychologist, Pride & Prejudice, Central Toronto Youth Services

C: Lesbian Couple Therapy 101
Given changes in the socio-political climate in recent years, as well as the legal sanctioning of same-sex marriage, chances are that if you haven't already seen lesbian couples in your therapy practice, you will. Recently, we collaborated with Sue Johnson (one of the originators of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy [EFCT]) on an article outlining the fit between EFCT and the needs of lesbian couples. From this vantage point, as well as from our clinical experience and the story of our own 13-year relationship, we outline some of the core factors that we believe are essential when working with lesbian couples.
In this workshop you will be introduced to:
- Strengths and struggles unique to lesbian relationships
- Interventions best suited to the needs of lesbian couples in therapy and ways to broaden your ability to connect with lesbian couples
. - An exploration of your questions, concerns and inspirations
. - Our own coming out stories as a framework for a discussion about blended families within Queer and multi-generational contexts
. Facilitated by: Dr. Sharon Armstrong - Psychologist, teaching faculty at York University and Dr. Karen Hardtke - Psychotherapist, Intern Supervisor at York University, Counselling and Development Centre

D: Building Organizational Capacity (Morning Session, Part A)
This workshop will focus on supporting Executive Directors of non-profit agencies who are looking at/in the process of making their organizations a safe space.
Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO) is a province-wide program designed to improve access to services and promote the health of Ontario's lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities through information, education, research and policy initiatives. RHO will present an interactive workshop for organizational leaders on developing sensitive and responsive services for LGBT people in York Region using organizational and community development approaches. The training will consist of two 1.5 hour blocks on the same day. The morning session will explore the barriers faced by LGBT people and key issues related to health and well-being. The afternoon session will cover strategies that you can use to create a safer environment and improve cultural competence in serving LGBT communities.
Learning Objectives
- Understand barriers faced by LGBT communities and their health and wellness needs.
- Learn strategic approaches to organizational capacity building.
- Sample different ways that organizations can become more responsive to LGBT communities.
Facilitated by: Devan Nambiar - Rainbow Health Ontario

E: Becoming a Cultural Competent Organization on Trans Issues
What does cultural competency mean in offering care to trans people? From the moment a trans or gender variant person comes in contact with your agency, on a phone call, with an intake worker, or completing an intake form there are a number of things you can do to ensure you provide appropriate care. We'll look at forms, systems, information sharing, policy and how policy is implemented. We'll look at the Ontario Human Right's Commission's Policy on gender identity and gender variance and what this means for your workplace and supervisors. Resources and best practices from across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. will be shared. There will be opportunities to look at case studies, and for participants to ask questions.
This workshop is intended for service providers who already have an awareness of trans people. Service providers who are just beginning to learn about issues of gender identity and gender expression are welcome, but should be aware that this is not a "Trans 101" workshop.
Facilitated by: J Wallace - J is an activist, writer, trainer and advocate who addresses issues of sexual orientation and gender identity in a social justice context.
Afternoon Workshops: **(participants will choose one)**
A: Same Sex Partner Abuse
The workshop will provide a general overview of the issues and identify particular challenges working with these situations. The presentation will cover assessment and work with individuals experiencing abuse. Information about work with individuals mandated for service will also be discussed. Workshop will include presentation and Q & A time.
Facilitated by: Laurie Chesley, M.S.W., R.S.W. - Manager, David Kelley LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS Counselling, Family Service Toronto

B. Working with LGB Youth
This interactive workshop will draw on both current research and our collective clinical experience to look at "coming out" issues among the youth we work with. To be discussed are how youth's social locations change identity development trajectories in arriving at an LGB identity; physical and mental health risk issues; questions to co-consider with your client in coming out; and how to strengthen resilience in the youth we work with. We will leave some time for a period of open consultation to raise questions and/or discuss difficult cases.
Facilitated by: Dr. Nicola Brown - Psychologist, Pride & Prejudice, Central Toronto Youth Services

C. Lesbian Couple Therapy 101
Given changes in the socio-political climate in recent years, as well as the legal sanctioning of same-sex marriage, chances are that if you haven't already seen lesbian couples in your therapy practice, you will. Recently, we collaborated with Sue Johnson (one of the originators of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy [EFCT]) on an article outlining the fit between EFCT and the needs of lesbian couples. From this vantage point, as well as from our clinical experience and the story of our own13-year relationship, we outline some of the core factors that we believe are essential when working with lesbian couples.
In this workshop you will be introduced to:
- Strengths and struggles unique to lesbian relationships.
- Interventions best suited to the needs of lesbian couples in therapy and ways to broaden your ability to connect with lesbian couples.
- An exploration of your questions, concerns and inspirations.
- Our own coming out stories as a framework for a discussion about blended families within Queer and multi-generational contexts.
Facilitated by: Dr. Sharon Armstrong - Psychologist, teaching faculty at York University and Dr. Karen Hardtke - Psychotherapist, Intern Supervisor at York University, Counselling and Development Centre

D. Building Organizational Capacity (Afternoon session, Part B)
This workshop will continue the morning's focus on supporting Executive Directors of non-profit agencies who are looking at/in the process of making their organizations a safe space.
Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO) is a province-wide program designed to improve access to services and promote the health of Ontario's lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities through information, education, research and policy initiatives. RHO will present an interactive workshop for organizational leaders on developing sensitive and responsive services for LGBT people in York Region using organizational and community development approaches. The training will consist of two 1.5 hour blocks on the same day. The morning session will explore the barriers faced by LGBT people and key issues related to health and well-being. The afternoon session will cover strategies that you can use to create a safer environment and improve cultural competence in serving LGBT communities.
Learning Objectives
- Understand barriers faced by LGBT communities and their health and wellness needs.
- Learn strategic approaches to organizational capacity building.
- Sample different ways that organizations can become more responsive to LGBT communities

E. Optimizing LGBT Health
LGBT individuals are at greater risk for many health issues. A panel of Public Health Nurses discuss some of the reasons why LGBT individuals may not seek health care and specific issues related to sexuality, cancer prevention, smoking and substance use. Approaches presently in use as well as new ideas generated in group discussions will focus on how we can all help to optimize LGBT health.
Facilitated by: Pat Baird, Elaine Hampson, Karen Hoare and Rosemary Lamont - York Region Community and Health Services
Next Steps & Wrap Up
Moderated by David Barnes, and including:
- John O'Mara, Executive Director, Addiction Services for York Region
- Elisha Laker, Executive Director, Family Services York Region
- Others TBA
Cost and Registration
The cost of this conference is $50 per attendee, which includes continental breakfast and lunch. Please click this box, to view complete conference information, contact details and a registration form.