As the visibility and activism of transgender and gender-variant students has grown, school administrators, faculty and staff are identifying the need to increase their understanding of basic issues related to the transgender experience. Many schools have added “gender identity” inclusion to their non-discrimination policies, and staff are wondering how to avoid "doing the wrong thing" while also improving overall campus climate.
Further, health center staff and clinicians are seeing transgender patients and need basic clinical information and best practices on serving these patients.
Training in cultural competency for working with this population includes:
Different trainings are available to improve the awareness, comfort and skills among participants seeking more information on this topic. It will also help set up a framework for identifying barriers and problem-solving at an institutional level.
Transgender Training and Advocacy has been providing this training and support since 1996, having trained over 16,000 professionals in more than 28 states. Samuel has presented at national and regional meetings of the American College Health Association and NASPA. See Past Trainings for a selected list.
General Administrative Staff Training: A 1.5-3 hour session delivered to administrative or support staff to familiarize them with sensitivity and cultural competency issues related to transgender and gender-variant students. Examines implications related to particular areas of responsibility among workshop participants.
[Workshop Details]Extended Student Affairs Training: 4-6 hours. Including an introductory overview, this more intensive format allows for deeper development of individual and department strategies for improvement of access for transgender and gender-variant campus community members.
Training with Health Center Staff: A 1.5-3-hour session specifically addressing health care needs and health center issues for clinical and support staff.
Training with Counseling Center Staff: A 1.5-3 hour session designed to help clinical and support staff improve skills in addressing gender issues with patients. (Note: Health Center and Counseling Center Staff trainings can be combined as a single training. At schools with large centers/staff, separate trainings can be useful.)
General Awareness Training for Students and Campus Community: 1-1.5 hour session designed to engage general campus discussion on transgender issues and campus climate and safety.
Focus Group with Students: A 1.5-2-hour session with transgender and gender-nonconforming or gender-questioning students and other GLBT campus members on specific health care center and general campus climate needs. Findings from this meeting can be summarized in written form and presented to administrators.
Student Leader and Ally Activation: The need for transgender awareness on our campuses is great, but what are you going to do about it? This highly interactive 2-4 hour session is designed for students at all levels of personal awareness on transgender student issues, current and upcoming student leaders, who look to be equipped with an understanding of language, concepts and issues; specific campus needs and how to address them; what it means to be an "ally"; resources and skills to educate and strategize the campus on transgender issues; and more.
American College Health Association, 2007 Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX (invited speaker)
American College Health Association, presenter at 2006 Annual Meeting, New York, NY
Brandeis University Health Center
Brown University Medical School
Case Western Reserve University
New England College Health Association Annual Meeting, 2004, 2005
Michigan State University, Olin Health Center
Bentley College, Office of Student Affairs
Plenary presenter at Transitions in Academia: Increasing Transgender Inclusiveness on Campus: A one day Student Affairs conference for faculty, staff, and students
City University of New York, Graduate Center
Dartmouth College, Campus Life
Landmark College
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts