Providing Affirming Care for LGBTQ+ People in
Substance Use Treatment Settings
The Opioid Response Network (ORN), in partnership with Columbia University Department of Psychiatry Division on Substance Use Disorders, has created a one-of a-kind web-based training that will help substance use disorder treatment providers deliver more affirming care to their LGBTQ+ clients. The course will:
- Provide an introduction to terminology related to gender, sexuality and LGBTQ+ communities;
- Discuss why substance use uniquely impacts LGBTQ+ communities;
- Include stories from LGBTQ+ individuals about their experiences in substance use disorder treatment and perspectives from providers who work with LGBTQ+ clients; and
- Include instructive videos featuring staff and LGBTQ+ clients interacting within substance use disorder treatment settings.
This new training will help participants identify key components of care for LGBTQ+ people, and how to make the treatment environment and staff interactions more welcoming for LGBTQ+ clients by:
- Respecting privacy;
- Modeling affirming interactions; and
- Addressing stigma.
Participants will develop skills to improve their delivery of affirming care to LGBTQ+ people and determine changes they would like to make in their own organizations with support from the ORN.
Authors:
Margaret Paschen-Wolff, DrPH, MSW; Jeremy D. Kidd MD, MPH; Avery DeSousa, BA; Theresa V. Navalta, BA; and the Community Advisory Board.