LIVE SESSIONS
This Center of Excellence provides learning opportunities for practitioners focused on the best and latest practices to decrease behavioral health disparities impacting LGBTQ+ children, youth, young adults, adults, and older adults. All eligible live and recorded sessions offer free continuing education credits (CECs), accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. To access past sessions, visit our recorded opportunities page.
The UConn School of Social Work is approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health to provide continuing education credits (CECs) for social workers. The School is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The University of Connecticut is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
Sign up for an account or log in to the Innovations Learning Management System to register for our live and recorded sessions.
Interested in building foundational knowledge on LGBTQ+ behavioral health? Start here with our animated short and 101 webinar recordings! We strongly recommended that these materials are viewed prior to attending our live webinars.
For an introduction to sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression check out our Learning About SOGIE animation (available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French) and download the accompanying glossary (available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese) for a list of terms commonly used in LGBTQ+ communities.
For more videos, tip sheets, and infographics, visit our Resources page!
Recorded 101 Webinars
Presenters:
Lyndsay Smith (she/her)
Jabari Lyles (he/him)
Sexual Orientation & Behavioral Health 101
This webinar enables behavioral health service providers to be more equipped to support, treat and advocate for people with diverse sexual orientations. Considering a general lack of LGBTQ+-affirming knowledge among healthcare providers, along with data and research which suggests LGBTQ+ people are at higher risk for poor health outcomes, this webinar offers institutions the skills they need to minimize gaps. Participants will define sexual orientation and explore related terms and concepts in human sexuality, become more intimately aware of the unique experiences of people who have diverse sexual orientations, learn specific behavioral health disparities, including risk and protective factors for people of various sexual orientations, and gain a toolkit of best practices for applying this knowledge in the field.
Presenters:
Lyndsay Smith (she/her)
Ezra Halstead (they/them, he/him)
Gender Identity, Expression & Behavioral Health 101
This webinar provides foundational knowledge about gender identity and gender expression, and how to best provide services for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals across the lifespan. Participants will learn concepts relating to gender identity and expression, as well as the process of transitioning, and respectful terms. Important terms that will be defined include but are not limited to: transgender, cisgender, nonbinary, intersex, and pronouns. Social, legal, and medical types of transition will be reviewed, as well as potential interpersonal/familial and systemic barriers to transition. Risk factors and behavioral health disparities for adults and children in this community will be reviewed, as well as best practices service providers can use to create a respectful and welcoming environment.
Our live webinar series offers a deeper dive into specific topics as well as implications for behavioral health practice.
June
Pride Month Series: Walking with Tribal Youth on Their Sacred Journey
In recognition of Pride Month, the CoE LGBTQ+ BHE and the National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC will be hosting a special four-part webinar series on supporting Native LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit youth! Join us every week in June to learn about the historical context of colonization that impacts Native youth, discover what tools and resources are available, gain strategies for supporting youth and their families, and hear from a lived experience panel.
Each session will begin and end with a breathing exercise and acknowledgment of attendees tending to their own spirit. Attendees are encouraged to attend all four sessions to embark upon this journey of learning together.
Use the buttons below to register for the whole 4-session series, or scroll down to register for individual sessions.
Monday, June 5, 1-3 p.m. ET
Presenters:
Lenny L. Hayes
Carla Douglas
Walking with Tribal Youth on Their Sacred Journey
Embarking on a Journey: Where Have We Been?
This webinar is Part 1 of a 4-Part Pride Month series: Walking with Tribal Youth on Their Sacred Journey. This session will provide foundational knowledge that will prepare participants for their learning over the four-week series. Presenters will discuss historical context and the impacts of colonization on Two-Spirit people. Prior to colonization, Two-Spirit young people coming out were celebrated, and they played important roles in Native communities. With colonization came harmful attitudes and views of Two-Spirit people. Differences in terminology between western terms and those used in various tribal communities will also be addressed. The session will begin and end with a breathing exercise and acknowledgment of attendees tending to their own spirit. Attendees are encouraged to attend all four sessions to embark upon this journey of learning together.
Monday, June 12, 1-3 p.m. ET
Presenters:
Lenny L. Hayes
Carla Douglas
Matt Ignacio
Walking with Tribal Youth on Their Sacred Journey
Understanding How to Support Tribal Youth
This webinar is Part 2 of a 4-Part Pride Month series: Walking with Tribal Youth on Their Sacred Journey. This session will focus on the needs of Native LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit youth. Risk factors and rates of homelessness, violence against the community, and suicide rates will be discussed. Legislation will also be addressed and how it is impacting the community; examples of harmful as well as supportive legislation will be shared. Best practices for supporting young people will be shared, including the importance of listening to young people about their identities, and how to support young people experiencing mental health challenges. The session will begin and end with a breathing exercise and acknowledgment of attendees tending to their own spirit. Attendees are encouraged to attend all four sessions to embark upon this journey of learning together.
Tuesday, June 20, 1-3 p.m. ET
Presenters:
Lenny L. Hayes
Carla Douglas
Walking with Tribal Youth on Their Sacred Journey
What Do We Need to Embark on This Journey?
This webinar is Part 3 of a 4-Part Pride Month series: Walking with Tribal Youth on Their Sacred Journey. This session will focus on respecting the journey for Native LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit youth and also for their families. For youth, becoming who they are is a sacred journey, and parent and family support is crucial. Parents may need support in working through grief or other complicated emotions in their journey to support their young person. Differences in western ideas of healing versus those used in tribal communities will be discussed, including ideas around supportive practices. Tools for supporting both youth and their parents will be shared, along with ways to educate friends and family on how to best support youth. The session will begin and end with a breathing exercise and acknowledgment of attendees tending to their own spirit. Attendees are encouraged to attend all four sessions to embark upon this journey of learning together.
Monday, June 26, 1-3 p.m. ET
Presenters:
Lenny L. Hayes
Carla Douglas
Misty Sandoval
Walking with Tribal Youth on Their Sacred Journey
Supporting Native LGBTQ+ & Two-Spirit Individuals: Panel Focusing on Lived Experience
This session is Part 4 of a 4-Part Pride Month series: Walking with Tribal Youth on Their Sacred Journey, and will be a panel discussion focusing on experiences of supporting native LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit people. Panelists will share lessons from various perspectives of lived experience; what has helped, what harmed, what providers need to know. The panel will also include a talking circle and a Q&A session on supporting Native LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit youth. The session will begin and end with a breathing exercise and acknowledgment of attendees tending to their own spirit. Attendees are encouraged to attend all four sessions to embark upon this journey of learning together.
Our Ask Our Expert virtual sessions & panel discussions connect practitioners with experts from across the country who provide technical assistance on a variety of subjects. Please note: due to the open, informal nature of these sessions, CECs are not available. All sessions provide a certificate of completion.
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