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LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity Center of Excellence

The Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity (CoE LGBTQ+ BHE) will provide behavioral health practitioners with vital information on supporting the population of people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, two-spirit, and other diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions (LGBTQ+).

Research shows that LGBTQ+ populations of all ages disproportionately experience more instances of mental health and substance use disorders, suicidality, and poorer wellbeing outcomes compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. The CoE LGBTQ+ BHE’s mission is to bring information and resources to the behavioral health field to enhance culturally responsive care and decrease disparities for this population.

Goals

Goal 1: Increase awareness and understanding of LGBTQ+ disparities, unmet treatment needs, minority stress, EBPs and best practices, workforce challenges, and opportunities among practitioners, families, youth, states, and communities through regular provision of free, publicly-available, coordinated Training and Technical Assistance (TTA)

Goal 2: Increase practitioner knowledge and skills about effective strategies to decrease health disparities and stigma including through evidence-informed, evidence-based, and best practices

Goal 3: Accelerate adoption and implementation of EBPs through the implementation of evidence-based LGBTQ+ group clinical models as well as training and coaching models for the workforce

Training and Technical Assistance

The CoE LGBTQ+ BHE provides training and technical assistance opportunities for behavioral health professionals including:

  1. Monthly webinars providing the latest information and best practices for supporting LGBTQ+ children, youth, young adults, adults, and seniors
  2. Online, self-paced training modules on providing behavioral health services to LGBTQ+ community
  3. Monthly office hours with experts from across the country who will be available to provide technical assistance on a variety of subjects
  4. Resources such as tip sheets, briefs, animated shorts, and videos
  5. Searchable database with the current and relevant information
  6. Tailored technical assistance (Time limited)
  7. Rapid responses to requests for resources
  8. Opportunities to become an AFFIRM site where agencies will receive free training and coaching on the AFFIRM intervention from the model developers.
  9. The Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity is led by the Institute for Innovation and Implementation and the

University of Maryland’s School of Social Work and is funded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration under grant number 1 H79 FG000583-01.

Website: LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity Center of Excellence
Email: lgbtqequity@uconn.edu
SAMHSA Point of Contact: Amy Andre

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