Participants must complete Part 1 to be eligible for Part 2; there is no prerequisite to attend December's session. 

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Part 1* of 2: Wednesday, Oct 25, 2023 8:30am-11am; 11-12pm - Hybrid

Part 2 of 2: Thursday, Nov 9, 2023 8:45am to 12pm - South County TBA

3rd Learning Opportunity: Thursday, Dec 7, 2023 - 8:15am to 11:30am - 1080 Emeline Avenue Large Auditorium

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Part 1*: WPATH SOC8 for Behavioral Health Providers: Foundations of Comprehensive Biopsychosocial Assessment- Part 1 of 2.

*prerequisite for Part 2 of 2.

Approved participants must demonstrate completion of the two online courses below (identify one option).

• Option A: Self-paced completion requires participants send evidence of completion to bh.training@santacruzcounty.us by October 20th in order to receive access to the live virtual event beginning October 25th at 11am and to register for the in-person Part 2 event on November 9th. 

• Option B: Collective learning session participants must attend the entire 2 hours of course viewing in-person or virtually on October 25th from 9am-11am at 1400 Emeline Avenue, Room 206/207, Santa Cruz;

• Optional 60 minute live virtual Q&A with instructors from 11am-12pm on October 25th at1400 Emeline Avenue, Room 206/207, Santa Cruz or via Teams.​

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• Date: Oct 25th from 8:30-11 and 11-12

• Location: 1400 Emeline Avenue Room 206/207

• Format: Hybrid: Self-paced virtual or In-person + Live virtual

• Instructors: Shawn V. Giammattei, PhD & Jen Hastings, MD

 

 

Description: This session presents content on changes in the WPATH Standards of Care, version 8 and recommended approaches to a biopsychosocial assessment. It is a prerequisite to the November 9th session focused on implementation practices for biopsychosocial assessment. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health promotes the highest standards of health care for individuals through the articulation of Standards of Care (SOC) for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People. The SOC are based on the best available science and expert professional consensus.

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This focus of this session includes mental health services (e.g., assessment, counseling, psychotherapy) and treatment considerations. The SOC8 guides behavioral health staff in promoting optimal health for members of this diverse population. Join the onsite group viewing of the recorded content from Dr. Shawn V. Giammattei at 1400 Emeline Avenue Room 206/207 on October 25th from 8:30-11am. Note that Drs. Shawn V. Giammattei and Jen Hastings will offer a live virtual Q/A session after the group viewing of the recorded webinar (11am-12pm).

 

Learning objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the changes in SoC8 compared to SoC7 in the biopsychosocial assessment of adult and adolescent TGD clients.

• Describe 12 domains in the comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment of TGD clients.

• Make informed decisions about effectively supporting TGD clients and their families.

 

 

Intended audience/level: County BH, contracted agencies, and community partner BH providers and other staff engaged in biopsychosocial assessment of TGD clients or support of family members.

 

Part 2: WPATH SOC8 for Behavioral Health Providers: Application of Biopsychosocial Assessment for Treatment and Referral Letters - Part 2 of 2

• Date: Nov 9th from 8:45am - 12pm

• Location: South County - location to be announced

• Format: In-person only

• Instructors: Shawn V. Giammattei, PhD & Jen Hastings, MD

 

 

Description: This session is designed to help behavioral health providers who work with gender diverse people and those who assess them for medical treatment navigate the latest changes in the WPATH Standards of Care, version 8 and implement them in practice and evaluations. Instructors will discuss: assessment-informed referral letters; gender-affirming management of complex cases (e.g., co-occurring issues); and participation in multidisciplinary teams.

 

 

Learning objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Choose the best measures to address co-occurring mental health issues.

• Evaluate patient readiness and informed consent for treatment.

• Utilizing the biopsychosocial assessments in service in treatment and writing medical referral letters that stay within their scope of practice.

 

 

Intended audience/level: Participants completing the prerequisite 10/25 or by other arrangement.

 

3rd Learning Opportunity: Gender Affirming Care: The Challenges of Misinformation for Providers, Clients and Families

• Date: Dec 7th from 8:15am - 11:30am

• Location: 1080 Emeline Avenue, Large Auditorium, Santa Cruz

• Format: In-person only

• Instructors: Shawn V. Giammattei, PhD & Jen Hastings, MD

 

Description: This session explores information dissemination about gender-affirming care. It offers behavioral health care providers and staff an overview of empirical and contextual considerations for accessing and interpreting information that guides ethical and effective care. Instructors provide updates on scientific approaches to treatment and recommendations for providers navigating anti-trans environment in care settings, including for special populations such as children/youth or justice-involved clients. Implications of information in shaping the understanding and experience of clients, families, and providers will be discussed.

 

Learning objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify current concerns surrounding gender affirming care, particularly for youth.

• Recognize at least 3 key challenges to providing gender affirming care

• Integrate findings from current empirical research and literature in gender affirming care.

• Understand the impact of misinformation about gender affirming care on clients, families, and providers; especially as it relates to special populations.

 

Intended audience/level: County BH staff, contracted agencies, and community partners engaged in supporting gender-affirming care of TGD clients and families. No prerequisite required; foundational training recommended (TGHI or Fenway Institute)