Colorado’sLesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & TransgenderHealth Outcomes Planning Project (HOPP)

Goal & Primary ObjectiveOverarching Goal: Reduced health

disparities in Colorado’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) population.

Primary Objective: By June 1, 2012, Establish a strategic plan, with 2-year strategies and 180-day implementation actions.

4 Phases of Our Planning ProcessVision

◦ In 2021, what is in place to help address the health and wellness of the LGBT communities in Colorado?

Barriers & Obstacles◦ What are the barriers that keep us from reaching our

vision?Strategic Directions

◦ What are the two-year strategic directions that will move us past barriers towards our Vision?

Implementation◦ What are the accomplishments for the next year?

What’s Happened So FarEvent Date

Kickoff (Engaging Partners) August 31, 2011

Environmental Scan(Data & Policy Background)

September 8, 2011

Participatory Planning Sessions

• Developing a Vision September 20, 2011 (7.5 hrs)

• Identifying Barriers & Obstacles

October 11, 2011 (4 hrs)

• Identifying Strategic Directions

October 11, 2011 (4 hrs)

Public Comment November – December, 2011

Implementation Planning January – May, 2012

How the Planning Happens:

Foundational Values:• Participation• Teamwork• Consensus• Creativity• Action

A flexible but structured alternation of discussing in small groups and whole group

Process developed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs, part of their Technology of Participation trainings

Segments of Group Planning Work

Individual Brainstorm on Focus Question

Brainstorm further and Prioritize in Small Groups

Whole group organizes into Clusters according to similar strategic intent

Naming of the arena of focus

In 2021, what is in place to help address the health and wellness of the LGBT communities in Colorado?

3 “pillars” of our vision were identified Along with one Foundational Prerequisite

Colorado is working towards: 1. Healthy and Happy LGBT People and

Communities2. Excellence in LGBT Health Programs &

Services3. Liberating Policies, Partnerships, & Strategic

Action

The Vision

Vision Pillar #1:Healthy, Happy LGBT People & Communities

A community that practices and promotes healthy living

Equity across the life course

Measured improvement in LGBT health

Access to high quality LGBT-specific prevention intervention and care

Competent and LGBT-affirming health workforce

Vision Pillar #2:Excellence in LGBT Health

Programs & Services

LGBT-affirming policies and political environment

Partnerships that advance mutual aspirations

Vision Pillar #3:Liberating Policies, Partnerships, &

Strategic Action

The Foundation of The Vision

The above pillars of the vision must be grounded and supported by

Collection and Sharing of Relevant Community Data

Barriers & Obstacles

What are the barriers & obstacles that would keep us from reaching our Vision?

◦7 Major Categories of Obstacles were identified

◦Presented here in order of how impactful they are perceived to be… the first is thought to be the most challenging – the

one “at the center of the storm” The second was thought to be second-most

challenging, and so on.

Barriers that would keep us from reaching our Vision

1. Attitudes, Values, and Norms that Impede Social Justice

2. Competing priorities within the LGBT communities

3. Under-developed data systems and processes

Barriers that would keep us from reaching our Vision

4. Deficient public and professional education

5. Inequitable and ineffective policies

6. Diffuse and deficient social support systems

7. A dysfunctional and biased health care system

Strategic Directions

What are the strategic directions that will move us past the barriers & obstacles toward our Vision?

◦6 Strategic Directions were identified

Strategic Direction #1

1. Enhancing Skills and Educationa. Launch an inter-disciplinary conference “Queering

Public Health”b. Train LGBT health advocatesc. Promote existing education and development

programsd. Create a LGBT-focused Continuing Medical Education

coursee. Inform about difference b/w behavior and identity (as

these relate to health)f. Educate the LGBT Community on intergenerational

issuesg. Target message about participation research

Strategic Direction #2

2. Identify and Promote an Inclusive LGBT Policy Agenda

a. Promote transgender representation in public health actions

b. Establish inclusion of LGBT health within the Office of Health Disparities at CDPHE

c. Ensure inclusion of LGBT health standards included in the Affordable Care Act

d. Promote marital and family recognition to improve LGBTQ health

e. Demand affirmative actionf. Demand Trans inclusion in Health Care Reform Agencies

Strategic Direction #33. Develop a sustainable process to coordinate

research and develop benchmarksa. Identify missing data fields in the written/electronic medical

recordb. Identify the social determinants of health for LGBT communitiesc. Add LGBT questions to existing health surveysd. Include under-represented LGBT communities in researche. Develop targeted LGBT health benchmarks (which include

socially-determined health factors)f. Create a LGBT health research collaborativeg. Promote collection of sex orientation and gender identity by

H.C. providersh. Create template for data collection on LGBT health and develop

buy-in to use iti. LGBTQ planning regarding the Youth Risk Behavior Survey

(YRBS)j. Inform about difference b/w behavior and identity (as these

relate to health)

Strategic Direction #4

4. Change Attitudes and Beliefsa. Pilot “LGBT 101” in schools (Elementary through

College)b. Organize youth to demand LGBT-inclusive sex educationc. Develop a social marketing campaign about LGBT

healthi. educates, unifies, participatory

d. Develop a “Healthy LGBT” Movement/Education Primary Prevention

e. Organize against misinformation and fear promoted by Focus on the Family

f. Create a “Welcome Wagon”(to orient Colorado newcomers to LGBT resources)

Strategic Direction #5

5. Compile Existing Information and Resources on the state of LGBT Health in Colorado

a. Compile existing standards & researchb. Map resources (allies and advocates, including faith-

based organizations)c. Develop an inventory of inequitable policiesd. Identify existing LGBT health initiativese. Develop on-line database of research projects and

funding

Strategic Direction #6

6. Engage Community Partnersa. Enlist LGBT organizations as partnersb. Engage health organizations with non-LGBT specific focus

in this workc. Engage faith-based alliesd. Expand individual dialogue and storytelling (such as the

Kaiser Permanente video “OUT”)e. Educate voters about candidate positions on LGBT health

issuesf. Stop accepting sponsorships from alcohol, tobacco, and

prescription drugs companies g. Expand broad-based community engagement (school

counselors/ social workers)h. Accessing Artists to promote new narratives

Thanks to our Funder

Funding for this project is made possible from a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a “Healthy People 2020 Action Project”

Now, we’d like your input:

When you consider these 6 overall strategies, do you feel we’ve missed any major strategic directions that need to be included? 

Do you feel that any of the 6 strategies are ‘missing the mark’ and need revising or expanding in particular ways?   

Do you have any additional comments you’d like to offer either specific to the 6 major strategic directions, or about the plan overall?

Join in the Work & the Fun!Next Planning Session is January 5th, 2012

Session Objective: To refresh memories about our progress this Fall, review additions made from the public comment process, and divide into smaller subgroups

Subgroups will meet regularly at CDPHE, and online, throughout the Spring.

CONTACT: Julie Graves if you’d like to participate – everyone is welcome!

Questions? Need more Info?

Julie Graves, M.S.Project Coordinator

Evaluator, Prevention Services DivisionCO Department of Public Health & Environment

julie.graves@state.co.us(303) 692-2079