NNED Virtual Roundtable: Addressing the Intersectional Behavioral Health Needs of Racially/Ethnically Diverse LGBTQ+ Communities

April 13, 2022 | 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT

Addressing the Intersectional Behavioral Health Needs of Racially/Ethnically Diverse LGBTQ+ Communities

Across the country, both racially/ethnically diverse and LGTBQ+ communities are at higher risks for adverse behavioral health conditions due to factors such as discrimination, systemic barriers, and lack of access to care. For those who live at the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, these layers of marginalization create nuanced behavioral health needs. With the added impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent anti-transgender legislation, diverse LGBTQ+ populations are experiencing an increase in depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide ideation. Understanding intersectionality — the combined and overlapping aspects of a person’s identity — is key to providing culturally responsive and trauma-informed care.

In recognition of National Minority Health Month (April), join this NNED Virtual Roundtable to learn how organizations are responding to the complex behavioral health needs of racially/ethnically diverse LGBTQ+ communities. Panelists will discuss the impacts of trauma and adverse mental health conditions associated with intersectional identities, and how to build affirming practices and environments.

During this NNED Virtual Roundtable, participants will learn:

The socioeconomic and cultural ramifications on behavioral health for racially/ethnically diverse LGBTQ+ populations
How to provide safe spaces for youth and adults experiencing trauma
Training and learning opportunities for providers to build capacity for behavioral health care and substance use treatments
How communities can build culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and affirming systems and programs that allow racially/ethnically diverse LGBTQ+ populations to thrive

The event was also shared on Facebook Live at fb.com/nned.net and closed captioning was available through Zoom.

View Resources and the Recording!

This NNED Virtual Roundtable was hosted by the NNED National Facilitation Center and SAMHSA’s Office of Behavioral Health Equity in partnership with the Center of Excellence for LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity.

Opening Remarks

Angela Weeks, DBA | Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity

Project Director
Center of Excellence for LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity

Dr. Angela Weeks (she/her) is the Director of the National SOGIE Center at the University of Maryland’s Institute for Innovation and Implementation. Under the Center, she directs the Center of Excellence for LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity and the National Quality Improvement Center on Tailored Services, Placement Stability, and Permanency for LGBTQ2S Children and Youth in Foster Care. As part of this work, she has helped design, implement, and evaluate 15 different programs and initiatives for LGBTQ+ children, youth, and their families experiencing foster care. She also specializes in implementation science and cultural adaptation of evidence-based practices.

Panelists

Judy Morrissey, LCSW | Mazzoni Center

Director of Behavioral Health
Mazzoni Center

Judy Morrissey, LCSW (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 30 years’ experience as a therapist, clinical supervisor and administrator in community-based nonprofit organizations. Throughout her career, Judy has been committed to practicing with diverse populations, particularly LGBTQ+ youth and adults. She approaches this work through a social justice lens, recognizing the role of empowerment and validation in creating change. In her current role as Director of Behavioral Health at Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia, Judy has been instrumental in leading the expansion and development of new behavioral health initiatives to meet the distinct mental health and substance use needs of LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and families in the Philadelphia region, with a spotlight on trauma, intersectionality, identity development, and supporting marginalized LGBTQ+ people and gender expansive youth. Judy received her MSW from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. She is certified in EMDR.

Myeshia Price, PhD | The Trevor Project

Senior Research Scientist
The Trevor Project

Dr. Myeshia Price (she/they) is a Senior Research Scientist at The Trevor Project. Dr. Price has more than fifteen years of experience in adolescent public health research, with a focus on sexuality, gender, and LGBTQ youth from an intersectional perspective. After completing their Ph.D. in developmental psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with research focusing on predicting early sexual behaviors during adolescence, they were an assistant professor at the State University of New York at Old Westbury prior to taking a postdoctoral research associate position at the Center for Innovative Public Health Research (CiPHR). Her primary research interest areas include developmental understandings of adolescent gender and sexuality and reducing LGBTQ youth mental health disparities with a particular focus on the role of protective factors.

Richard Zalvidar | The Wall Las Memorias

Founder/Executive Director
The Wall Las Memorias

Richard Zaldivar (he/him) is a nationally renowned and well-respected leader in both the Latino and LGBTQ communities. Based in Los Angeles, California, he is often sought for his expertise, leadership and strategic thinking in the topics of community engagement, empowerment, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, mental health, LGBTQ issues, faith and community politics. Richard is the founder and executive director of The Wall Las Memorias Project, a ground-breaking community health and wellness organization dedicated to serving Latino, LGBTQ and other underserved populations through advocacy, education and building the next generation of leadership. Under his guidance, The Wall Las Memorias Project built the United States’ first publicly funded AIDS monument located in East Los Angeles. The organization continues to grow through community leadership and empowerment campaigns involving hundreds of thousands of Latino and LGBTQ community residents to address HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, mental health and the sudden rise of crystal meth.

Richard has long been a political force in local, state, national and international politics. In 2016, he was recognized by President Obama at the White House LGBTQ Pride Reception. In 2020, he was instrumental in establishing the Biden campaign’s headquarters and presence in Los Angeles and was elected as a delegate for “Joe Biden for President” and appointed to the Democratic Platform Committee. Richard has been honored by numerous organizations, elected officials and corporate entities. In 2012, the California State Legislature’s Latino Caucus presented Richard with the “Spirit Award,” and in 2013, the LGBT Caucus awarded him the “Pride Award,” making Richard the only person to receive awards from multiple caucuses from the California State Legislature. The Los Angeles Pride Parade honored Richard both in 2013 with the “Connie Norman Spirit Award” and in 2016 as one of the “Legends of Pride.” Most recently he was awarded the Zaragoza Award by UPEXT in 2021.

Facilitator

Suganya Sockalingam, PhD | NNED National Facilitation Center

Consultant
NNED National Facilitation Center

Founding Partner
Change Matrix

Dr. Suganya Sockalingam (she/her) has extensive experience addressing issues related to cultural and linguistic competence, health inequities and disparities, cross-cultural communication, conflict management and leadership solutions. She has worked with several state health agencies and has consulted with a variety of public health and mental health organizations to address systems change at the national, state, and local level. She has co-developed several curricula to guide systems transformation. Suganya assists agencies develop their leadership capacity to address workforce diversity and inclusivity, and to institutionalize the provision of culturally and linguistically competent services.