Letter-Writing to Facilitate Gender-Affirming Care

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

SATURDAY DEC 7TH, 2024 10AM-12:30PM

Learn how to make a difference in today’s socio-political climate in Florida by writing letters for transgender and gender-diverse clients.

Overview

As the legal landscape of transgender healthcare continues to move toward further restricting transgender people’s access to care, the number of barriers impeding access to gender affirming medical care increase (especially for minors). This presentation will provide a brief overview of the legal landscape of trans healthcare in Florida by Simone Chriss of Southern Legal Counsel. It will also familiarize participants with the biopsychosocial assessment and letter-writing process for gender affirming hormonal and surgical interventions (in a manner that aligns with the Florida Boards of Medicine criteria as well as the WPATH Standards of Care 8). 

Though regretfully we can’t provide CEs for medical professionals at this time you are welcome to attend as this topic is important across the medical field to serve trans and gender diverse clients.

FAQs

Educational Objectives

1.    Describe the current legal landscape pertaining to trans healthcare in Florida

2.    Implement strategies for psychosocial assessment/mental health assessment with transgender clients

3.    Demonstrate how to write referral letters that facilitate access to gender affirming medical treatments  

What’s Included

  • 2.5 CEs for Mental Health Providers

  • Live presenters over zoom

  • Optional 30 extra minutes for Q&A (3hr total event time)

What to Expect

A virtual event with our live presenters Dr. Jen Evans, PsyD. and Simone Chriss, Esq. with a Q&A opportunity at the end.

Meet our Presenters

Dr. Jennifer Evans, Psy.D.

Dr. Jen Evans is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Gainesville, Florida. Jen also works at the UF Pediatric Endocrinology Youth Gender Clinic. Dr. Evans has worked with transgender clients in individual and group therapy since 2005, received supervision and consultation regarding provision of therapy to transgender clients, regularly attends trainings and conferences that focus on being gender affirming, and published a dissertation on the topic of genderqueer identity. Dr. Evans has provided over twenty presentations on the topic and is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Dr. Evans has also been on the board of numerous organizations that focus on transgender health and well-being.

Simone Chriss, Esq.

Simone Chriss graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she received her J.D. with honors. Chriss is the Director of the Southern Legal Counsel’s Transgender Rights Initiative. She conducts LGBTQ+ cultural competency trainings and transgender rights trainings statewide and nationally, and presents transgender name and gender marker change workshops throughout Florida. She is currently engaged in litigation against the State of Florida with federal lawsuits challenging the discriminatory exclusion of transgender rights. Chriss also works with the UF Health Youth Gender Program through a Medical Legal Partnership ("MLP"), through which she screens transgender youth and families for health harming legal needs. She then provides the families free legal assistance on issues such as navigating discriminatory health insurance issues, ensuring access to bathrooms and consistent use of affirmed names and pronouns at school, and obtaining legal name/gender marker changes and amending government-issued identification documents, among others. Chriss is a recipient of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association's 2022 Award 40 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40, and was awarded the 2021 “Voice for Equality Award” by statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Florida. 

REGISTER TODAY

SATURDAY, DEC 7TH, 2024 10AM-12:30PM

CE Statement

The FL Board of Psychology will not revoke the continuing psychological education credit given to any psychologist, social worker, MFT, LMHC for the completion of any continuing psychological education program sponsored by a provider whose status is later revoked by the board as a result of any complaint registered against the program by a psychologist. Florida Board of Psychology & Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, & Mental Health Counseling Provider. (CEBroker) # 50-26666