67 - Utilizing Needs Assessment Data for LGBTQ2S+ Healthcare Systems Change

Abstract Information: The South Dakota Queer Affirmative Care Initiative seeks to leverage statewide, mixed methods needs assessment data to impact health and education outcomes for queer patients, healthcare providers, and mental health providers. This process involves engagement of three major health systems in the state, a power mapping of potential stakeholders, and readiness assessment to increase impact of data and educational outcomes. This session will explore that stakeholder engagement process in a state that is historically and politically hostile toward the LGBTQ+2S population, discuss the importance of and methods by which we create buy-in, and review initial data related to the project. About the Project: The South Dakota Queer Affirmative Care Initiative is a three-year, two-phase project that seeks to significantly increase the number of queer affirming health and mental health providers in the state, and to significantly increase awareness around the need for this care across the state. The goal of this project is to make healthcare more inclusive, accessible, and equitable for the LGBTQ+2S community. We hope the data collected will allow us to work with medical and mental health care providers on best practices for Queer people and establish a network of support systems in the state of South Dakota. The phases of this project include: 1) Needs Assessment Phase (Year One) We will deploy five separate surveys across the state of South Dakota. Those surveys will seek input from five separate populations: queer adults, queer youth, caregivers of queer youth, health providers, and mental health providers. These surveys seek answers on the unique health and mental health needs of the LGBTQ+2S population in South Dakota, gaps in services currently provided, and opportunities to provide more holistic services across the state. 2) Education Phase (Years Two and Three) We plan to leverage survey data in order to create two separate education campaigns: one educating the public about public health disparities for the LGBTQ+2S community, and another seeking to directly educate health and mental health providers on proper gender affirming care. To do this, we formed an advisory committee of 4-5 high level health professionals and administrators from across the state to advise on the dissemination of survey findings and all health education programming that comes as a result of this needs assessment. This session discusses the process taken by this advisory committee including an in-depth examination of key stakeholders and power structures within the health and mental health care ecosystem, presentation of data and leveraging of allies to increase buy-in, and educational, structural, and policy outcomes desired as a result of this project.