Advocacy

Center Global Asylees Face Extraordinary Pandemic Threats

by
#queertranscaravan

Greetings,

Center Global participants live in a tenuous job, housing, and healthcare context. They are largely unqualified for federal supports during COVID-19, placing them in greater danger and despair.

Many have lost well-earned jobs and under increasing pressures to pay rent and living expenses as their work hours and job options evaporate in this pandemic economy.

On March 28th, Center Global and the DC Center launched the COVID-19 Emergency Support Program. We created it to a) establish a fund to assist with COVID-19-related expenses and b) reach out and check on our participants’ wellbeing. 

In less than a week, we received 25 applications with requests of over $16K for help with rent, medical expenses, food, and transportation.

We’ve been able to support approximately 60% of our immediate requests, realizing more will arrive as the virus’s impacts spread. Experts warn DC will be the next virus hot spot.

Now’s your chance to help!

Through our generous supporters and volunteers, we’ve been fortunate to cover some of our participants’ needs—yet there’s an urgent need to close the financial gap.

Online or By Mail

We welcome your contributions to the COVID-19 Support Fund. You can make a tax-deductible contribution by visiting https://donorbox.org/centerglobal. Or you can send a check to: Center Global, 2000 14th St., NW., Suite 105, Washington, DC  20009 (please write “Center Global COVID-19” in the memo line).

 

With your help, we can guide our participants through this pandemic. To learn more about Center Global’s COVID-19 response, please email Geoffrey Louden, vice chair at geoffreyl@thedccenter.org.

 

Thank you and best wishes for your health and safety.

Tom Sommers, Geoffrey Louden, Don Driver

Executive Leadership Committee


Tom Sommers                                                                 Geoffrey Louden

UPDATE : DC LGBTQ Health and Wellness Festival

by
LGBTQ Health & Wellness Festival

*** Hello friends,
In order to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus, the DC Center is closed effective Monday, March 16th. To protect the health and safety of everyone we have decided to postpone our health and wellness festival, we will no longer have the event on March 28th , a new date will be decided in the future. Please consider how you can help delay the spread of coronavirus by consulting sites such as https://coronavirus.dc.gov/ for more information. ***

Due to unfortunate circumstances, we have been forced to reschedule our Wellness Expo. Join us on Saturday, March 28th for our first-ever DC LGBTQ Health and Wellness Expo.

Please click here for the updated event information, and if you have previously registered there’s no need to re-register. Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions please email supportdesk@thedccenter.org.

Job Opening at the DC Center : Social Worker/Therapist

by
Job Opportunity at the DC Center for the LGBT Community

The DC Center for the LGBT Community is hiring! We are looking for a full-time social worker/therapist. Bilingual in Spanish, a plus. See below for details.

Social Worker/Therapist Position:

The DC Center for the LGBT Community has a mission of educating, empowering, celebrating, and connecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of Washington, DC. The Social Worker/Therapist helps to achieve this mission by providing mental health support services to survivors of violence, crime, and trauma. These services are available free-of-charge to our community members due to grant funding from the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG). The Social Worker/Therapist will see clients individually and in group settings, as well as in a couples/collateral therapy capacity, if requested. The person who fills this position is also responsible for assisting on other related projects, such as quarterly reporting and management of the OVSJG grant, outreach and education in the LGBTQ community, and assisting the mission, vision, and values of The DC Anti-Violence Project (DC AVP). The Social Worker/Therapist will report to the Executive Director.

Special Skills:

The Social Worker/Therapist must have the appropriate licensure to practice in DC (LGSW or LICSW) and have at least 2 years’ experience working as a clinician with a diverse client population. They must also have a demonstrated ability to work with LGBTQ+ adults, to work well in a team, to problem solve and communicate at all levels verbally as well as in writing. Must be self-motivated and be able to build and maintain relationships, both with colleagues and with key stakeholders in the larger victim-serving network of Washington, DC. The ideal candidate will have prior nonprofit/grant management experience and is well adept at multitasking in a fast-paced environment. Bilingual capabilities are not required but strongly preferred.

Functions and Duties

Social Worker/Therapist: Responsibilities:

  • Provide individual, couples, and group mental health support services to a caseload of 25-35 unique clients
  • Conduct intake assessments with all new potential clients to assess safety, job status, financial resources, living arrangements, current support system, type and history of victimization, legal issues, related medical history, and clinical symptomatology for the past 30 days
  • Provide clients with LGBTQ-friendly and affirming referrals to community-based services, aimed at assisting individuals affected by crime, violence and trauma
  • Assess clients and provide necessary intervention in crisis situations (safety plans, hospitalization, referrals, etc.)
  • Keep current and accurate records of all clinical interactions in our clinical database system
  • Collaborate with DC Center staff to provide community-based education and outreach opportunities in line with OVSJG grant requirements
  • Provide data for quarterly reports and help manage grant deliverables for the OVSJG grant throughout the fiscal year
  • Deliver trauma-informed, culturally competent assessment and treatment techniques to all survivors seeking support services, and serve as a resource for all individuals seeking support through The DC Center
  • Work in partnership with The DC Anti-Violence Project members to further the mission, vision, and values of DC AVP
  • Work well with a diverse staff to facilitate an open, supportive and warm environment for all individuals who visit The DC Center

Please click here to apply

How To Access A Free Sexual Assault Exam In DC

by

If you’ve been sexually assaulted in the last 96 hrs, go to MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) at any time 24/7/365.

To ask a nurse or an advocate your questions first or to receive a free Uber ride to the hospital, call the DC Victim Hotline @1-844-4HELPDC .

For evidence collection (“rape kit”), in case you decide to report to police, try to avoid:

Showering, urinating or having a bowel movement, eating/drinking or smoking, chewing gum, douching, brushing teeth or changing clothes.

Arrive to MWHC , emergency department and let them know you are there for a SANE exam

You will be checked out by an ER physician first. Expect to be at the hospital for an average of 4.5 hours. You will have the opportunity to have all your questions answered by a nurse and an advocate before the exam begins.

If needed, receive free HIV/STD and pregnancy prevention medications

The nurse and physician will run some lab tests to make  sure it is safe for you to take these meds. You will also have the opportunity to follow up for more meds if possible. Please note that if you believe you were exposed to HIV, you will need to arrive at MWHC  72 hours or before to get HIV prevention treatment known as PEP. PEP is only effective in stopping HIV when taken 72 hours after exposure.

Decide whether or not to report to law enforcement

It is 100% your decision whether to report to the police or not. Your kit will be held for a minimum of one year. You may request for MWHC to hold your kit longer but you may have the right to report any time within the statute of limitation.

Rest and track you kit

You can visit a website to track your kit. Your kit will only be sent to the crime lab for testing if you decide to report to law enforcement, but MWHC can send it for toxicology testing if you’d like regardless of your reporting decision.

Receive ongoing support and connection to resources

If you choose , the advocate will continue to support you in any way that you need and connect you to basic , education, legal, and / or social services.

 

  Information sourced from 

 

 

 

Job Opening at the DC Center: Community Engagement Specialist – Position Filled

by
Job Opportunities at the DC Center for the LGBT Community

***We are no longer accepting applicants***

 

Job Opening at the DC Center: Community Engagement Specialist

 

The DC Center for the LGBT Community is hiring! We are looking for a full-time Community Engagement Specialist to work with our new Total Care Team doing Early Intervention Services under our new Ryan White (part A) Grant.   

Position Details:

This position requires a person that is knowledgeable about marginalized communities that are at greater risk for HIV, Hep C, and other STI’s due to barriers minority communities experience due to oppression and socio-economic inequalities.  Much of the work is focused on Gender Non Binary, Transgender and MSM populations.  

The DC Center for the LGBT Community has a mission of educating, empowering, celebrating, and connecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual,queer, and transgender communities of Washington, DC. The Community Engagement Specialist will help to achieve this mission by providing culturally competent  supportive services to the aforementioned populations. This particular grant is status neutral so it includes both positive and negative populations. Persons of color from LGBTQ communities are encouraged to apply, as we seek to develop more diversity within our staff and services.  

 Special Skills:  

The Community Engagement Specialist  will provide referral assistance and direct service (medical and non-medical) to ensure disparities that challenge access to care and/or treatment are addressed to give community members their best chance at maintaining a healthy status through traditional sexual health strategies, biomedical prevention (PrEP); and through treatment as prevention and the U=U model (undetectable = untransmittable). 

The person who fills this position is also responsible for other duties, such as minor case management, outreach, health education, data collection and  data entry. The Community Engagement Specialist will report to the Community Engagement Manager directly.

 

Functions and Duties 

  Community Engagement Specialist / Total Care Team 

 

  1. Collect and enter data from focus populations in respective systems (Careware, Link U, Redcap)
  2. Engage groups and individuals in sexual health education and planning sessions
  3. Provide referrals to eliminate barriers, thus increasing improved health outcomes
  4. Assist in meeting program goals that reduce harm and risk, improving the quality of life 
  5. Provide client-centered service that reflects status neutral healthcare and education
  6. Engage and retain focus population clients in HI-V programming and assist in achieving individual goals. 
  7. Educate on viral suppression and PrEP; providing timely linkage to care
  8. Contribute to programming, marketing, and branding of culturally competent services
  9. Assist in testing, in-reach, outreach, and representing the organization in professional settings
  10. Engage volunteers and clients as directed to meet program and grant deliverables 
  11. Facilitate or Coordinate testing for focus populations
  12. Promote Rapid treatment and Comprehensive Harm & Risk Reduction initiatives
  13. Assist in Facilitating Cultural Competency training’s for organizations and individuals
  14. Assist with Consumer Satisfaction Surveys and data to ensure program effectiveness
  15. Assist in implementing and tracking medical and non-medical support and client outcomes
  16. Work with associated staff to ensure grant deliverables and promote program continuity 
  17. Provide good customer service and assist in various capacities as needed 

 

Please send qualified resumes to  justin@thedccenter.org before Monday, October 7th. Salary Range is expected to fall within $38,480 – $45,760

 

*Interviews will be held on 10/16/19 and 10/17/19 

Planned Parenthood in Residence Event Series!

by

For more than 80 years, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC (PPMW) has provided high quality, affordable reproductive health care to the Washington, DC community.

To announce the launch of two new health care offerings, gender affirming care and primary care, PPMW has teamed up with The Outrage, an activist apparel company.

The Outrage Store
1722 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

  • Sept 23, 6:00pm-7:00pm – My Body. My Care. Gender Affirming Care with Dr. Serina Floyd, Medical Director, PPMW
  • Sept 24, 6:00pm-7:00pm – Transforming Health Care: Announcing PPMW Primary Care with Dr. Ryan Montoya, Program Director, Primary Care Services, PPMW
  • Sept 25, 4:30pm-5:30pm – How to be Engaged in Fighting for Access to Reproductive Health with Betsy Harned, VP Public Affairs, PPMW

For RSVP and more info, go to bit.ly/PPatOutrage

CFLS to Hold Speaker Training for Women Survivors

by

Community Family Life Services will be hosting Informational Sessions for the CFLS Speakers Bureau on September 11th and September 14th. The Speakers Bureau is a paid public speaking training and professional development opportunity for women who have survived domestic violence, human trafficking, homelessness, and incarceration.

This Informational Session is an opportunity for potential applicants and members of the community to learn more about the program, hear from current members of the program, receive tips on how to strengthen your application, and ask questions. This event is open to all applicants and members of the community who are interested in learning more about the CFLS Speakers Bureau.

Please RSVP to attend:

Wednesday, September 11th at 11am: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cfls-speakers-bureau-informational-session-911-am-tickets-71082213815

Wednesday, September 11th at 6 pm: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cfls-speakers-bureau-informational-session-911-pm-tickets-71084352211

Saturday, September 14th at 11 am: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cfls-speakers-bureau-informational-session-914-am-tickets-71084727333

Please reach out to Miracle Smith with questions: (202) 750 6024 ext. 4001; mgsmith@cflsdc.org.

ANC2F Supports DC Council Legislation for the LGBTQ Community

by
ANC2F

On Thursday August 15th, 2019, meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A (ANC2F), the Commission considered two resolutions introduced by Commissioner John Fanning in support of the LGBTQ Community.  Both measures passed unanimously.  Similar resolutions were passed by ANC1A (see related article),

The Care for LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV Amendment Act of 2019 – was recently intruded by Councilmembers Anita Bonds and Mary Cheh. As introduced, the bill includes LGBTQ seniors and seniors with HIV in the definition of groups of greatest social need for the purpose of allocating funds. It also establishes an LGBTQ HIV long-term care bill of rights. While ANC1A believes there is much more that needs to be done to support our seniors and LGBTQ community, the Commission believes this bill is an excellent start.

Learn more about this legislation and sign the petition here.

ANC2F also passed a measure in support of the  Secure A Fair and Equitable Trial Act of (ban on gay and trans “panic” defense bill) which will soon be re-introduced in the DC Council.  The bill was previously introduced in Council session 22 but died in the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. The failure to move this important legislation in one of the most progressive cities in the United States, and the city with the highest population of LGBTQ residents in the country, is both disappointing and unacceptable.

As introduced, the Secure A Fair and Equitable Trial Act of 2017 would required that upon the request of either the prosecutor or the defendant, the court would instruct the jury against letting bias, sympathy, prejudice, or public opinion influence its decision. It also would establish limits on defenses that seek to excuse violence on the basis of a victim’s identity.

Learn more about this legislation and sign the petition here.

This act will be introduced in memory of Tony Hunter and Bella Evangelista.

See Related Documents Below:

ANC 2F Support for The Secure a Fair and Equitable Trial Act of 2017

ANC 2F Support for B23-0037- Care for LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV Amendment Act of 2019

2019 Youth Count

by
Youth Count

Every year, The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (TCP) together with the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Youth Subcommittee of the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness (DCICH) plans and conducts the Homeless Youth Census (HYC) – or “Youth Count DC” – in an effort to better understand the scope and scale of homelessness and housing instability among youth living in the District. The 2019 Youth Count DC will take place from September 20th to September 28th, 2019. The information collected in this nine-day survey event creates an annual “snapshot” of the number of youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability that aids District policy-makers and funders in making smarter, data-driven decisions about resource allocation and helps us track progress toward the District’s strategic plan to end youth homelessness.  One important piece of this is understanding how many youth experiencing homelessness are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.

The DC Center will once again be participating in the survey.  Youth experiencing homelessness that are visiting the center between September 20th and September 28th will be invited to complete a survey and receive a (TBD) incentive.

Important Information about Youth Count DC:

  • As the name suggests, Youth Count DC will focus solely on unaccompanied individuals and heads of family households who are age 24 and under;
  • In addition to “literally homeless” youth – youth who are experiencing homelessness while in shelter, transitional housing or living on the street – it also includes young people who are living in unstable housing arrangements (e.g. in doubled-up situations or “couch surfing”);
  • It is conducted through partnering organizations that administer surveys with youth who are encountered: 1) in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs; 2) on-site at places that youth frequent (including meal programs, after-school programs, drop-in centers, etc.); and 3) with street-based homeless outreach teams.

What you need to know to prepare:

If f you have never participated and want to learn more, please do not hesitate to contact me [Elisabeth Young] at EYoung@community-partnership.org.

More information will be shared here as it becomes available.