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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
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LGBTQ Workgroup Recommendations
August 24, 2009
The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) and its Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have recognized the behavioral health disparities between the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) population and the larger population they serve. As such, the Deputy Secretary of OMHSAS invited representatives of the LGBTQI consumer communities and their advocates to form a workgroup that would make recommendations to DPW/OMHSAS on how to ensure that OMHSAS, county mental health programs, behavioral health managed care organizations (BHMCOs), and mental health provider agencies can improve access to, and quality of treatment and care for, LGBTQI consumers.
The Workgroup formed to address issues of access to and inclusion in behavioral health services for LGBTQI consumers was convened in December 2008, and included LGBTQI consumers, family members, advocates, county representatives, BHMCOs, OMHSAS staff and academics.The Workgroup met for six months to develop recommendations that would benefit consumers seeking or being referred to behavioral health services throughout the Commonwealth by insuring quality care unimpeded by differences of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.The Workgroup’s process and product were inspired by a similar local project already underway in Philadelphia. Energized by the leadership and vision of Joan Erney, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Workgroup produced the recommendations outlined in this document.
The recommendations presented to OMHSAS for Issues of Access to and Inclusion in Behavioral Health Services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Intersex Consumers are attached. A full report will be given on these recommendations at the September 3 OMHSAS Advisory Committee meeting.
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