If you’re looking to help your healthcare or human services organization serve LGBT folks better, Kelli can help. Promise. This is true even–or especially–if there is a struggle with the commitment or the resources to do so.

Kelli has been working with healthcare, home visiting, sheltering and other organizations for more almost two decades to help them grow in their vision and their logistical capacity to support LGBT people.

The core of Kelli’s message and teaching is that GOOD CARE FOR LGBT FOLKS IS GOOD CARE FOR EVERYONE. Not only is this objectively true (and yes, there is literature that supports it) but also, delivering LGBT health content within this context helps overcome resistance to needed changes. Kelli’s warm humorous style and credibility as a nurse with 25 years of community health experience create an atmosphere that leads to highly engaged learned: even if participants want to be on their cell phones checking email they’ll often get pulled into the discussion because it’s interesting and fun!

Below are a few frequently requested keynotes and workshops, but Kelli always tailors her content to the specific needs of the inquiring organization. She can work with you to build a presentation or series of workshops that provides the needed information and also–if needed– chips away at the specific resistance that might be undermining attempts to be inclusive. Kelli also includes an AMA session (including a AMAA-Ask Me Anything Anonymously) as a part of all LGBT health related trainings and Kelli uses the questions and issues that come up as part of the training to create a PDF of specific relevant resources. This is provided to all participants ten days after the event.

This training can be provided in person or virtually.

Sometimes it can be helpful for provide resources for your patients directly at the same time as you’re training providers. In that case, check out the trauma informed, specific and actionable workshops Kelli has created for healthcare consumers!

LGBT HEALTH 201: THE BASICS AND BEYOND FOR LGBT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND THEIR ALLIES [INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION]

Have you ever..

-Overheard your boss make a casually homophobic comment about a patient and not known how to respond?

-Had to explain to an otherwise reasonable co-worker that simply identifying as a gay male doesn’t put a client at risk for HIV?

-Corrected pronouns (either yours or someone else’s) many times…to the same person…on the same day?

If so (or you can anticipate such a situation) this workshop is for you.

LGBT HEALTH 201 is designed for LGBT-identified health care providers and students in the health sciences, as well as their straight allies. In this interactive presentation, public health nurse/comedian Kelli Dunham not only presents the facts about the health challenges—and strengths of the LGBT community, but also leads attendees through improvisational exercises designed to help participants build self advocacy skills and skills to advocate for LGBT patients and co-workers.

WHAT’S TRAUMA GOT TO DO WITH IT: ENGAGING CARE RELUCTANT LGBT PATIENTS [INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP]

To effectively provide care for LGBT patients, it’s essential to understand the external and internal barriers that make it more difficult for LGBT patients to initiate health care encounters, follow up and be proactive in seeking care. In this interactive presentation, participants will come to understand how individual and group historical health experiences impact LGBT patients’ health behaviors and how providers and patients can work together to increase functional accessibility of health care systems to LGBT patients.

SUPPORT ON THE PATH TO ACCEPTANCE: NURTURING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ALLIES FOR LGBT YOUTH [WORKSHOP]

While research confirms that LGBTQ+ youth are at greatly increased risk of poor physical and mental health outcomes compared to heterosexual or cisgender youth, recent studies have also shown family and community support can significantly decrease these disaparities.

Some families (and youth development agencies) are not yet ready to act in full acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth identity, but caring and educated allies can help nurture a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ youth by providing culturally appropriate resources, engaging in context-specific strategic discussions and advocating for a strength-based approach to engaging the families of LGBT!+ youth. 

In this fun and interactive skill-building session you’ll be given a chance to ask questions (as part of the discussion and anonymously) about serving and advocating for the LGBT2S+ communites, share your own wisdom and experience and find support for supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

Please note: Although this session was developed specifically with LGBT adolescents and youth in mind, versions of this workshop that focus on adults or older adults are also available.