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Gender Spectrum Competence: Making safe space for transgender, gender non-conforming and intersex people
Best Western Oshkosh Waterfront Hotel and Conference Center
1 North Main Street
Oshkosh, WI 54901
920.230.1900

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Thursday, April 12, 2018, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM CDT
Category: WAFCA CE Training


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Gender Spectrum Competence: Making safe space for transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex people

This training will begin by unpacking cultural constructs of gender and gender roles, and move through a full array of practical knowledge and skills, including: 

  • Language, terminology, and definitions
  • The difference and interrelationship between sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation
  • Gender as it intersects with other facets of identity (race, class, religion, etc.)
  • Elevated risks for transgender, gender-nonconforming, and intersex (TGI) people
  • Factors that increase resilience and other positive outcomes for TGI children and youth
  • Introduction to gender-neutral pronouns and respectful pronoun use
  • Guidance for supporting families of TGI children and youth
  • General best practices for making safe space for and serving TGI people
  • Specialized best practices for therapists and counselors, residential staff, case managers, foster parents, agency admin staff, and any other disciplines you identify
  • Tips for advocating for TGI clients with other service professionals and systems
An introduction to social, legal, and medical options for TGI children, youth and adults
  • Resources for TGI children, youth and families
  • Best practices for making safe and respectful space for TGI staff and coworkers

The training will involve large-group and small-group work, and will include dedicated time for groups of particular disciplines to discuss the practical application of best practices to specific job functions, for discussion of scenarios relevant to child welfare work, for personal reflection and action planning, and for questions and answers.

About the Presenters:

Through Elements Consulting, Nate Metrick and Jake Bradley have conducted gender-spectrum competency trainings and transgender 101 trainings for social service agencies, chaplains, therapists, youth workers, body workers, life coaches, spiritual directors, and clergy and lay people of various faiths. They also assist agencies and individuals in auditing and enhancing cultural competence of policies, manuals, forms, and practices.

 Jake Bradley:

Jake Bradley holds a graduate degree from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada. For over 25 years, they have designed and managed harm reduction outreach, drop-in and shelter programming for people experiencing homelessness. Prior to that, they worked in a psychiatric facility and a residential school for kids with learning disabilities, worked as a child welfare case manager, managed a residential treatment unit, and provided advocacy in a shelter for survivors of domestic violence. They have provided instruction and support to students and professionals from diverse helping disciplines, and presented at regional and national conferences. Jake is a certified advanced instructor through the International Association of Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Certified Instructors, and trained the full array of courses through American Red Cross. They are also a treatment-level foster and adoptive parent.

Nate Metrick:

Nate Metrick holds a graduate degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. They managed Chicago's first trans*-safe shelter, and helped the city replicate its best practices into a city-wide network of drop in and emergency shelter services for young people experiencing homelessness. They have provided training to a wide array of different audiences. They're passionate about justice and inclusion, and are currently engaged in working with neighbors to build a rapid response network to support neighbors in need, especially those targeted because of national origin, legal status, faith, gender expression, disability, or race. They love television and biking and art projects, and are the introverted half of Elements Consulting. They use they/them pronouns.


Contact: Rachel Kruse: [email protected], 608.257.5939