Co-creation of a training for community health workers to enhance skills in serving LGBTQIA+ communities

Authors: Vanessa Kitzie, Julie Smithwick, Carmen Blanco, M Greg Green, Sarah Covington-Kolb

The goal of this paper was to outline the creation and implementation of a thirty-hour LGBTQIA+ speciality training program for CHWs aimed at enhancing their skills for serving LQBTQIA+ communities. This speciality training program was co-developed by CHW training facilitators, researchers with expertise in LGBTQIA+ populations and health information, and a cohort of LGBTQIA+ CHWs who theater tested and piloted the course. To gain feedback on this initiative, the research and training team conducted focus groups and an evaluative survey, the results of which revealed the importance of this curriculum for CHWs. These findings suggest such training may offer a promising strategy to not only address the health needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, but to also equip CHWs to better serve this population.