FSW 261 - AHS/UCalgary FSW Half-Day Workshop: Walking Alongside the Gender Journey: A Clinical Toolkit
Course Description
The Metta Gender Clinic at the Alberta Children’s Hospital is one of the few multi-disciplinary, pediatric gender clinics in Canada. Current evidence-based best practices in gender care stress the importance of this approach. We propose to illustrate our multidisciplinary approach to care through a workshop format in which we would provide a preliminary overview of our clinic’s general process from triage to treatment and discharge to community/adult resources.
Throughout the workshop, we propose to present three cases (one pre-pubertal child, one post-pubertal adolescent and one adult) that broadly illustrate this process. Participants will be encouraged to work through their approach to care and then share that approach with the larger group. Topics of focus will include the biopsychosocial approach to assessment and support as well as clinical tips and tools to provide gender-affirming care.
Presenters Bibliography:
Teresa Coker BA, MSW, RSW (she/her)
Teresa is the Family Therapist with Metta Gender Clinic at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Teresa has worked in mental health at Alberta Health Services for 18 years. Teresa has a BA in Criminology from Carleton University, and she received her BSW and MSW from the University of Calgary. She has taught at the University of Calgary in the Faculty of Social Work and currently teaches Social Work courses at Mount Royal University. Teresa has a particular passion for work with the 2SLGBTQI+ population. In her free time, you can find Teresa hanging out with her dog or participating in sports.
Kira Daly MSW RSW (she/her)
Kira has completed both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work through the University of Calgary. She is currently working as the Family Counsellor at the Adult Gender Clinic at the Foothills Medical Centre. She has been working in the mental health field for 7 years, with a specific focus on gender care for the last 4 years. In 2017 she was awarded the Clarice Chodak Student Achievement Award in Social Action for achievements during her practicum. She is passionate about acting in social justice and working towards the whole health of the individuals and communities she works alongside.
Sharon Culley-MacDonald BSW, RSW She/her
Sharon has over 35 years of experience in the field of child and adolescent mental health. Sharon has a BA and a BSW from Lakehead University in Ontario. She spent the first part of her career as a community outreach counselor in Airdrie, Alberta. For the last 16 years she has been with Alberta Health Services with a shift to gender care in the last 10 years. She is now employed as a case manager with Metta Gender Services.
Course Details
Outcomes/Learning Objectives:
- Learning about Gender Services in Alberta, including ACH Metta Clinic, FMC Adult Clinic, and the Edmonton Gender Clinic
- Gaining further understanding of Gender Identity and Diversity
- Learning about Gender-affirming Care and Practice
- Gaining clinical skills for supporting and working with gender diverse children, adolescents and adults.