Out in the Open Aims to Expand Healthcare Access with New “HEART” Program
For Immediate Release 3.16.2022
Contact:
Jake McBride
802-289-3830
jake@weareoutintheopen.org
Out in the Open Aims to Expand Healthcare Access with New “HEART” Program
The HEART (Health Equity and Access for Rural TLGBQ+) Program aims to address common healthcare barriers faced by TLGBQ+ (Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer) people in Windham County, Vermont. A team of trained volunteers will work alongside TLGBQ+ community members to ensure access to safe and supportive healthcare. The program is now accepting volunteer applications and will begin providing support to community members in early May.
HB Lozito, Executive Director of Out in the Open shares: “We are thrilled to be launching The HEART Program to support our rural LGBTQ+ community in improving our experiences in healthcare settings and in accessing care. I know I could have used exactly this type of support at many points in my life, including very recently, and also know I’m not alone in that. To our local providers, we look forward to working in partnership, and to learning alongside one another.”
HEART will provide support and advocacy for rural TLGBQ+ people in healthcare appointments, while receiving results, and throughout needed follow-ups. Many TLGBQ+ people delay or skip care due to a variety of negative experiences within the healthcare system including medical trauma, racism, sexism, ableism, fatphobia, transphobia, homophobia, transportation difficulties, and a multitude of other intersecting challenges. The HEART Program, made possible with support from the Consortium on Substance Use (COSU), will address these challenges and make it easier for TLGBQ+ people in Windham County to access high quality care by offering emotional and logistical support. Using Harm Reduction principles and TLGBQ+ positive advocacy, HEART aims to reduce health disparities affecting our community.
Out in the Open’s Health Justice Organizer, Jake McBride says, “A critical intention of the HEART Program is to center the person receiving care. We want to ensure participants’ needs are being met in a way that feels safe and healthy for them and that they are leading the effort with assistance from us in whatever form they need. Our goal is for participants to feel supported while remaining in control of their own health decisions.”
Community members can request support for a variety of services including but not limited to:
- Appointment planning
- Appointment debriefing
- Support during appointments (transportation is also available if needed)
- TeleHealth support
- Follow up/next step planning
- Check-in calls during hospital stays
- Referrals
Volunteers will be trained by HEART Program staff and community partners to ensure that they can offer needed support. The training will include Harm Reduction principles and strategies, proper use of Narcan, and Intentional Peer Support Training. Please consider volunteering for the program if you are interested or share this volunteer link with people who you think might be a good fit.
Learn more about the HEART Program here.
Follow this link to request support from the HEART Program.
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Out in the Open connects rural LGBTQ people to build community, visibility, knowledge, and power. Based in Brattleboro, Vermont, we work locally and regionally throughout northern New England. We envision a resilient community of communities that works toward the transformation of our economic, social, and political relationships. We are building a multi-issue social justice movement of rural LGBTQ people. More about us and our work at: weareoutintheopen.org