What Is LGBTQ+ Outreach?
More than 700,000 people in the New York metro area identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
Only a fraction of these people have information about and access to services such as home care and hospice care. Few may be aware that there are medical professionals who will respect and celebrate their unique identity, and many may be wary of the health care system as a whole.
VNS Health has been a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ health for decades. Together with our community and health partners, we’re bringing education, resources, and training about LGBTQ+ health across New York City and beyond.
Caring for LGBTQ+ Older Adults with Dignity and Respect
New York State is home to over 800,000 LGBTQ+ adults, about a third of whom are over 50 years old. VNS Health team members have received training in working with LGTBQ+ communities from the advocacy organization SAGE. SAGE is the country’s largest and oldest organization committed to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older adults. This training ensures that our team members are aware of and sensitive to the needs and concerns of LGBTQ+ older adults.
In fact, VNS Health is the largest home- and community-based health care organization in the New York City metropolitan area with the SAGECare Platinum LGBT cultural competency credential.
How LGBTQ+ Outreach Supports the LGBTQ+ Community
Our LGBTQ+ Outreach team is made up of individuals who are LGBTQ+ themselves, so we know the specific challenges you may face and the concerns you may have. We know that asking for help can be difficult and that you may have had negative experiences with health care before.
We’re here to support you, as well as your family. We can help you get care for yourself following gender affirmation surgery, or we can provide home care services for your aging loved one. We can support you as a caregiver or support your own behavioral health journey.
Whatever your story or your needs, VNS Health is here to provide high-quality care that is culturally sensitive and identity affirming.
LGBTQ+ Outreach works with community-based organizations, health care partners, and our own organization to increase awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and health needs.
Community-Based Organizations
LGBTQ+ Outreach connects our community with educational resources, information, and presentations about LGBTQ+ health and VNS Health services (like the Gender Affirmation Program).
We work with more than 100 community-based organizations to offer support and build relationships. By working with local organizations, we can share information about what we do in the locations where LGBTQ+ adults feel welcome and comfortable — in the safe spaces already forged in their own communities.
Health Care Partners
VNS Health also does community outreach within the health care field — for example, with local hospitals, doctor’s offices, and nursing homes. We provide training on LGBTQ+ health and resources on how to support LGBTQ+ patients.
Our main priority is the people we serve, and by working with health partners, we create seamless transitions between the care someone is already receiving and the VNS Health services they might need.
Outreach Within VNS Health
VNS Health also conducts outreach within our own organization. We believe that one of the keys to meaningful care is a team that understands a wide range of perspectives and life experiences.
We conduct internal training and resource groups to make sure that no matter what care someone is receiving, it respects their whole identity.