Strengths-based behavioral telehealth with sexual and gender diverse clients at Center on Halsted

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an immediate response and rapid transition from traditional face-to-face behavioral health services to behavioral telehealth at an organization serving sexual and gender diverse (SGD) individuals in Chicago. In this practice innovations article, we explore the unfolding public health crisis and the impact on service delivery for SGD individuals. Using a large multi-service organization as a case study, this paper describes how key members of the staff and leadership team shifted services online as a means of responding to isolation, loneliness, and disparities in access to healthcare for Chicago SGD communities. Lessons learned and practice recommendations are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual and gender diversity
• lesbian
• gay
• bisexual
• transgender
• queer
• telehealth
• telemedicine
• behavioral health
• counseling

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and bravery of the volunteers, staff, and administration at Center on Halsted in rapidly responding to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in Chicago during the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Their collective commitment to excellence, strengths-based care, and affirming service provision is quite impressive and commendable. Many thanks also to Drs. Dyann Ross, Bindi Bennett, and Richard Burns for providing helpful editorial feedback on the manuscript.