The design and development of an online education program for families of trans young people

Abstract

Education programs can help families of trans young people to accept and support a trans family member. However, little has been written about the design and development of such programs. This article seeks to fill this gap in the literature by detailing the design and development of an education program for families of trans young people. A seven-step learner-centered, outcomes-based approach was used as the basis for program design and development. The process also included participatory elements throughout, including input from professionals, families, and trans young people in a consultation and evaluation process. This culminated in the development of an eight-module online education program. The approach presented in this article may be of value to anyone interested in developing an education resource for families of trans young people, and it would be recommended to consider how such an approach could be applied in a specific context. The program also provided an opportunity for involvement from professionals, families, and trans young people in the community, and it would be important for anyone working in the area to consider how such participation could be both enhanced and enabled.

Keywords:

• Educational programs
• family
• transgender
• youth LGBT

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the families and trans young people who gave so generously of their time to participate in this study. They also wish to acknowledge TENI and BeLonG To Youth Services for supporting the study, and the Irish Research Council for funding the research.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Irish Research Council under Grant GOIPG/2015/1723.

Notes on contributors

Danika Sharek

Dr. Sharek is social researcher who has worked for over a decade as a researcher and project manager in various social areas. She is passionate about work in areas of social justice, including mental health and LGBT issues. She appreciates collaborative forms of inquiry and working 'with' and 'for' people to help address issues. Danika currently works as a post-doctoral researcher on the Service Reform Fund (SRF) Action Research Program in Genio: https://www.genio.ie/meeting-the-challenges/transforming-social-services/measuring-impact/service-reform-fund-action. She holds a PhD in the Trinity College Dublin School of Nursing & Midwifery in which she aimed to explore and address the education needs of families of transgender young people in the Republic of Ireland. This culminated in the development of www.GenderEd.ie - an education program to support families of transgender young people, developed by and with professionals, families, and trans young people themselves. Danika has also completed an M.Sc. in Applied Social Research in the Trinity College Dublin School of Social Work and Social Policy. She has authored several publications and enjoys presenting her work within Ireland and abroad.

Edward McCann

Dr. McCann has worked in various mental health settings in Aberdeen and Edinburgh and moved to London to undertake a Masters in Sex Therapy and Anthropology at Guys Medical School. He then Studied at the Institute of Psychiatry and gained a post graduate qualification in Psychosocial Interventions (Thorn). Edward was involved in establishing the Thorn Program at London City University and became Course Director. He worked in Community Mental Health Teams in East London for over ten years, providing Family Work and Cognitive Behavioral Approaches with people experiencing psychosis, before full time employment in education and research. Edward’s Doctoral research investigated sexual and relationship issues in relation to mental health. He has also held a research fellowship and an honorary psychotherapy post (Cognitive Analytical Therapy) at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. Before coming to Trinity, Edward was mental health and learning disabilities subject leader at Edinburgh Napier University, involved in course developments and national funded research. He was awarded and have completed a Trinity Postdoctoral Fellowship that explored LGBT people's experiences of mental health services. He has disseminated his work internationally and continues to develop and strengthen international research collaborations. His research interests encompass marginalized groups and include: sexualities, service user perspectives, recovery, family and carer supports, talking therapies and mental health service developments.

Sylvia Huntley-Moore

Sylvia Huntley-Moore is Director of Staff Education and Development in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin where her primary responsibilities include promoting good practice and innovation in teaching, learning and assessment and the School's approach to curriculum design and program evaluation as well as supporting staff in the conduct of educational research. From 1995 to 2002, Sylvia was the College's Staff Development Manager. Prior to that, she was a lecturer in the Center for Staff Development at the University of Wollongong, Australia, where her primary role was to manage the University's student evaluation program with particular reference to associated staff development activities.