Empowering LGBTQIA+ Communities through Inclusive Healthcare and Support
Transvision, a specialty clinic within Bay Area Community Health (BACH), is committed not only to providing access to care to the LGBTQIA+ community through outstanding service delivery and offerings but also to ensuring that the spaces they step into are safe, inclusive, and welcoming.
BACH TransVision Program Supervisor Yugi Albior explains that Transvision aims to lower obstacles to essential medical care by providing LGBTQIA+ people with access to healthcare in their community and to eliminate the barriers that our clients have when attempting to access healthcare for themselves and other members of their community by centralizing LGBTQIA+ care at an affordable cost. Regarding services provided, she explains that Transvision currently offers unique resources and support to the LGBTQIA+ community. These services include having a well-trained Rapid HIV counselor that provides rapid testing and health education.
Additionally, to combat the transportation hurdles the community may be facing, TransVision offers financial aid for transportation. Other services include free name and gender changes, sex supplies, and the Transvision Closet, a clothing resource provided to individuals who have recently transitioned as well as to the homeless community. We also have behavioral health providers that provide our Trans clients with their Gender-Affirming Surgery letters.
Speaking on creating safe spaces, Yugi explains that the clinic includes a private room for new patients, a separate entrance, and a welcoming atmosphere. She adds that this, together with the continuous training to ensure BACH employees are educated, creates a welcoming environment.
Employee training ensures that employees address patients appropriately with the correct names and pronouns, helping them understand the significance in doing so. This helps patients know that they won't be misgendered or referred to by their old identity and names. This training includes LGBTQIA+ 101 training and webinars, pronoun training, Epic training (how to make sure we're utilizing the chosen name and updating SOGIE), and New Hire Orientation, which includes a Transvision Clinic Introduction.
Additionally, TransVision emphasizes its commitment to providing accessible healthcare by offering testing and health education both inside and outside of the clinic. This is done by engaging in LGBTQIA+ events, conducting outreach programs, working with gay clubs, and providing guidance and health education in various community settings.
Transvision has several affiliations with various organizations in the counties of Santa Clara and Alameda.
“In order to provide services and health education, we actively participate in a variety of PRIDE events, tabling events, health fairs, school activities, and homeless areas.”
With an emphasis on African-American and Latina transgender women, TransVision has been the exclusive contractor for the Alameda County Office of AIDS since 2005, offering HIV prevention education services to transgender women across the county. The county's Office of the AIDS Administration provides funding for the NGO.