About 200 teachers, principals, support staff, social workers, healthcare professionals and parents gathered for a day-long conference "A Day in the Life of Transgender Students: Creative Approaches to Teaching and Parenting Elementary, Middle and High School Youth" at BMO Harris Bank in Naperville, Illinois, on Feb. 27.
The conferencewhich the Naperville Community Network: Professionals Supporting LGBTQ Youth and the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance ( the Alliance ) co-sponsoredfeatured a keynote address by Fran Zucco ( manager of the adolescent unit at Linden Oaks Hospital ), a number of breakout sessions and stories from a trans high-school student and parents of trans kids.
The breakout sessions included Trans 101( facilitated by Owen Daniel-McCarter of the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance and Transformative Justice Law Project ), Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Trends with Trans and Gender Expansive Youth ( facilitated by Zucco and David Fischer of Health and Medicine Policy Research Group ), Inclusive Curriculum and Lesson Planning for both Middle/High School ( facilitated by Brooke Condon and Robin Enders of Clinton Rosette Middle School and Yousef Matariyeh of Lisle Senior High School ) and Elementary School ( facilitated by members of the Alliance ) populations.
Nancy Mullen, executive director of Youth Outlook, provided words of welcome ahead of the day's events.
During Zucco's keynote address she spoke about the services that Linden Oaks provides for trans youth and noted that a year ago she wasn't knowledgeable about trans people/issues. Zucco said that in the past Linden Oaks wasn't friendly to trans patients until the staff met Aaron, a trans patient who was being treated for depression and anxiety.
"I realized that our policies went completely against our mission statement which was healthcare with compassion, dignity and respect. I didn't feel that we were being that way with Aaron. I wanted him to feel comfortable and safe enough so he could learn the coping skills that we wanted him to learn," said Zucco. "I talked to my boss, the chief nursing officer, who for years had been asking if the hospital was doing the right thing by trans patients. As a manager, I realized that I was the one who was causing the barrier because I was worried about my staff's comfort level instead of the patients. My supervisor really supported me when I told her about Aaron and how much he touched my heart. I couldn't imagine treating him as a female when he identified as a male. She encouraged me to start a task force and I ended up getting at least one person from every unit to join the task force."
Zucco explained that as a result of the task force findings the hospital added a gender identity section to their admission process including information about the patients preferred name, whether or not trans patients wanted a roommate or a single room and trans inclusive training for all new and current employees.
During the breakout session Zucco explained that they see the results of the community/schools/parents response to trans kids when they are admitted to Linden Oaks for treatment. Fischer noted the higher rates of incarceration among LGBT and POC youth as compared to their straight, white peers as well as the disproportionate negative discipline that LGBT youth experience as opposed to their straight cisgender peers.
Condon, Enders and Matariyeh's remarks focused on the importance of LGBT inclusive instruction throughout the school year as well as across the curriculum, not just in history class. They also emphasized the importance of having active GSAs and supportive teachers and staff so LGBT students feel safe and welcome in their schools.
See www.illinoissafeschools.org and www.facebook.com/pages/Naperville-Community-Network-for-Professionals-Serving-LGBT-Youth/124659820278 for more information.