The Sexual and Gender Diversity Learning Community (SGDLC) is an LGBTQ+ cultural competence training program for behavioral health organizations that employ mental healthcare providers soon to be widely offered to behavioral healthcare providers.
The University of Maryland Prevention Research Center is committed to addressing gaps in understanding LGBTQ+ mental health care and improving outcomes for LGBTQ+ persons. Choosing the SGDLC Certificate program means choosing a learning experience that is both research and practice based, enhancing one's knowledge and skills around mental health practice and LGBTQ+ competency with current evidence-based information! The SGDLC was developed to introduce healthcare providers to basic concepts related to LGBTQ+ mental health and wellness, preparing them to serve LGBTQ+ clients competently. The SGDLC is intended to be delivered to behavioral healthcare providers including (but not limited to) mental health professionals and drug and alcohol counselors and medical professionals such as physicians, medical assistants, and nurses.
There are five components to this training program:
- The Beginning Assessment
- The SGDLC Training Workshop
- The Clinical Consultations or Technical Assistance Sessions
- The Simulated Client Clinical Experience (an opportunity to put your knowledge to practice!)
- The Final Assessment and Feedback
The program has two tracks: one geared toward Therapists and Direct Service Practitioners and one for Administrators of the agency or organization. You can choose which track works best for you, depending on your practice or organization role.
Below are the components needed for live attendance. Note that the Simulated Client Clinical Experience will be scheduled for you after enrollment. The beginning and final assessment and feedback will be completed online.
1. Creating an account through Open Learning: https://umd.catalog.instructure.com/
Here are some instructions which will help walk participants through the process of creating an account: https://umd.instructure.com/courses/1232090/pages/getting-started-guide
2. Selecting your choice Program/Track and make your payment:
On the Open Learning/Catalog platform, this is where you will select your program and courses based on your interest. You will enroll first into your preferred track (Direct Service/Therapist or Organizational/Administrative), then make a payment through the online system. You only need to choose one.
To help make the process easier, below are the direct links for the tracks.
- Direct Service/Therapist Track: https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/programs/sgdlc-program-direct-service-therapist-track
- Organizational/Administrative Track: https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/programs/sgdlc-program-organizational-administrative-track
3. Select the accompanying courses for that program: Once you paid, then you will be able to select the courses that are within the track. Please be aware that the Clinical Consultation Sessions are for the Direct Service/Therapist Track and the Technical Assistance Sessions are for the Organizational/Administrative Track.
The list of courses with the accompanying tracks are listed below. You should be selecting 5 courses in all:
Direct Service/Therapist Track: https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/programs/sgdlc-program-direct-service-therapist-track
- Beginning Assessment - https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/sgdlc-beginning-assessment-direct-service-organizational-administrative
- SGDLC Training Workshop - https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/sgdlc-training-workshop-direct-service-organizational-administrative
- Clinical Consultation Sessions - https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/sgdlc-clinical-consultation-sessions-individual-track
- Simulated Client Clinical Experience - https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/sgdlc-simulated-client-experience-direct-service-organizational-administrative
- Final Assessment and Feedback - https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/sgdlc-final-assessment-and-feedback-direct-service-organizational-administrative
Organizational/Administrative Track: https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/programs/sgdlc-program-organizational-administrative-track
- Beginning Assessment - https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/sgdlc-beginning-assessment-direct-service-organizational-administrative
- SGDLC Training Workshop - https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/sgdlc-training-workshop-direct-service-organizational-administrative
- Technical Assistance Sessions - https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/sgdlc-technical-assistance-series-organizational-track
- Simulated Client Clinical Experience - https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/sgdlc-simulated-client-experience-direct-service-organizational-administrative
- Final Assessment and Feedback - https://umd-prc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/sgdlc-final-assessment-and-feedback-direct-service-organizational-administrative
4. Complete the Participant Information Form: This form is used by me to help gather information such as correct name and spellings for your certificate, ask about any accommodating needs, and keep track of the number of people signing up for what track: https://umdsurvey.umd.edu/jfe/form/SV_6A9xnSDH07hwddY
Below are the two schedules for the SGDLC training workshop, our supervised clinical consultation, and technical assistance groups with their respective tracks. These post-workshop sessions are used to review organization and practice materials, answer questions, review case studies, and other interactive activities to help further the understanding of LGBTQ+ competency within mental health practice. To receive the certificate, you must be able to attend all sessions.
Both Tracks
SGDLC Training Workshop (2 four-hour days; 7 CE hours - pending NASW approval)
- May 18 & 19, 2023 9am - 1pm EDT
Therapist/Direct Service/Individual Track
Clinical Consultation meetings (6 one-hour meetings)
- June 9, 2023
- June 23, 2023
- July 7, 2023
- July 21, 2023
- Aug 4, 2023
- Aug 18, 2023
Consultation times are based on group as follows (each group has maximum of 10 people)
- Group #1: 9am-10am EDT
- Group #2: 10am-11am EDT
- Group #3: 12 pm-1 pm EDT
Administrative/Organizational Track
Technical Assistance Sessions (4 two-hour meetings)
- June 2, 2023 1-3 pm EDT
- June 16, 2023 1-3 pm EDT
- June 30, 2023 1-3 pm EDT
- July 14, 2023 1-3 pm EDT
Therapists/Direct Service Practitioner Track - $700
Administrators/Organizational Track - $775
- Certificate of Completion through the UMD Prevention Research Center
- 7 CEs (National Association of Social Workers Approval #886841594-9008)
- Being connected to a larger listserv offering more training opportunities and resources
- Invited to CEU workshops and future speaking opportunities from UMD-PRC faculty and researchers
- Continued opportunities to add value to participant's certificate with additional trainings and upgraded and expanded content in the future
Michael Vigorito, LMFT, CGP, CST Sexual Health Training and Consulting Services
Mr. Vigorito is a sexual health psychotherapist, author and consultant. As a District of Columbia licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, he treats clients concerned about their sexual health, including consensual sexual behavior problems, sexual disorders, unconventional erotic interests and sex-drug linked behaviors.
Sean Lare, LCSW-C Transgender Training and Consulting Services
Mr. Lare is a licensed clinical social worker, advocate and consultant with a private practice in Columbia, Maryland. He has 12+ years of experience helping LGBT individuals and their families. Mr. Lare’s areas of specialty include working with transgender andgender non-conforming individuals of all ages, LGB and queer identified teens and adults and their families. Mr. Lare also provides clinical supervision to social workers with a focus on sexuality and gender.