Improving mental health care for transgender wisconsinites is a partnership of forge, INC., and milwaukee county community access to recovery services

In year one, 150 trans and lesbian/GAY/bisexual/queer individuals and therapists will be trained in how to recognize the signs and symptoms of severe mental illness and apply DE-escalation skills. Additional training audiences will be identified in out years; a total of 950 people will be trained in the five years. Specifically, in year one trans/lgbtq community members will be trained to use DE-escalation skills with peers, to identify the signs and symptoms of serious mental illness, and where trans people with serious mental illnesses can be referred for help. In year one, therapists will also be trained, with an emphasis on increasing their awareness of factors leading to the higher rate of trans mental health issues, including trans-specific adverse childhood experiences and increasing their ability to strategize around trans gatekeeping rules to increase the willingness of trans clients to disclose mental health issues. Additional audiences and objectives will be developed for years 2-5. Additional tasks include creating an ongoing communication channel or mechanism through which professionals can access peer-to-peer advice, information and updates on changes related to trans individuals; and identifying and pursuing at least one opportunity per year to provide more extensive technical assistance to help improve an agency's or system's ability to provide trans competent and trans respectful care.