This week, First Lady of NYC Chirlane McCray announced the Unity Project, a new city-wide coordination focused on the needs of NYC’s LGBTQ youth. This project is the latest in a series of initiatives in NYC that aim to make life healthier and happier for LGBTQ New Yorkers. In March, The Fenway Institute partnered with the NYC Health + Hospitals system to lead an innovative training project on delivering quality, cost-effective health care for the city’s LGBTQ population. This importance of this partnership was highlighted by the NYC Mayor’s Office during its Unity Project announcement.
“NYC Health + Hospitals has been partnering with Fenway Health to have two training initiatives focused on advancing LGBTQ health services to support professionals who provide information and resources and health services – clinical and gender-affirming – to the LGBT community,” explained Matilde Roman, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals, during the Unity Project press conference. “That is an enhancement of our curriculum to build culturally responsive care to all New Yorkers. The other initiative is focused on the transgender youth community, providing clinical care services as well as transition services for transgender and gender non-conforming youth.”
The training project’s goal is to see at least 500 health care providers across New York City complete the pilot training program and become certified in LGBTQ cultural competency this year, with plans to eventually train all NYC Health + Hospitals providers.
“It’s so important to be able to get medical care from a doctor you feel comfortable with, and who is sensitive to who you are and knows how to treat you with dignity and respect,” said First Lady McCray. “When people don’t seek care for their medical needs, it affects all of who they are, so we’re really proud of this project.”