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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Synchronicity
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T104500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T121500
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20260121T133929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260304T140656Z
UID:10000219-1774003500-1774008900@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Developing ScreenWell\, an Mhealth Tool for Targeted HIV PrEP Education and Linkage to Care in Pediatric Emergency Departments
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/developing-screenwell-an-mhealth-tool-for-targeted-hiv-prep-education-and-linkage-to-care-in-pediatric-emergency-departments/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Power of Prevention,Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-HIVPrevention.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T104500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260320T121500
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20260120T192427Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260306T182313Z
UID:10000206-1774003500-1774008900@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Serving with Intention: A Sisterhood Built in Meaningful Involvement
DESCRIPTION:Racial inequities in HIV incidence and outcomes continue to disproportionately impact Black women (Ojikutu & Landers\, 2025). Among the diaspora\, African-born women represent nearly twice of U.S. born Black individuals with HIV (Nnaji & Ojikutu\, 2022)\, highlighting the need for culturally responsive strategies. \nThis session will showcase how AIDS United’s Melanated Movement Fund grantees are responding to the needs of aging Black women across the diaspora by implementing innovative stigma-reductive and community-engagement approaches in two distinct communities. \nThe AIDS Outreach Center’s Hey Sis! campaign in Tarrant County\, Texas\, uses culturally tailored messaging to promote PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) awareness among Black cisgender and transgender women. The Multicultural AIDS Coalition’s African Sisterhood Empowerment (ASHE) initiative builds a peer-to-peer network that uplifts African-born women through leadership development\, advocacy training\, and collective storytelling. Together\, these models demonstrate how relationship-building\, cultural relevance\, and centering Black women’s voices can drive innovation in HIV prevention and care.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/serving-with-intention-a-sisterhood-built-in-meaningful-involvement/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Power of Prevention,Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-HIVPrevention.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T173000
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20260120T185411Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T173057Z
UID:10000190-1773936000-1773941400@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:From Position Paper to Advocacy: The Kentucky Nurses Association LGBTQ+ SNIPg (Special Nursing Interest Practice Group): Leadership Through Advocacy
DESCRIPTION:As a nation\, we had made great strides in protecting the basic rights of LGBTQ+ persons including their access to appropriate\, quality care. For Kentucky LGBTQ+ persons\, the passage of Kentucky SB 150 in 2023\, progressively began the stripping away of these rights thus putting their well-being and even their lives at risk. Over 70% of LGBTQ+ persons report discrimination when seeking healthcare. Over 50% who do not seek healthcare\, it is due to the fear of discrimination. In 2025\, over 550 bills nationwide have been introduced targeting the LGBTQ+ community. They have confirmed they no longer feel safe\, heard\, or cared for. Forming a LGBTQ+ SNIPg answered the call put before us by our Code of Ethics and statements by our professional organizations. \nFollowing Provisions 1\, 6\, and 9 of the 2025 Code of Ethics for Nurses\, we are bound to practice with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity\, worth\, and unique attributes of everyone in our care. We must ensure a safe and ethical work environment. We must articulate nursing values\, maintain the integrity of the profession\, and integrate principles of social justice into nursing and health policy. As leaders\, we moved from position papers to advocacy and practice. We are breaking barriers caused by fear\, often due to lack of education and understanding. This leads to an explicit bias of care. Our advocacy leaves the LGBTQ+ community valued\, supported\, and cared for in all aspects of their life!
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/from-position-paper-to-advocacy-the-kentucky-nurses-association-lgbtq-snipg-special-nursing-interest-practice-group-leadership-through-advocacy/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-LGBTQHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T173000
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20260120T185131Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T134206Z
UID:10000189-1773936000-1773941400@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Enhancing Service Delivery by Improving Referral Completion Rates for SDOH Needs
DESCRIPTION:Closing the loop on Social Determinants of Health ensures that referrals to supportive services such as housing\, food and mental health are not only initiated but also completed\, tracked\, and resolved\, This approach strengthens care coordination\, reduces barriers to retention\, and promotes health equity by addressing non-medical factors that impact overall well being.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/enhancing-service-delivery-by-improving-referral-completion-rates-for-sdoh-needs/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-LGBTQHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T173000
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20260120T165811Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T172410Z
UID:10000163-1773936000-1773941400@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:From Harm Reduction to Gender Joy: Advancing LGBTQ Health Equity Through Affirming Care for Transgender Youth
DESCRIPTION:Gender-affirming care (GAC) lies at the heart of LGBTQ health equity\, reflecting the compassion\, collaboration\, and innovation central to SYNC’s theme\, Forward in SYNChronicity. Too often reduced to policy debate\, GAC is a transformative public health practice that promotes gender euphoria\, belonging\, and resilience. When social and medical supports align with an individual’s affirmed gender identity and expression\, transgender and gender-diverse youth experience measurable improvements in mental health and overall quality of life. \nUsing Oregon’s All-Payer All-Claims dataset (2016–2023)\, this analysis examines GAC utilization among transgender and gender-diverse adolescents\, identifying disparities by insurance type\, age\, and sex assigned at birth—even within one of the nation’s most affirming policy environments. Quantitative findings are contextualized with lived experience: the journey of raising a ten-year-old transgender son\, illustrating\, through narrative and video excerpts\, how timely\, evidence-based\, and affirming care fosters gender euphoria\, confidence\, safety\, and family cohesion. \nResults show that privately insured adolescents are significantly more likely to access GAC than those with public insurance. Youth assigned female at birth and older adolescents receive care at higher rates than younger peers or those assigned male at birth. These disparities persist even as Oregon’s longstanding protections face potential rollback\, highlighting the urgency of safeguarding access. \nTogether\, the data and lived experience affirm that equitable\, affirming care is essential to youth mental health\, family resilience\, and community well-being. Centering gender joy and euphoria reframes GAC not merely as harm reduction but as a vital investment in LGBTQ health equity and human flourishing.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/from-harm-reduction-to-gender-joy-advancing-lgbtq-health-equity-through-affirming-care-for-transgender-youth/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-LGBTQHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T173000
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20260120T165356Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260306T181841Z
UID:10000161-1773936000-1773941400@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Project GROWTH: A Culturally Responsive Workforce Development Program for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth Experiencing Homelessness in Washington\, DC
DESCRIPTION:Project GROWTH is a culturally grounded wraparound workforce development program implemented by Us Helping Us\, People Into Living Inc. It serves transgender\, non-binary\, and gender non-conforming (TGNC) youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Washington\, DC. Developed in response to structural barriers TGNC youth face in accessing employment and support services\, which can lead to engagement in transactional sex\, the 12-month program offers job readiness training\, subsidized and unsubsidized work experiences\, occupational certifications\, and personalized case management. \nSince its launch in September 2020\, Project GROWTH has trained and supported three cohorts of TGNC youth\, with 21 fellows completing the program. Fellows participate in monthly one-on-one check-ins\, professional development\, and skill-building workshops led by TGNC professionals. Wraparound services include housing navigation\, mental health counseling\, and career coaching. The most recent cohort completed job readiness and occupational training\, received part-time employment\, and are being considered for internal positions at Us Helping Us. Previous fellows have secured jobs aligned with their interests. \nThis first-of-its-kind program’s iterative design addresses the cultural\, economic\, health\, and emotional needs of TGNC youth\, particularly those facing persistent joblessness and homelessness. Strategic partnerships and intentional community engagement\, such as Pride events and the Trans Visibility March\, help expand fellows’ networks and strengthen community bonds. This presentation will share key outcomes\, implementation strategies\, lessons learned\, and future adaptations aimed at reducing barriers and promoting employment equity for TGNC youth. Us Helping Us is also exploring opportunities to expand the program and its impact.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/project-growth-a-culturally-responsive-workforce-development-program-for-transgender-and-gender-non-conforming-youth-experiencing-homelessness-in-washington-dc/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-LGBTQHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T141500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T154500
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20260120T184449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T202705Z
UID:10000186-1773929700-1773935100@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Empowering Health Professionals to Advocate for Gender-Affirming Care: A Multi-Level Approach
DESCRIPTION:This session will train health professionals to become effective advocates for gender-affirming care at the institutional\, state\, and federal levels. Amid growing legislative\, administrative\, and regulatory challenges to transgender health care\, health professionals have a unique role and responsibility to advocate for inclusive\, evidence-based policies. This session will provide participants with actionable tools to address barriers to care\, counter misinformation\, and build coalitions to support gender-affirming care access. \nSkills Addressed: \n\nFraming messages to counter opposition to gender-affirming care.\nNavigating legislative processes to advocate for inclusive healthcare policies.\nBuilding partnerships with policymakers\, organizations\, and community advocates to advance transgender health equity.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/empowering-health-professionals-to-advocate-for-gender-affirming-care-a-multi-level-approach/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-LGBTQHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T141500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T154500
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20260120T184310Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T202648Z
UID:10000185-1773929700-1773935100@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Deconstructing Intersectional Trauma: Empowering Black LGBTQIA+ Men in Therapy and Behavioral Health Services
DESCRIPTION:Black LGBTQIA+ men exist at the intersection of various forms of oppression\, often enduring compounded trauma that begins in childhood and extends into adulthood. Behavioral and mental health professionals frequently assist clients in navigating the lasting effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)\, toxic stress\, homophobia\, racism\, violence\, substance addiction\, and rejection. Such adverse experiences often lead to chronic mental health issues\, including anxiety\, depression\, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)\, and increased vulnerability to substance use and sexual health risks. \nThis presentation offers a clinical and social work-centered approach to addressing the mental health needs of Black LGBTQIA+ men through trauma-informed\, culturally responsive\, and identity-affirming strategies. This session will explore how toxic stress stemming from early-life adversity impacts emotional regulation\, relationship-building\, and self-worth. Special emphasis will be placed on how systemic oppression\, societal stigma\, and the lack of culturally competent mental health services heighten these challenges. \nDrawing on clinical casework and evidence-based practices\, this session will highlight therapeutic methods that integrate narrative therapy\, somatic practices\, and harm reduction. It will also emphasize the importance of including discussions about sexual health\, HIV stigma\, and coping through substance use in the therapeutic process without judgment or shame. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to create safer therapeutic environments and improve their ability to support Black LGBTQIA+ men with dignity\, cultural humility\, compassion\, and pride.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/deconstructing-intersectional-trauma-empowering-black-lgbtqia-men-in-therapy-and-behavioral-health-services/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-LGBTQHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T141500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T154500
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20260120T173953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T202633Z
UID:10000181-1773929700-1773935100@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Affirming\, Inclusive Reproductive Healthcare for LGBTQ+ Populations
DESCRIPTION:While reproductive health is a central aspect of overall health and well-being\, cultural assumptions and biases at various level of health systems can impact the quality of care for marginalized populations. LGBTQ+ clients in particular often find themselves navigating health systems that seem to assume heterosexuality and cisgender identity. This workshop explores the diverse reproductive healthcare needs of LGBTQ+ people\, and how health systems can better meet those needs. This session includes an overview of LGBTQ+ reproductive health disparities\, systemic barriers faced by LGBTQ+ clients navigating reproductive health services\, and actionable steps organizations and providers can take to provide affirming\, inclusive care.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/affirming-inclusive-reproductive-healthcare-for-lgbtq-populations/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Track Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TrackHero-LGBTQHealth.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T104500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T121500
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20260302T150130Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T150130Z
UID:10000228-1773917100-1773922500@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:From Policy to Practice: Defending and Advancing LGBTQ+ Health in California
DESCRIPTION:This special session will: Identify key challenges and political pressures affecting LGBTQ+ health services in California\, and examine how healthcare leaders are navigating institutional and regulatory constraints; Analyze real-world strategies and best practices used by health systems and community organizations to protect\, sustain\, and advance LGBTQ+ affirming care across clinical\, educational\, and operational settings; and Apply lessons learned from diverse institutional contexts to strengthen participants’ own approaches to advocacy\, policy implementation\, and adaptive leadership in support of LGBTQ+ health.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/from-policy-to-practice-defending-and-advancing-lgbtq-health-in-california/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Special Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T170000
DTSTAMP:20260408T074645
CREATED:20250718T133734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T181744Z
UID:10000065-1773838800-1773853200@syncconference.org
SUMMARY:Elevating the PrEP Navigation Workforce through Certification
DESCRIPTION:HIV Prevention Navigation Institute\nWhile disparities in PrEP uptake and need persist and PrEP demand remains high\, experienced PrEP navigation staff are key to realizing the benefits of PrEP. \nThis institute equips participants with the practical knowledge\, communication strategies\, and clinical context needed to guide individuals through their PrEP journey. Through a 2.5-hour interactive training\, participants will explore person-centered navigation approaches\, review current PrEP guidelines and data\, and learn to address barriers to PrEP use with clarity\, empathy\, and cultural humility. The institute emphasizes real-world application across diverse care settings\, including clinics\, pharmacies\, community health centers\, and outreach programs. Participants will earn their HIV PrEP navigation certification – demonstrating their expertise and commitment to advancing HIV prevention – and be included in HealthHIV’s national online directory of HIVPNCs. \nLearning Objectives: \n\nDescribe the barriers patients face to initiating and adhering to PrEP.\nIdentify how providers and PrEP navigation staff can address adherence challenges through the health system.\nSummarize best practices for guiding patients to access PrEP medication\, labs and clinic visits.\nEstablish safe spaces\, deliver client-centered\, culturally sensitive services and culturally- and linguistically-sensitive communication to help patients navigate the PrEP care continuum.
URL:https://syncconference.org/agenda/elevating-the-prep-navigation-workforce-through-certification/
LOCATION:Potomac A
CATEGORIES:Institute,Power of Prevention
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://syncconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Institute-HIVPNC.jpg
END:VEVENT
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