Centering Gender Affirming Resources in Higher Education

Description

“Centering gender Affirming Resources in higher Education (CARE)” expands upon RAISE’s (R01 AA023260) cluster-randomized controlled trial across 28+ college campuses that is evaluating harm reduction interventions to reduce risk for sexual violence (SV) among undergraduate college students receiving care from college health and counseling centers (CHCs). A previous study by this research team found that students identifying as transgender or gender diverse (TGD) report particularly high lifetime prevalence of SV that is associated with greater odds of binge drinking compared to students not exposed to SV. Compounding these vulnerabilities, TGD students face high rates of discrimination on university campuses that drive heavy alcohol use and SV inequities, and lead to distrust of potential support resources like CHCs. CARE enhances RAISE’s intervention by employing community-partnered methodologies to develop a training for CHC providers designed specifically to increase their competence in addressing TGD students’ health needs with a focus on alcohol use and SV. The training involves a brief e-learning (asynchronous) intervention aimed at improving providers’ knowledge and attitudes about TGD individuals, skills in delivering competent and affirming care, and knowledge of and self-efficacy to use TGD-inclusive practices. This trial will assess the feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, and usability of CARE’s training intervention in 15 randomized CHC sites from the parent study (Aim 1). The study will examine CHC provider knowledge and attitudes about TGD individuals, and their knowledge, self-efficacy, and use of TGD-inclusive practices with follow-up at 4-6 months (Aim 2).