High praise for a local clinic, focusing on supporting transgender youth.
The Alliance for Healthier Communities has presented Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex Community Health Centres with its Transformative Change Award for the southwestern Ontario Youth Gender Diversity Clinic.
Officials say the clinic is an example of the Community Health Centres’ commitment and action in “transforming care for people facing inequities, mitigating access to care barriers as evidenced by initiating services based on identified needs.”
Dr. Ian Johnston accepted the award on behalf of the local Community Health Centres at the Alliance for Healthier Communities Conference and Gala in Toronto last week.
“Our clinic provides community-based care to a group that has struggled to access services,” Dr. Johnston said. “It’s an honour to be recognized for this work by the Alliance for Healthier Communities. The award highlights the importance of providing accessible care to our gender-diverse youth.”
Since the inception of the clinic in September 2021, Dr. Johnston has supported 60 clients from Chatham-Kent.
Services offered at the Youth Gender Diversity Clinics include assessment and diagnosis of gender dysphoria, managing comorbid mental health conditions, initiating hormone blockers and affirming hormone therapy, prescribing hormones or blockers, and monitoring treatment.
The program is available to those aged 18 and younger, with services available at CHC sites in Chatham, Wallaceburg, Walpole Island, and Windsor.