EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BUILDING CAPACITY, EXPANDING YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BEING AWARE*

The Rainbow Resource Centre provides public education, outreach, and private consultation to health care providers, educators (K-12 and post-secondary), students (K-12), social service practitioners, and those in the public and private sectors who wish to build awareness and learn about the issues, challenges and barriers faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and two-spirit children, youth and adults.

The Rainbow Resource Centre offers workshops, presentations, and seminars on a broad range of topics that are adapted to meet the needs of each request. Workshop facilitators are non-judgmental, trained in adult education, and encourage participation and sharing of skills and knowledge.

To book a training session, information booth, or a private consultation, contact the Education Program Coordinator at 204-284-5590 or email education@rainbowresourcecentre.org.

What to expect?

Training sessions on sexual orientation and gender identity include:

• Understanding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression (process, awareness, disclosure)
• Identifying homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexism and its impacts (self, home, school, work environment, etc.) 
• Recognizing personal and professional bias and prejudice
• Addressing issues in health care, health promotion and prevention
• Addressing child, adolescent and generational issues
• Responding appropriately to disclosure by family, educators, service providers, health care practitioners
• How the workplace can be more inclusive and accessible
• How to be a more aware, affirming practitioner
• Issues regarding the Human Rights Act and Charter of Rights and Freedoms

 What are the fees?

Contact the Rainbow Resource Centre for fees. Fees are collected on a cost recovery basis.

What is the Rainbow Resource Centre’s geographic scope?

The Rainbow Resource Centre provides education services throughout Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

What exactly are your training sessions?

Training sessions are created and adapted to meet your objectives and goals. The Rainbow Resource Centre does however offer several training sessions throughout the year. We would be more than happy to notify you when we host a training session. Please forward your contact information to the Education Program Coordinator at education@rainbowresourcecentre.org  or call 204.284.5590.

What are some examples of the training sessions you offer?

Here is a sampling of our training sessions. Feel free to book one of our sessions, or speak to us so we can collaborate on a session.

DIVERSITY TRAINING SESSIONS

LGBTTQ Awareness Training
This training session runs from 1.5 to 3 hours in length. It addresses issues and barriers faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, queer and questioning individuals. We work with participants to identify personal bias and how to be more open and affirming of all people regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

LGBTTQ Ally Training
Upon completing a minimum of 7.5 hours of Ally Training, individuals will receive an Ally card that includes their name, date, and completed hours of Ally Training to display in their workspace. This session is ideal for teachers, school administrators, counselors, therapists and businesspeople who wish to expand their knowledge on the issues.

Creating a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) in Your School 
As more students are feeling comfortable self disclosing their sexual orientation and gender identity (including heterosexual students with LGBTTQ friends and family), many of them are creating groups and clubs for support and programming. Gay/Straight Alliances (GSAs) are becoming more common throughout Canada and the United States. Usually, GSAs are teacher supervised however it is the participants themselves that run the programming.

The Rainbow Resource Centre can speak to your school about:

• Understanding the purpose of a GSA
• Programming, networking and program ideas
• Understanding and identifying homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexism
• Identifying school bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression
• How students can be more inclusive and avoid assumptions
• How students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, can become more open, aware and embracing of social differences
• How to respond to those who are not supportive of GSAs

GENDER IDENTITY AND GENDER VARIANCE TRAINING

The Rainbow Resource Centre addresses issues related to gender variance, gender identity, and gender expression. More specifically, issues relevant to transgender, transsexual, intersex, and all those whose identity and expression does not fit social expectations and stereotypes. The following workshops include understanding diversity and embracing inclusivity through a gender lens. Sessions also include the impact of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexism on gender identity. All gender trainings include:

• Gender identity development
• Issues of disclosure
• Health and safety concerns of trans people
• Adapting and recognizing gender inclusivity (environment, policy, curricula)
• Gender transition process in Manitoba

Gender Variant Students and their Needs in a School Setting
This session is ideal for teachers, guidance counsellors, education assistants, school trustees, educational consultants, and support staff including before and after school staff. This specific session addresses the following:

• Understanding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression
• Recognizing and understanding the impact of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying
• Intersections of sexism, racism, and class
• Recognizing personal bias
• Creating a gender inclusive school environment (environment, policy, curricula)
• Pedagogical approaches in education
• How to be more aware and inclusive of LGBTTQ* issues
• Gender transition process in Manitoba

 Other training gender sessions include:

Gender Identity, Variance and Expression: Generational and Aging (for health care professionals, counsellors and therapists, mental health professionals, in-take and crisis workers, residential and shelter workers)

Transgender and Gender Variant Children: Issues for Professionals (for community health care centres, health care professionals, counsellors and therapists, mental health professionals, in-take and crisis workers, residential and shelter workers, police and corrections staff, administrative support workers)

Transgender and Gender Variant Children: Issues for Parents (for parents, friends, and family members with gender variant and/or transgender children and youth)

Transgender, Gender Variant and Cross Dressers: Passing and Transition Aids (for gender variant and transgender individuals, health care professionals, counsellors, mental health therapists, social workers, teachers, guidance counsellors, sexual health educators)

Health Care and Transitioning: Issues for Transgender and Transsexuals in Manitoba (for transgender individuals, parents, mental health workers, health care professionals, social workers)

Gender Expression and Performance Art (for the general public)

Navigating the Dating Terrain: Issues and Challenges for Gender Variant Trans Individuals (for gender variant and transgender individuals, mental health therapists, social workers, counsellors, dating service industry professionals)

Female to Male Bottom Surgery: Options and Considerations (for those trans identified, health care practitioners, parents and caregivers, social service workers)

OTHER LGBTTQ* ISSUES

The following seminars are tailored to address specific issues that affect sexual and gender minorities. The following is not an exhaustive list. Should you have an inquiry not already listed, please contact the Rainbow Resource Centre.
Gay and Bisexual Men, and Disordered Eating (for community health care centres, health care professionals, counsellors and therapists, mental health professionals, in-take and crisis workers, residential and shelter workers)

Pre Natal Issues and Challenges for Lesbian Mothers (for community health care centres, health care professionals, counsellors and therapists, mental health professionals)

Phobias within the LGBTTQ* Communities: Issues, Policies and Practice (for any organization or business that specifically serves the LGBTT* communities) 

INSURANCE COUNCIL OF MANITOBA SEMINAR

The Rainbow Resource Centre offers seminars to insurance agents and brokers as part of the annual continuing education credit hour requirement.

Course title:  Professional Development: Same Sex and Gender Identity Sensitivity 

Credit hours: 1 (property & casualty) credit hour

This seminar offers sensitivity and customer service training to employees who encounter same-sex couples seeking to purchase insurance, as well as those individuals seeking to amend their sex designation on their driver’s license.

• Understanding and sensitivity will enable providers to provide the highest quality customer service to all clients, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Issues addressed in this Breaking Barriers seminar include:
• Understanding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression
• Understanding the social, emotional impacts of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexism and its effects on customer service delivery
• How staff can appropriately and sensitively deal with clients who identify as either gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or two-spirit

Benefits include:

• Greater staff sensitivity to same-sex couples inquiring or purchasing insurance
• Greater staff sensitivity to those who amend their sex identity on identification
• Greater staff sensitivity to those who may appear androgynous
• A better understanding of the gender reassignment process in Manitoba
• Owners will be able to identify how their business can be made more accessible, respectful, and embracing of social differences
• This seminar is appropriate for:
• Life Insurance Agents
• Accidental & Sickness-only Insurance Agents
• General Insurance Agents and Brokers
• Independent Insurance Adjusters
• Auto-Only Brokers

For more information about educational services, please call the Reece Malone, Education Program Coordinator at 204-284-5590 or email: education@rainbowresourcecentre.org