News and Stories

March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility, a time to celebrate transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people around the world. At CareOregon, we celebrate, and acknowledge the courage it takes to live openly and genuinely.

It’s a great time to call attention to the great work being done by our partners at the Cascade AIDS Project (CAP). Last year, through a CareOregon grant, CAP was able to create a position specifically focused on the unique needs of trans people. The RN Gender Care Coordinator position was added to the Gender-Affirming Care program at Prism Health in October 2020.

The RN Gender Care Coordinator position

Initially, the plan was to hire a Transgender Services Navigator. But after reassessing the increased challenges transgender patients face, CAP realized that this community would be better served by a Registered Nurse (RN). The decision was made to change the job title to RN Gender Care Coordinator. The purpose of the role remains the same as initially planned. With an RN, patients receive care from someone with more experience in medicine and handling multiple duties.

The RN Gender Care Coordinator has, in many cases, been the single source of social support for some patients. As described on Prism’s website, “the RN Gender Care Coordinator seeks to not only assist individual patients in achieving their gender health goals, but they also work to identify and address larger system level disparities.”

About Prism Health’s Gender-Affirming Care Program

The RN Gender Care Coordinator was hired in October of 2020. Prism Health’s Gender Care program has evolved since this hiring and has proven itself impactful on the lives of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming patients.

Unlike cisgender (non-transgender) patients, Gender-Affirming Care navigates the health and social needs that come with being part of intersecting identities that experience oppression. This includes assistance with essential housing, transportation and food security, along with:

• hormone therapy, education, and management

• referrals to gender-affirming surgeries
• STI screenings

• coordination of care, including outside of Prism’s facility
• comprehensive follow-up care
• and more

You can learn more about their program on the Gender-Affirming Care page of their website.

The CareOregon Effect

“Transgender and non-binary people face significant cultural, legal and economic challenges, but continue to bravely share their stories, boldly claim their seats at the table and tirelessly push equality forward.” says Alphonso David, President of the Human Rights Campaign.

He is right. Last year, CareOregon granted Cascade AIDS Project the funds that helped create the RN Gender Care Coordinator position at Prism Health. This investment has helped bolster their Gender-Affirming Care program by providing patients with even more resources in place to anticipate the challenges  faced.

As an organization, our mission is to inspire and partner to create quality and equity in individual and community health. We strive to build a better world, one of equity, inclusion and diversity for everyone, every day, including our own talented staff.

When our community is stronger, we are all stronger. That’s what we call The CareOregon Effect.

If you have questions regarding gender-affirming care at Prism Health, please contact their RN Gender Care Coordinator, Lindsey Sipos, at info@prismhealth.org.

For more information about the Cascade AIDS Project, visit their website at https://www.capnw.org/our-story

Are you a transgender, non-binary or gender non-conforming person looking for employment? Come join the team at CareOregon. You can find our latest job openings at https://careoregon.org/careers