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Clinical Track
Knowledge and Skills Building Workshops
J. Jessie Cohen, LCSW
Director of Community based Clinical Services and Training, Child and Adolescent Gender Center
University of California at San Francisco
UCSF CAGC
Nothing to disclose
The field of gender care continues to expand to serve children and youth while they still remain in caregiving systems (out of home placement or in home parental / caregiver homes). This presentation aims to specifically address how to work with families or systems workers that are skeptical or resistant to the youth's affirmed identity or needs and are turning to the concept of "rapid onset gender dysphoria" or "ROGD" as a rationale to withhold gender affirming treatments. The largest subgroup the concept is focused on are later out youth, those whereby the families feel "there were no signs of this" and "it's a trend or fad" that will "certainly lead to regret" "it is child abuse to allow a teen to have medicines or surgery" . The language of "ROGD" is dangerous and stands to harm youth who are relying on adults who have determined their child is experiencing "ROGD" . The workshop will offer reflection on case examples highlighting the intersections of the gender affirmative care model, adolescent development, family systems approaches to care, trauma healing and anti-bias practice models. Here at these intersections families have the best opportunity to increase their understanding and support of their gender expansive youth.