The GLBT Health Access Project : a state-funded effort to improve access to care

M. Clark, S. Landers, R. Linde, J. Sperber

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Health Access Project is a unique public-private collaboration working to eliminate barriers to health care for the GLBT community, foster development of comprehensive, culturally appropriate health promotion policies and health care services for GLBT people and their families, and expand appropriate data collection on GLBT health. Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the project developed community standards of practice for provision of quality health care services to GLBT clients. A health access training curriculum was developed and technical assistance was offered to health care providers implementing the standards, which cover personnel, clients' rights, intake and assessment, service delivery and planning, confidentiality, and community outreach and health promotion. Training participants (324 individuals from 89 agencies) reported positive though not statistically significant changes in attitude.