On June 28, 2022, Sherbourne Health was honoured to welcome the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, to our centre for an announcement of funding dedicated to improving sexual and reproductive health services and resources for LGBTQ2 communities.
After a warm introduction by Hazelle Palmer, President and CEO of Sherbourne Health, Minister Ien shared remarks about the importance of building competent and affirming resources for 2SLGBTQ communities.
“Across the country, people have a hard time accessing the services that they need and accessing those services in a culturally safe and stigma-free way,” said Minister Ien. “But our government has been clear on this: these services and resources should be available to everyone in Canada.”
This funding announcement outlines an investment of more than $5.1 million for four national projects, led by Sherbourne Health, the Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC), the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) and Egale Canada.
In 2021, the federal budget committed $45 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to improve access to a full range of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care support, information and services for people in Canada who face the greatest barriers to access. Health Canada’s Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Fund was created to support a wide range of evidence-informed and innovative projects for people in Canada who are at increased risk for poorer SRH outcomes, such as 2SLGBTQ individuals, Indigenous and racialized people, women and youth.
Sherbourne Health’s project, Improving the Quality and Access of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare for LGBT2SQ Canadians, has been funded with $569,443, until March 2024. Through Rainbow Health Ontario, a program of Sherbourne Health, we will develop, pilot, and promote peer-reviewed and evidence-based education, training, and resources for health care providers about sexual and reproductive health considerations for 2SLGBTQ people. The project will focus in areas such as family planning, pregnancy considerations, parenthood, postpartum and newborn care, as well as general sexual health and wellness for 2SLGBTQ people. With these resources, health care providers will be able to provide safe and accurate information to their 2SLGBTQ clients to create sustainable and systemic change in Canada.
Other organizations and projects include:
- Community Health Leadership for 2SLGBTQ+ Sexual and Reproductive Health
CBRC
Funding: $2,856,327 until March 2024
- Not Just the Tip
CCGSD
Funding: $1,090,624 until March 2024
- Online Intersex Community Hub: Medical Practitioner Education and Intersex Peer Support Network
Egale Canada
Funding: $584,941 until March 2024