Ontario Trillium Grow Grant for Gender Journeys

On February 12, 2018 the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R.) welcomed community partners to a press conference announcing new funding for Gender Journeys, a program of C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. providing programming, education and support services for transgender, 2-spirit, gender diverse and individuals who are questioning their gender identity. The Honourable Jeff Leal, MPP for Peterborough was on hand to congratulate C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. and hear more about how Gender Journeys helps to support individuals and their families.

MPP Jeff Leal states, “This is great news for our community and I am pleased that our government through the Ontario Trillium Foundation has partnered with C.M.H.A. Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge to provide funding for this important Gender Journeys program. This program will ensure socially-isolated transgender individuals have the supports they need to be connected and engage themselves throughout the community.”

Transgender and gender diverse individuals experience significant social isolation as a result of complex factors, including stigma, internalized transphobia, discrimination, familial rejection, a lack of adequate supports, limited access to trans-sensitive healthcare and knowledgeable service providers. Transgender individuals experiencing social isolation are at a high risk for depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and other persistent mental illness.

Following our Theory of Change, C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. applied evidence based assumptions to support the program’s three objectives. They are to:

1. Provide meaningful, ongoing peer to peer connections for trans people
2. Support stronger, more resilient family and ally networks
3. Inform community members, service providers and employers to support inclusive, sensitive and identity-affirming environments

The long-term goal of the program and the expected grant result is that transgender individuals are supported to develop ongoing, flourishing social connections through their peers, families, allies, service providers and employers!

Gender Journeys Groups available will be:

• Gender Journeys Core Group
• Youth Gender Journeys
• Beyond Gender Journeys
• Family Support Group
• Partner Support Group

Gender Journeys also offers drop in programming and peer mentoring. Workshops and education for allies will also be available. For more information please see the attached brochure or visit our website: www.cmhahkpr.ca

To access the Gender Journeys Program, interested people can call C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. at 705-748-6711 extension 2100 or email genderjourneys@cmhahkpr.ca. All inquiries are kept confidential.

“The OTF gender journeys GROW grant will build on the successes of the OTF SEED grant received from 2015 to 2017”, states Mark Graham, C.E.O. of C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R.

“We hope to build on reducing social isolation and providing equitable access to primary health care for the transgender community. We would like to thank the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough and Trent University for their support to bridge the gap between the end of the OTF Seed Grant and today’s wonderful announcement.”

An agency of the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation (O.T.F.) is one of Canada’s largest granting foundations. With a budget of over $136 million, O.T.F. awards grants to some 1,000 projects every year to build healthy and vibrant Ontario Communities. www.otf.ca