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PRIDE In All Who Served
Share PrintThe LGBTQ+ Health Education Group was designed and refined using human centered design principles at the Hampton VA Medical Center in 2016. Each one-hour session of the ten-week, manualized, closed group provides an opportunity to connect with other LGBTQ+ Veterans to build a peer support system while improving LGBTQ+ patient health literacy. Connection to social support is a protective factor against suicide, stigma-related stress and other health outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals. The group facilitation manual provides a comprehensive approach to implementation of the service, staff training, and guidance on how to create a welcoming environment. Veteran reactions to the service include: "I can't believe this group is at the VA!", "My life has gotten better by coming", and "I love this group! I feel better talking to my providers."
Origin:
January 2016, Hampton VA Medical Center
Adoptions:
45 successful, 14 in-progress, 2 unsuccessful
Awards and Recognition:
iNET Seed Investee, iNET Spread Investee, Diffusion of Excellence National Diffusion Practice
Partners:
Diffusion of Excellence, VHA Innovators Network
Recent Updates
Overview
Problem
Links
- Information brief about health disparities among LGBT veterans. VA Office of Health Equity (OHE)
Solution
A PRIDE in All Who S ... The PRIDE in All Who Served program was developed to fill this critical care gap and to provide a resource for reducing healthcare disparities, including suicide risk. Session content focuses on overall wellness, increasing social connectedness, and empowering Veterans to engage in services related to their personal healthcare needs.
A PRIDE in All Who Served manual for new group facilitators includes session content, handouts, and strategies for adopting and sustaining the group successfully. See more
Images
- March 2021 VVC Telehealth Strong Practice
- Official blog of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. PRIDE program helps employees better care for LGBTQ+ Veterans
- June 2021 PRIDE In All Who Served Press Release
- Veterans Health Equity: Leave No Veteran Behind PRIDE and TelePRIDE Podcast
- Manuscript published (February, 2022) on outcomes at 10 early adopting PRIDE sites. Full text available by emailing: VAPRIDEinAllWhoServe@va.gov Spreading Pride in All Who Served: A health education program to improve access and mental health outcomes for sexual and gender minority veterans.
- Tomah VA Medical Center's TelePRIDE Pilot Program
Files
Links
Results
- increased protective factors (e.g., community involvement, identity certainty)
- reduced likelihood of attempting suicide in the future
- reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and concern about not being accepted
Images
- Published manuscript on pilot data (FY18) PRIDE In All Who Served: Development, Feasibility, and Initial Efficacy of a Health Education Group for LGBT Veterans
Files
Metrics
- Reach of Program = Improved access to affirmative care services for LGBTQ+ Veterans and rural LGBTQ+ Veterans;
- Effectiveness of Program = Improved identity-related protective factors (e.g., identity acceptance, reduced internalized stigma)
- Effectiveness of Program = Reduced symptoms of distress (e.g., symptoms of depression and anxiety)
- Effectiveness of Program = Reduced suicide risk (e.g., reported likelihood of attempting suicide in the future)
- Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance = Number of VA Facilities and Clinical Resource Hubs Consistently Offering PRIDE in All Who Served
Diffusion tracker
Does not include Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH)
Multimedia
Videos
Implementation
Timeline
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Month One
1. Seek leadership endorsement for participation2. Complete your facility application for inclusion in the next cohort -
Month Two
1. Join weekly implementation cohort calls (Four weeks total) -
Months Three Through Five
1. Partner for three months with the PRIDE National Diffusion Team for implementation support and consultation2. Launch at least one PRIDE Group during these implementation support months3. Document outcomes and report data for evaluation to PRIDE National Diffusion Team4. Graduate from PRIDE National Diffusion Team implementation support -
Sustainment
1. Transfer to the Community of Practice Team.2. Continue reporting to PRIDE National Diffusion Team any time PRIDE Groups are offered at your facility.
Departments
- LGBTQ+ Veteran care
- Whole health
Core Resources
Resource type | Resource description |
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PEOPLE |
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PROCESSES |
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Optional Resources
Resource type | Resource description |
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PEOPLE |
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TOOLS |
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Support Resources
Resource type | Resource description |
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PEOPLE |
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PROCESSES |
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TOOLS |
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Risks and mitigations
Risk | Mitigation |
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LGBTQ+ Veteran risk for suicidal ideation | Pre-Screen appointments to review risk factors, develop safety plan, and refer to appropriate supports |
Increasing LGBTQ+ Veteran health literacy and visibility may increase pressure to improve access to care for this group (e.g., PrEP availability, Endocrinology) | Consultation Calls to assist sites in navigating these situations and developing a coordinated care model within their facility structure |
Facility environment (lack of visibility, community resources, rurality, or provider biases) | Consultation Calls and Site Visit to problem solve local barriers |
Contact
Comment
Comments and replies are disabled for retired innovations and non-VA users.
Email VAPRIDEinAllWhoServe@va.gov with questions about this innovation.
About
Origin story
Original team
Tiffany Lange, PRIDE Program Developer
Implementation & Training Lead (2016-2021)
Heather Sperry
PRIDE Implementation Lead (2021-present)
Michelle M. Hilgeman
PRIDE Evaluation Lead (2017-present)
Michelle Wilcox
PRIDE Implementation Team (2021-present)
Robert J. Cramer
PRIDE Evaluation Team (2017-present)
Courtney Houghton
PRIDE Implementation Team (2021-present)
Teddy Bishop
PRIDE Evaluation Team (2019-present)
Blaine Fitzgerald
PRIDE Diffusion Specialist (2020-present)
What a timely initiative! Much needed for our veterans!❤😊
Good afternoon,
I would like to initiate and lead a "Pride in All Who Served," at our facility. I am at the VA of Western New York in Buffalo. I have read about the purpose of this group and find there is a great need for LGBTQ Veterans at our VA. I need to know how I can get official permission to get this education/support group launched.
I can devote two to three hours per week to lead this gathering, including the consultation session to get started. If anybody can point me in the right direction, please email me at timothy.ward5@va.gov.
Good afternoon. Thank you for your interest and for reaching out to our team on the Marketplace! We plan to launch our next Pride in All Who Served training cohort in October 2021 and will be contacting interested sites soon with next steps! We look forward to partnering with you and the VA Western New York Healthcare System!
The Salt Lake City VA has had great success in implementing "Pride in All Who Served" at our facility. We have received excellent feedback regarding the content of the group manual. The monthly calls are supportive and helpful with the program as well as implementing affirming healthcare overall. I highly recommend it!
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I am the LGBT VCC at a small, rural facility in WI. I was introduced to this project early on and was fortunate to collaborate as an early spread site. This group has been just what our site needed to meet the needs of rural LGBT Veterans who are struggling with limited resources in the community and limited knowledge of VA resources available. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive in terms of finding meaning, validation of identity and sense of belonging and community. Additionally the evaluations and feedback has been invaluable in terms of Veterans engaging both VA and community partners in LGBT Veteran services. This project has also been a catalyst for increasing visibility and dialogue on the importance of meeting the needs of LGBT Veterans. It has also helped in creating buy-in with leadership in terms of prioritizing and highlighting healthcare disparities and addressing those needs head on.
I'm the LGBT VCC at a small rural outpatient clinic and residential rehabilitation center. I would love to bring this to us in VISN 20, Oregon.
Thanks for the comment. We would love to partner with your site to bring PRIDE to rural Oregon! An email thread is started to find a time to connect!
Hi there, I am new to the VA and work in Columbus, OH as the LGBT Care Coordinator. I would like to learn about the program and try to get it adopted in VISN10
Welcome to the VA! Columbus OH has partnered with us in the past. We will follow up by email to connect.
I am not a direct care provider and I work for RCS/Vet Centers. I would like to learn about the program and try to get it adopted in VISN9/TVHS and in 10RCS/Vet Center Program.
We are thrilled you connected with our team through the Diffusion Marketplace! We look forward to continuing the conversations to move toward adoption in VISN9/TVHS and in the 10RCS/Vet Center Program!
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