All major events and registration will be in the Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted, on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus. Parking is available across the street. This document is available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file if you prefer to read and/or print it in that format (Adobe Acrobat Reader).
8:00 - 9:00 am Conference Registration and Continental Breakfast
Registration will take place outside the Inner Circle on the second floor (by the escalator going up to the third floor.
9:00 - 9:30 am Welcome Address: (Illinois Room)
Featuring invited speakers Susan Wood, Ph.D. (Deputy Director, U.S. Public Health Service's Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services); Steven R. Potsic, M.D.,M.P.H. (Regional Health Administrator, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Region V); Sheila Lyne, R.S.M. (Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health); Sharon Green, M.S. (Deputy Director of Women's Health, Illinois Department of Public Health); Sheila Lyne, RSM, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health; Rosalie Sagraves, PharmD, Dean of the UIC College of Pharmacy; and Michelle Hoersch, M.S. (M.S. Director, U.S. Public Health Service's Office on Women's Health - Region V).
MC: Mary Morten, Director of the Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues.
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Keynote Address: Overview of Lesbian Health Research, including an Historial Perspective and Update on the Recent Institute of Medicine Meeting. (Illinois Room)
Judy Bradford, PhD., Director of Survey Research Laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University; member of the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Lesbian Health Priorities
10:30 -10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Opening Plenary Panel: (Illinois Room)
Barriers To Care for All: How Do We Secure Quality Care for the Diverse Lesbian Community?
Moderator: Counseling.
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch/Keynote (Illinois Room)
Box lunches will be distributed in the Vendor Fair area)
Keynote: Lesbian Adolescents: Practice, Policy and Research
Caitlyn Ryan, MSW, ACSW. Author, Lesbian and Gay Youth: Care and Counseling
1:45 - 3:00 pm Concurrent Sessions I
Panel on Barriers to Care and Issues of Access
This panel of regional experts in lesbian health will address the multiple factors that may present barriers to receiving health care for the lesbian patient. Joanne Hall, PhD, RN, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Roberta Cassidy, MS, RN, University of Illinois at Chicago; Nicole S.Kramer, Ohio State University Women Studies Department.
Lesbians' Experiences Regarding Mammography Utilization
Sarita Karon PhD, University of Wisconsin, will present results from a study of Midwestern lesbians, exploring barriers to mammography, reasons for obtaining mammography, and strategies to improve mammography utilization by lesbians.
Providing Services to Adolescent Lesbians
This workshop is geared for providers of health services who are interested in learning how to become more youth friendly as well as more lesbian youth friendly. Laura McAlpine, LCSW, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health; Elizabeth Huesemann, LCSW, Horizons Community Services; Sandy McNabb, Medical Director, Chicago Women's Health Center.
Legal Issues for Lesbian Families
This workshop, delivered by Heather Sawyer, JD, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and Rosemary Mulryan, JD will explore the legal issues and protections that exist for lesbian families, in their broad constructs.
Internalized Homophobia: Part 1
This extended session workshop will provide and interactive and experiential examination of internalized oppression and it's effects on the lives of lesbians. Presented by Jeanette C. Zweifel, EdD and Deb Wilke, Family Counseling Services of Aurora.
Bisexual Women's Health Issues
This workshop will explore the inclusion of bisexual women in the lesbian community, addressing psychosocial and health concerns. Sarah Senseman, Laura Hawkins, MSW, Howard Brown Health Center
Health Issues Facing Transgendered Lesbians
This panel presentation will explore the specific health and psychosocial issues facing transgendered members of the lesbian community, from both a community activist and research perspective. Lorrainne Sade Baskerville, BSW; Choices Counseling Associates; Gretchen Kenagy, PhD
Panel on Lesbian Health Research
This panel of researchers will address methodological and theoretical challenges to researching the lesbian population and the climate in which lesbian health is addressed. Lindsay Rossano, MPH, Columbia University School of Public Health; Suzanne Brunner, PhDc, RN, University of Maine School of Nursing; Laura A. Szalacha, PhD, Boston University.
3:00 - 3:15 pm Break
3:30 - 5:00 pm Concurrent Sessions II
Domestic Violence
This panel will increase knowledge and awareness of domestic violence in lesbian relationships. Carolina Bono and Mary Howard, MA LCPC, TIA/Chicago Connection; Toni Carrigan, Director Horizons Community Services Anti-Violence Project; Daphne Glanton, Supervisor, Women's Program.
HIV Prevention for Lesbians and Bisexual Women
This presentation will discuss the results of a paticipatory action research project concerning HIV prevention for lesbians and bisexual women. Patricia Stevens, PhD, RN and JoAnn Hall, PhD, RN, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Internalized Homophobia: Part 2
This extended session workshop will provide and interactive and experiential examination of internalized oppression and it's effects on the lives of lesbians. Presented by Jeanette C. Zweifel, EdD and Deb Wilke, Family Counseling Services of Aurora
Hepatitis in African American Lesbians: The new ABCs
This workshop will examine the prevalence of STDs among African Amercian lesbians, addressing issues of transmission, public awareness, and prevention. Donna Weems, Network for Gay and Lesbian Concerns for Occupational Therapy.
Working With Lesbian Survivors of Sexual Abuse
This workshop will address issues of shame in the lives and identities of lesbians who have survived childhood sexual abuse, with specific clinical considerations. Theo Pintzuk, MSW, Howard Brown Health Center
Leather/BDSM in the Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered Women's Community
This panel presentation will address issues of sexual health and safety among lesbians, and sexual issues for women living with disabilities. Judith Routh, Executive Director of Access Living; Tonia Poteat, Callan-Lourde Community Health Center.
Self-Image Workshop
Using art-therapy, this workshop will explore the integration of self and sexual identity. Harriet Wadeson, PhP, ATR-BC, HLM.
Creating and Expanding the Lesbian Family
This presentation will discuss research concerning the lesbian stepfamily, including tasks and stages faced in becoming a family, strengths and challenges, and strategies for successful family functioning. Jean Lynch, PhD
Is Menopause Different for Lesbians?
This presentation will provide a holistic perspective on both natural and surgical menopause and the changes that women experience around the time of menopause. Three types of management will be explored: minimal or no therapy, natural remedies, and hormone replacement Linda Bernhard, PhD, RN, College of Nursing and Department of Women's Studies, Ohio State University
Alcohol Use and Mental Health Among Lesbians
This workshop will present original research on the intersecting issues of substance use, sexual harrassment, and mental health among lesbians. Stephanie Nawyn, Loyola University; Tonda Hughes PhD, RN, University of Illinois at Chicago.
5:30 - 6:30 pm Lesbian Health Roundtable: Developing Community Public and Private Partnerships (Illinois Room)
This roundtable discussion will provide an interactive, problem-solving forum to address the development of public health - community - private partnerships in lesbian health. Moderated by Judy Bradford.
6:30 - 8:30 pm Networking Reception (Vendor Fair)
8:00 - 9:00 am Registration and Continental Breakfast
Registration will take place outside the Inner Circle on the second floor (by the escalator going up to the third floor.
9:00 - 10:30 am Keynote Address: Beyond the Insitution of Medicience: Creating Community-based Epidemiology (Illinois Room)
This address will explore issues of community organizing for the lesbian health movement - Marj Plumb, Founding member of the DC-based Lesbian Health Advocacy Network, former Policy Associate for the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.
10:40 am - noon Concurrent Sessions III
Protecting Healthcare Access from Homophobia
A lesbian discusses her experience as a survivor of domestic violence. This is an interactive discussion. Carrol Smith; Toni Carrigan, Dirctor, Horizons Antiviolence Project.
Spirituality, Religious Institutions and Health
This workshop will examine the role of religious institutions as deliverers of health care to lesbians. Elizabeth Goudy, MDiv.
Panel on Models of Care to Address Lesbian Issues in Health Care Setting
This panel of health and social service professionals will describe successful models of care for lesbian across the lifespan, and challenges faced to implement and institutionalize these models of care; Sarah Bortt, Women's Health Education Project; Janette Bowers, BSN; Annetta Wilson, Illinois Coalition for Adolescent Health.
Lesbian Experiences with Physicians
This workshop will present a qualitative research project designed to improve the provider-patient relationship. Rebecca Williams,MD, Clinical Family Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Using Media As An Organizing Tool
This panel of media professionals will describe the use of mainstream and alternative media as tools for lesbian health organizing. Diane Goodwin, Howard Brown Health Center; Martha Irvine, Associated Press; Terry Wilson, Chicago Tribune; Jackie Northam, WBEZ Radio/FM 91.5; Debbie Howlett, USA Today
Creating Lesbian Health Networks
This health care professional will describe the successful creation of a lesbian health provider network and its potential to influence health care delivery. Renee Lohman, MBA, Washington Behavioral Health Care
Lesbian Health Fairs
This workshop will describe the origin and implementation of the Lesbian Health Fair project, sponsored by the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation. Workshop participants will receive assistance to translate outreach and implementation tools to their own communities. Susan Scott, President, Lesbian Health Initiative.
Building Bridges: Mentorship of Lesbian Youth
This workshop will focus on the clear need to create lasting positive affirming and supportive relationships with our young people. The workshop will give a "how to" for the development of local frameworks. Diane Rae Kavanaugh, Youth Program Coordinator, Affirmations Community Center
Providing Lesbian Health Services in a Rural Community
Providing lesbian health services in a rural area presents unique opportunities and challenges. This session will present the history and activities of the Lesbian Health Project of the Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center in Bangor, Maine. Suzanne Brunner, PhDc, RN, Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center, University of Maine School of Nursing
Focus on Lesbian Health, A Grassroots Approach
This panel will explore the challenges and successes of grassroots organizing to promote networks supportive of lesbian health. Lisa Dillenberg, Kari Sievert, Co-chairs of Lesbian Health Issues Task Force of Dane County; Jane Vanderbosch, PhD; Sara Karon, University of Wisconsin; Arlene Zaudia; Vicky DoProva, Executive Director, Lesbian Community Cancer Project.
Compulsive Eating and Lesbian Relationships
This workshop will provide information on the nature of compulsive eating, demonstrating differences between eating disorders and other eating problems. The presentation will link communication, sexual relationships, work practices, emotional and physical well-being, financial and social stressors in lesbian relationships with eating problems. Joan Ebbitt, LCSW
Noon - 1:30 pm Lunch Session: (Illinois Room)
Box lunches will be distributed in the Vendor Fair area)
Keynote: Alcohol Use and Sexual Identity: The Challenge of Ascertaining Lesbian's risk Status
Tonda Hughes, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Administrative Nursing, and Faculty Affiliate of the Center for Research on Women and Gender, both at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Historically, lesbians as a group have been largely ignored in women's health research and lesbians remain mostly invisible in the substance abuse research and clinical arenas. The gap remains despite cliams in the literature that lesbians are at high risk for alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Until recently, little attention has been given to the limitations of these studies, including, small, nonrepresentative samples, lack of control and comparison groups, and inconsistent or absent definitions of sexual identity. In this presentation, Dr. Hughes will summarize some of the findings related to alcohol use from a recent study of lesbians and heterosexual women in Chicago and discuss some ofhte methods used to address the challenges faced when conducting research on lesbian health.
1:30 - 3:00 pm Concurrent Educational Sessions IV:
Let's Talk About Sex
A workshop on HIV risk-reduction for women who have sex with women. Tonia Poteat, Callan-Lourde Community Health Center.
What Every Lesbian Needs to Know about Her Menstrual Cycle
This workshop will walk participatns through the changes of the menstrual cycle from adolescence through menopause. Trish Beckman, R.N..
Alternative Insemination
This workshop will explore, from a feminist, collective model of health care, building and delivering alternative insemination services to lesbians. Sandy McNabb, Medical Director and Terri Kapsalis, PhD, Healthworker, Chicago Women's Health Center
Building a Lesbian Health Data Base
This presentation will explore original survey research on lesbian health. Alice Dan, PhD., Center for Research on Women and Gender, University of Illinois at Chicago; Tonda Hughes, PhD, RN, University of Illinois at Chicago and Andrea Densham, MA, University of Illinois at Chicago, Lesbian Community Cancer Project
Youth Talking for Themselves: The current experiences of lesbian/bi/trans young people
This panel will consist of young people from Illinois, North Carolina, and the Lambda Youth Network. Moderator: Laura McAlpine, LCSW, Policy Director, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health; Horizons Community Services
High Risk Populations of Women Who Have Sex With Women
This panel presentation will examine research and prevention work with women who have sex with women who are also involved in commercial sex work, injection drug use, and incarcerated communities. Carrol A M Smith, RN, MS, University of Illinois at Chicago; Lisa Tuttle, MPH; Brie Dean, MAC, Howard Brown Health Center
3:15 - 4:45 pm Building A Regional Resource Action Plan
4:45 - 5:00 pm Closing (facilitated by Mary Morton)
