SBIR/STTR Award attributes
ABSTRACT SIMmersion LLCin collaboration with DrsGalupoSchmidtMatsunoBettergarciaHern ndezMastroleoand Kukuckais proposing to develop and evaluate Training Trans Affirmative Communication SkillsTTACSa suite of conversation simulations that provide mental health care providers with experience working with Transgender and gender nonconformingTGNCindividualsThe proposed product utilizes SIMmersion s PeopleSimconversation software that has already been proven to improve clinical skills in a variety of areasThe diverse development teamwhich includes TGNC individuals and people of color at every level of inputincluding Key PersonnelExpert PanelActorsFocus Groupand Community Partnerswill design and create four modules within TTACS that allow mental health care clinicians and clinicians in training to develop genderaffirming communication skills for clients with diverse needsTTACS modules will focus on IntakeTraditional NeedsHigh Risk Needsand Social and Physical Transitionsand the fictional characters in the training will be represented by a diverse group of actors from the trans communityThe proposed TTACS provides an innovative response to the call for training initiatives for implementing the American Psychological AssociationAPAguidelines for trans affirmativeculturally competentand developmentally appropriate care into psychological practice for TGNC peopleDuring Phase I of the fast track researchthe team will evaluate the feasibility of using a PeopleSim training to improve cliniciansskills at meeting the needs of TGNC individualsThe team will create a design plan for the entire TTACS systemAimdevelop the Intake moduleAimconduct a within group pre post knowledge assessment with clinicians in trainingAimaand a focus group discussion with key decision makers and supervisorsAimbSuccess in Phase I will lead directly into Phase II development of the remaining TTACS modulesAimand the development of Standardized Patient Scenarios and checklists for evaluating the skills of clinicians in training working with TGNC clientsAimwhich will be used in a Randomized Controlled TrialAimwithstudents enrolled in clinical and counseling psychology graduate programsThe team plans to begin commercializing TTACSAimto university programsindependent training organizationshealth care centersand professional organizationsstarting with the individuals and organizations that provided letters of supportIf successfulthe proposed research could help reduce the patterns of mistreatmentdiscriminationand physical and mental health disparities TGNC individuals experience when they seek mental health care PROJECT NARRATIVE Transgender and Gender NonconformingTGNCindividuals experience both physical and mental health disparities when compared to their cisgender counterpartsThe skills required to provide gender affirmingculturally competent care require extensive practice with feedbackwhich is difficult to obtainThe proposed research will produce an innovative training tool with the potential to increase learning and retention of knowledgeskillsawarenessand cultural competency among cliniciansthereby benefiting their TGNC clients and reducing the disparities they experience in health care settings
