By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

The Lesbian Community Care Project last week launched its free online curriculum, “Going Beyond Nice,” a cultural competency course that educates healthcare providers on lesbian, bisexual and transgender health concerns. 

The online curriculum is intended for doctors, nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals to access specialized information and training about LBT medical needs and concerns, according to Catherine Jefcoat, director of LCCP at Howard Brown.

“This is an excellent way for healthcare providers to learn appropriate ways to interact with lesbians, bisexual women and transgender individuals, providing them with the best care and information available,” said Jefcoat.

“Although LCCP and Howard Brown provide free cancer screenings to uninsured women, we realize that not everyone can travel to us,” said Michael Cook, president and CEO of Howard Brown Health Center. ”With this online curriculum, healthcare providers will be better able to serve LBT women who come for care, and more woman in Illinois will have access to the best care possible.”

Since 2003, LCCP has trained more than 1,600 healthcare providers in 50 institutions throughout Chicago and Illinois in the “Go Beyond Nice” program, which covers topics ranging from the differences between sexual behavior and identity to the double impact of homophobia and racism. The program received support from Illinois Department of Public Health.

For more information, call (773) 572-5118 or visit www.lccp.org.