About the Tool Kit
In 2008, the City of Toronto, Long-Term Care Homes & Services (LTCHS) published the LGBT Tool Kit for Creating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Culturally Competent Care at Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and Services. At the time, this work was groundbreaking in supporting and caring for LGBT residents in long-term care.
In 2017, the Tool Kit was updated and refreshed focusing on engagement within the organization given the experience gained since the original Tool Kit was published in 2008. In addition to building upon the successes, challenges and understanding further opportunities to deliver LGBTQ2S+-inclusive care and services, the LGBT Tool Kit: Creating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Inclusive and Affirming Care and Services (2017) also supports self-reflection and learning for individuals wishing to learn more. While it is meant primarily for management and staff within LTCHS, the Tool Kit is also available to other organizations as a resource.
The first two sections of the updated Tool Kit, “Introduction and Background” and “Our Journey Continues,” provide context and set the stage for the following sections: “Achieving Social and Cultural Competency” and “Achieving Organizational Competency” which are related to how welcoming, inclusive and affirming environments can be created and supported by individuals and organizations. The Appendices contain resources related to a number of different areas that can be used as references to help support ongoing learning and understanding.
Resources are contained throughout the Tool Kit and include:
- Self-study which provide links to resources throughout the Tool Kit
- Self-reflection guide users through a series of questions to support thinking and understanding
- Best practices provide readers with an opportunity to learn about a promising practice, process or initiative within Long-Term Care Homes and Services as well as other organizations
- The appendices provide additional information in a variety of areas such as LGBTQ2S+-affirming religious and spiritual groups, LGBTQ2S+ activity protocols, community and educational resources
- End notes also provide links to resources referenced throughout the Tool Kit