Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference

This year’s conference, “Honoring our Past, Envisioning Our Future,” is a national, three day event, focusing on the unique needs, identities and experiences of the transgender community.

THC kicks off this year event with its 4^th Annual Providers Day on May 29. The purpose of Providers Day is to educate and teach social service, health-care and mental health providers about the needs of the transgender community. CME/CEU’s are available. There is a modest registration fee associated with attending Providers Day.

The second two days of the conference, May 30 & 31, are known as Community Day’s. Community Days are completely free and assessable to anyone who wants to attend THC: transgender adults, transgender youth/children, parents/families, friends/supporters, providers & partners.

Last year, nearly 500 people from all walks of transgender life attended THC. We are expecting even more in 2008!

Because THC remains a non-profit entity, eliciting volunteer support is extremely important. Without this kind of help, THC organizers could not put on this event.

There are many types of volunteer options/jobs available to suit an individual’s personal needs.

General Volunteers: General Volunteers will be asked to sign up and help out during the conference. Individuals can choose to volunteer for one job, or multiple of jobs, or one shift or a multiple of shifts, whatever works for you. All we ask is that you show up for your specified job/task on time and complete it before leaving. Volunteers are needed in the following 7 categories:

1. Food prep/service

2. Childcare

3. Registration desk

4. Workshop/evaluation monitors

5. Special Events (after party, film festival, career fair)

6. Ad Hoc (able or willing to fill in where support is needed).

7. Providers Day (tasks vary depending on need).

Individuals interested in becoming a General Volunteer should contact Cody Holbrook at cowboycody34@yahoo.com. To submit your Volunteer Request, click here.

Mentors/Crisis Counselors: In an effort to provide support to THC’s attendees who are new to THC, or the transgender experience, and/or may need mental health intervention or support during the conference, THC has a mentoring program and Crisis Counselors on call from 9 am, Friday May 30, until 9 pm Saturday, May 31.

Mentors will be assigned to a transgender/gender variant consumer the morning of Friday, May 30, during our Mentor/Attendee Meet and Greet from 9-10 am. Individuals who are unable to attend this meeting, can opt to be assigned with a mentee in advance and contact them prior to the conference. Mentors will be expected to spend time with their assigned consumer throughout the two days of the conference. Spending time includes: attending workshops together, having lunch together and/or providing consumers with a supportive and friendly person to talk to during breaks. Mentors are only expected to interact with consumers in a peer-oriented way. They are not expected to provide crisis and/or mental health counseling. Individuals will be matched up with one another based on individual preferences designated on their mentoring application.

Crisis Counselors will be expected to act when people are feeling depressed, overwhelmed, and/or indicate they may want to hurt themselves. Counselors will provide support by initially talking with individuals and making sure they are brought to the Crisis Response Center at Hall Mercer in Center City, if they appear emotionally or mentally unstable. Crisis Counselors must have a Master’s Level License (LPC, MSW, LCSW, PsyD, PhD) and available to participate in a brief phone orientation prior to the conference. Counselors will be given a disposal cell phone to hold during their counseling shift, and will be expected to pick up and drop off this phone at the Organizers Desk before and after their shifts.

Individuals interested in becoming a Mentor or Crisis Counselor should contact Joe Ippolito at joeippolito@comcast.net. To print and fill out an application to be a Mentor or Crisis Counselor, click here.

All volunteers will be given general acknowledgment in our program book and before the start of all keynote events.

Anyone is welcome to Volunteer, including non-trans people.

Provider Day Volunteers are eligible for a pro-rated discount on their registration fee into Providers day. Pro-rated amounts include: 1-2 hours=15% discount, 2-4 hours=25% discount, 4-6 hours=50% discount, 6+hours=free.

General questions regarding our Volunteer Program should be directed to Cody Holbrook at cowboycody34@yahoo.com.