Course

Evidence-Based Practice with the LGBTQ Population

Self-paced
2.5 credits

$35 Enroll

Full course description

***NOTICE: This course is available through Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at midnight. Enrollment for this course will close on Tuesday, June 10, at midnight. All participants must complete the required coursework, pass all quizzes/posttests with an 80% or higher, and submit an evaluation survey before Wednesday, June 25, at midnight to earn CE credit and receive a certificate.***

 

2.5 Continuing Education Clock Hours

 
Fee: $35
Level of Course: 100 Beginner
Registration Deadline: June 10, 2025, at midnight
Development Date: 2024
Target Audience: Social Workers and other Human Service Workers
Format and Delivery Method: This training is constructed as a noninteractive self-study, hybrid (reading-based and recorded video) asynchronous distance learning course.
 

CE Approvals

  • Social workers completing this course receive 2.5 cultural competence continuing education credits under ACE.
  • Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board in Ethics
  • Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board
    • Prevention: CC – Cultural Competence in Prevention
    • Treatment: TR1 – Treatment Field Related (Renewals Only)

Course Description

Supported by the Behavioral Health Workforce Enhancement Training Grant Program, this continuing education course has been created to help participants learn to support their LGBTQ clients by better understanding the ethical obligation that social workers have to advocate for and be an ally to the LGBTQ community. This course will help increase your knowledge about the LGBTQ community and understand how to develop safe spaces for clients who identify as LGBTQ. It is our hope that you will become a more informed and effective ally to the LGBTQ community.

Learning Objectives

  • Overall Course Objectives: 

    • Identify and strengthen your understanding of the ethical considerations of leadership and advocacy
    • Explore shared language and experiences
    • Discover tools to create safer spaces, and support individual and collective growth as advocates and allies 

    Module 1: 

    • Describe the basics of gender and sexuality
    • Examine the impact of gender pronouns when working with members of the LGBTQ community
    • Explain the terminology related to the LGBTQ acronym 

    Module 2: 

    • Describe how each professional code(s) of ethics addresses issues of diversity including working with LGBTQ patients/clients
    • Apply professional codes of ethics to your work with members of the LGBTQ community 

    Module 3: 

    • Express an understanding of adultism
    • Demonstrate awareness regarding intent, impact and microaggressions
    • Identify individual opportunities for application and integration
    • Identify organizational opportunities for application and integration

Course Outline

  • Welcome to the Course 
    • Overview, Overall Objectives, Completion Expectations, Course Format, Course Support 
    • Meet Your Instructors 
  • Module 1: LGBTQ Basics 
    • Introduction, Objectives, & Tasks: Introduction of what will be covered in the module.   
    • Coursework: Lectures, videos, reading, and other components to address the objectives.   
      • Lesson 1: Queer Umbrella and Intersectionality 
      • Lesson 2: Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation 
      • Lesson 3: Pronouns 
      • Lesson 4: LGBTQ Vocabulary 
    • Knowledge Check: Quiz to test participant understanding of the module’s content.   
  • Module 2: The Ethics of Being an LGBTQ Ally 
    • Introduction, Objectives, & Tasks: Introduction of what will be covered in the module.   
    • Coursework: Lectures, videos, reading, and other components to address the objectives.  
      • Lesson 1: Social Work Ethics 
      • Lesson 2: School Psychology Ethics 
      • Lesson 3: Nursing Ethics  
    • Knowledge Check: Quiz to test participant understanding of the module’s content.   
  • Module 3: Safer Spaces, Allyship and Cultural Responsiveness 
    • Introduction, Objectives, & Tasks: Introduction of what will be covered in the module.   
    • Coursework: Lectures, videos, reading, and other components to address the objectives.  
      • Lesson: Safer Spaces, Allyship and Cultural Responsiveness  
    • Knowledge Check: Quiz to test participant understanding of the module’s content.   
  • Course Wrap Up, References & Evaluation Survey 
    • Course Wrap Up 
    • References 
    • Participant Data Survey for Grant Reporting 
    • Course Evaluation Instructions, Report License Number for CE Credit, Contact for Additional Questions, Concerns, or Feedback 
  • Collect Your Certificate 

Developed by Erin Upchurch, MSSA, LISW-S

Executive Director, Kaleidoscope Youth Center

Erin Upchurch, MSSA, LISW-S (she/her) is an integrative social work practitioner, nonprofit leader, and somatic therapist. She currently serves as the executive director of Kaleidoscope Youth Center, which serves and supports LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults. Upchurch is a frequent speaker and facilitator in areas of leadership and organizational development, trauma recovery, and Transformative Justice as a framework for community and organizational practice. She is a 200 hour certified yoga instructor, End of Life Doula, and in 2024 was honored as a YWCA Woman of Achievement. 

Jorie Schwartz, MSW, LISW-S

Associate Professor, Columbus State Community College Social Work & Human Services Program

Jorie Schwartz, MSW, LISW-S (she/her) has been a licensed social worker in Columbus for more than 25 years. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from The Ohio State University and the focus of her career has been in community mental health and school-based prevention. For the past 11 years, she has worked in the Social Work and Human Services program at Columbus State Community College and is currently an Associate Professor; she is also a Community Lecturer and the OSU College of Social Work. She has a collaborative approach to teaching and is passionate about preparing students for the field. “I have had the opportunity to teach and advise many students. My favorite part of my work is seeing those light bulb moments, especially when someone discovers a passion for the field. My students amaze me in their willingness to push themselves, especially in practicum. I love working with students who are an active part of their learning.” 

Angela Fry, MSW, LISW-S

Professor, Columbus State Community College Social Work & Human Services Program

Angela Fry, MSW, LISW-S (she/her) graduated from The Ohio State University with a BSSW and MSW. She has worked at several agencies in Columbus, Ohio.  The bulk of Angela’s work has focused on trauma and abuse. Angela’s first job out of school was at CHOICES, a domestic violence agency in Columbus as a case manager for the women staying at the shelter. Angela then worked at Catholic Social Services for ten years in a variety of capacities: as a home-based clinician working with families involved with child protective services; as an individual, couples, and group counseling clinician; and finally, as the Clinical Supervisor. After a long ten years at the same agency, Angela ventured out to try some new things and worked for a period with children who had experienced trauma, as well as in the foster care arena before returning to CHOICES as the Clinical Supervisor for several years. Angela is currently a Professor in the Social Work & Human Services program at Columbus State Community College. 

Course Completion Requirements

  • Participants must complete all coursework requirements and pass the course quiz/posttest in addition to submitting an evaluation survey to earn CE credit and a certificate.
  • Partial credit is not permitted for this course.
  • The projected time for completion of this self-paced hybrid asynchronous distance learning course is 2.5 hours based on input from social workers in the development process.
  • The course is divided into 3 modules that all include reading- and video-based materials, as well as externally linked webpages, with a quiz/posttest to be completed at the end of each module.
  • Participants are required to score 80% or higher to pass the module quizzes. Unlimited attempts are allowed.
  • The evaluation survey will be immediately available once the required coursework and quizzes are finished, and must be completed to receive CE credit.
  • The CE certificate will be available for download once the evaluation survey is submitted.

Certificates & CE Reporting

The CE certificate will be available for download in the ScarletCanvas-Catalog Learning Platform once the evaluation survey is submitted. Participants will also receive an automated email from ScarletCanvas-Catalog at notifications@instructure.com containing a link to download the certificate within 24-hours of completion. Ensure you have this email address marked as a safe sender to receive communications from ScarletCanvas-Catalog.

Hours for those with Ohio licenses that are submitted with the evaluation survey will be reported to CE Broker every 14 days (twice per month).

Cancellations, Refunds, Grievances, Accessibility Requests & Learning Accommodations

Please visit the Policies section of our website for more information on our processes for cancellations, refunds, grievances, course completions & certificates, participant conduct, and accessibility requests and learning accommodations.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you require an accommodation to participate in this course, please contact CSW Accessibility as early as possible and in advance of the training start date by email at csw-accessibility@osu.edu or call 614-688-1657. Requests received at least 14-days prior to the date you plan to begin a course will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the College will make every effort to meet requests that we receive regardless of lead time.

Questions, Concerns, or Feedback? Contact Us!

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback about the course content or delivery format, please contact the CSW Office of Continuing Education at cswce@osu.edu. For questions related to the course content, our office will facilitate communication with the course instructor on your behalf and connect you, if applicable. 

The Ohio State University, College of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education, 302 Stillman Hall, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210. Phone: (614) 292-3032 Email: cswce@osu.edu Website: csw.osu.edu/continuing-education/   

New ScarletCanvas-Catalog User?

ScarletCanvas is the official professional development learning management system at Ohio State. It is a one-stop shop to manage your courses providing a set of integrated web course tools that can be used to supplement a class taught mostly face-to-face or can be used to teach an online course partially or entirely at a distance.

We recommend that you review the guidance below prior to the start of the course. It will help you navigate the course. Please refer back to these links as needed throughout your time in the course.

Please note, ScarletCanvas and CarmenCanvas are two different systems. ScarletCanvas houses the University's professional development courses, while CarmenCanvas houses our academic courses. Your CarmenCanvas sign in information does not transfer to ScarletCanvas.

  • ScarletCanvas Browser & Computer Requirements
    • Use Chrome browser for Windows and MacOS (make sure both the browser and your computer OS are current and do not need updating).
      • Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge do not seem to be compatible.
      • If you experience issues with the CAPTCHA (I’m not a robot verification) upon registration, we have found it resolves itself when using a current Chrome browser.
  • Set up messages from Instructure/ScarletCanvas-Catalog at notifications@instructure.com as a trusted/whitelisted email address in your email contacts, so that our messages/announcements aren't routed to your Junk/Spam folder. 
    • Messages sent to you via this system will list Instructure/Canvas Catalog as the Sender, not OSU CSW.
  • If you are licensed by The State of Ohio CSWMFT and CDP Boards, please be sure to enter your full license number in the Professional License Information field upon registration and when completing the training evaluation.
  • After you enroll you will receive two automated emails, one with the subject "Please confirm your email address - Ohio State ScarletCanvas." Use the link in that email to set up the password you would like to use for your account.

Approval Statements

This training is approved by The Ohio State University College of Social Work and accepted by The State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist (OCSWMFT) Board.   

The Ohio State University College of Social Work, (Provider: 50-24068), is an approved provider for The Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals (OCDP) Board. 

The Ohio State University College of Social Work, (Provider: 1628), is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. OSU College of Social Work maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 4/30/25-4/30/28. Social workers completing this course receive 2.5 cultural competence continuing education credits. 

Please note: You may only complete this course one time for CE credit. You are welcome to access a course again to revisit content while it is open, but you will only receive one certificate and credit for Ohio licensees will only be reported to CE Broker one time for your completion of this particular course.