Kaiser Permanente: Multi-Specialty Transitions Department

The Multi-Specialty Transitions (MST) Department is the Northern California regional hub for Kaiser Permanente’s transgender and non-binary patient care. The MST Department is an outpatient medical and mental health clinic offering primary medical care, hormone consultations, mental health support and assessments, and educational and support groups for transgender and non-binary KP members throughout Northern California. 

Transgender and non-binary patients encounter many barriers to affirming and competent medical and mental health care. The MST Department brings together skilled providers with background and training in gender-affirming care to offer comprehensive medical and mental health care to transgender and non-binary KP patients. The MST Department also works to advocate for patients throughout the region, providing trainings, visibility, and advocacy for patients accessing care at all  KP facilities in Northern California.

The MST department serves non-binary and transgender patients with KP coverage throughout Northern California. The MST department primarily serves adults 18 and over and has recently expanded clinical services to youth. Many KP patients have coverage through their employer, however a sizable portion of KP patients also have insurance through the insurance exchange or through Medi-Cal. MST patients come from diverse economic, ethnic, and regional backgrounds. 

The MST Department offers the following: primary medical care, hormone consultation, hormone injection teaching, gender affirming surgery assessments by mental health providers, surgical consultations, gender-affirming mental health care, support groups, education groups, and case management support.

Interns at this placement have an opportunity to assist patients with the following: navigating gender-affirming care and coverage within KP, care planning for surgery and recovery including arranging IHSS and skilled nursing facility placements, and general case management support including topics ranging from transitioning at work, obtaining employment, finding temporary and permanent housing, and providing relevant community referrals.

Interns will also have an opportunity to assist patients with legal name / gender marker change clinics and if interested, interns will be invited to develop and revise clinic education resources and assist with class content development and facilitation in monthly patient education classes.

N/A

Student Availability:

Days preferred: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays

Hours preferred: 8:30 – 5pm, some evening classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays until 7:30

Does the agency offer evening and/or weekend hours for the field placement? Yes:_X__  No: ___

Some limited evening hours 1-2 times per month (not required).

Agency Profile:

Non-Profit: __X__   Public/Government: ____  Educational Institution: ____  Other (specify): ____

If a K-12 school, is PPS supervision available? Yes: ____  No: __X__

INTERN CHARACTERISTICS

Please indicate the number of students in the following categories that the agency could accommodate:

BASW:____      First-Year MSW: __X__      Second-Year MSW: __X__      Second-Year Title IV-E:____

Please indicate any particular characteristics and skills that would be desirable for this placement (e.g., language capacity, knowledge of specific computer programs, etc.):

Number of SF State University School of Social Work students previously placed at this agency: __0___

SPECIAL PLACEMENT PROCEDURES OR REQUIREMENTS

Does the agency require:

__X__ Fingerprint clearance

__X__ Background check (if there’s been a recent background check, that is sufficient)

__X__ TB clearance (2 PPDs w/in last 12 months – 1 within last 3 months)

_____ Other health examinations (no physical required)

__X__ Immunizations (Flu, Vaciletter, MMR, TDAP)

_____ A vehicle for placement related duties

__X__ Drug screen (including marijuana)

Does the agency cover the cost for any background checks or health procedures? Yes:____  No: _X_

Does the agency require an early start or late completion date: Yes:____  No: __X__

INTERN BENEFITS

Does the placement offer a stipend? Yes:____  No: __X__

If yes, how much is offered and are there any particular requirements to receive the stipend?

Are there other benefits available (e.g., work study matching funds, food, transportation, subsidies for travel expenses and conferences, etc.)? If so, please specify:

STAFF MEMBERS PROPOSED AS FIELD INSTRUCTORS

(All field instructors must have an MSW.)