Client Services
TransActive is committed to
providing high-quality, compassionate, experienced and
individualized client
counseling and case management services to families of transgender and gender
non-conforming children and youth.
Our staff follows and encourages allied organizations and
service providers to follow a comprehensive Standard of Care we call
"Running the RACE".
Running the RACE
Recognition
Be aware and supportive of how a child experiences or
expresses their gender identity. Look for persistent and
consistent forms of expression rather than isolated or
short-term behavior or preferences.
Acceptance
Know that a transgender or gender non-conforming child
experiences their gender identity as deeply and
authentically as a cisgender (non-transgender) child.
Congruence
Look for opportunities to follow the child's lead in
creating environments where their internal gender identity
and external gender expression can be in sync with each
other. This may include facilitating a social gender transition.
Empowerment
Support the transgender child's potential need for both
social and physical congruence. This may or may not
eventually include puberty-blocking and/or cross-sex hormone
therapy and surgery.
Our approach
We believe diagnostic protocols and guidelines (Diagnostic & Statistical Manual / WPATH Standards of Care) should be utilized to open doors to facilitating services that meet the individual needs of children and youth rather than as trapdoors to stigmatizing pathology.
TransActive supports (with reservation) the proposed revisions to the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual 5th Edition (DSM-5), which is due for release in May of 2013. These changes represent a step in the right direction with regard to providing respectful and affirming care for gender non-conforming, transgender and transsexual children and youth - however we do not believe that child gender non-conformity or transgender identity should be considered a mental disorder in any way.
Getting started...
If you live in, or are planning to be in the Portland (Oregon) Metro area and would like to schedule a time to meet with someone from our Client Services program, please email us or call us at 503-252-3000.
Once you've scheduled an appointment, please print,
fill
out and bring with you
this
PDF document.
If you live outside the Portland area and would like more information about available services please contact us by email or phone at 503-252-3000.
