People’s Health & Wellness Clinic Now Offering Gender-Affirming and 2SLGBTQIA+ Appropriate Care
Daniel Barlow
Executive Director
People’s Health & Wellness Clinic
(802) 479-1229
daniel@phwcvt.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2024
People’s Health & Wellness Clinic Now Offering Gender-Affirming and 2SLGBTQIA+ Appropriate Care
BARRE, VT - The People's Health & Wellness Clinic (PHWC) is proud to announce the launch of its new gender-affirming care services, now available and free of charge to patients. This initiative is part of the clinic's ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive, inclusive, and compassionate healthcare to the community, regardless of income or insurance status.
In addition to gender-affirming care, the clinic is expanding its services to offer 2SLGBTQIA+ appropriate care, ensuring that all patients receive health care that respects and affirms their identities. This expansion of services has been made possible through the dedication of the clinic’s volunteer healthcare providers, two of whom have recently undergone specialized training in gender-affirming care. A generous United Way of Northwest Vermont grant funded this training.
“We are excited to offer these essential services to our patients,” said Teal Church, PHWC’s director of clinical services. “Healthcare is a human right; everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported when seeking medical care. By offering gender-affirming care and 2SLGBTQIA+ appropriate services, we hope to break down barriers and provide a welcoming space for everyone in our community.”
The People's Health & Wellness Clinic partnered with several key organizations to bring these new services to life. Collaborations with the Pride Center in Burlington, the Rainbow Bridge Community Center in Barre, and the Ishtar Collective, an organization advocating for the rights and well-being of sex workers and survivors of exploitation, have been instrumental in developing and implementing these services.
“We are excited to collaborate with People’s Health and Wellness Clinic to serve the Barre and Central Vermont community,” said Volney Gordon of the Ishtar Collective. “We believe that access to food and healthcare are fundamental human rights and building onramps to community care are how we can model the world we want to live in.”
These partnerships ensure that the care provided is not only medically sound but also culturally competent and responsive to the unique needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
The People's Health & Wellness Clinic has always been dedicated to serving the most vulnerable members of the Central Vermont community, and this new program is a significant step forward in meeting its patients' diverse needs. With the support of volunteer providers and community partners, the clinic is well-equipped to offer high-quality, affirming care to all who seek it.
For more information about the People’s Health & Wellness Clinic and its services, please visit www.PHWCVT.org or call (802) 479-1229.
About the People's Health & Wellness Clinic
The People's Health & Wellness Clinic is a non-profit organization that provides free primary health care and wellness services to uninsured and underinsured adults in Central Vermont. Through a network of volunteer healthcare providers and community partnerships, the clinic delivers comprehensive care that addresses its patients' physical, mental, and social needs.
