Transform and Rise Up LLC

08/19/2025

NASW Maine proudly celebrates Dr. Brandy Brown who has recently been appointed Chair of the National Association of Social Workers National Committee on LGBTQ+ Issues! Dr. Brown has been a dedicated leader within NASW Maine for many years, formerly serving as our JEDI Committee Chair and earning the title of JEDI Champion of the Year in 2023. We know this important national committee is in great hands under their leadership! 🌈

Reminder: You can nominate our next JEDI Champion of the Year who will be celebrated at this year's Annual Conference on October 6th and 7th at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME!
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06/19/2025

A statement from the NASW National Committee on Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Q***r + Issues:

The Supreme Court’s tragic decision to uphold Skrmetti legalizes discrimination against trans, gender diverse, intersex, non-binary, and queer+ youth. This harmful ruling goes against everything our profession is rooted in. Social work ethics demand that we protect dignity, confront injustice, and defend safety, access, and self-determination. NASW supports laws that expand access and equity to gender-affirming care at local, state, and federal levels. We oppose all policies that cause harm, restrict autonomy, undermine social work best practices, or deny young people the care they need to survive and thrive.

02/03/2025

A message from the National Association of Social Workers Committee on LGBTQ+ Issues about the recent Executive Order against Gender Affirming Care.

11/20/2024

Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to memorialize those behind have been murdered each year by anti- transgender violence.

National Association of Social Workers National Committee on LGBTQ+ Issues, a committee I am on, reminds us that we all have a responsibility to step up and stop hate.

On this day of Transgender Remembrance, social workers denounce the political attacks and harmful misinformation about transgender people and their families.

11/09/2024

It has been an incredibly busy month of learning & networking with two back to back conferences. The first being an international, interprofessional conference in Portugal - the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). The second was a local conference, focused on the social work profession- the NASW Maine Chapter.

Proud to be an engaged member of both of these organizations- education, resources, and advocacy.

10/17/2024

I appreciate the opportunity to support my community as part of the NASW National Committee on LGBTQ+ Issues and supporting Q***r Social Workers and those working with LGBTQ+ folks to make it safe(we) to be visible everyday.

’s National Committee on Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Q***r+ Issues stands in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community on National Coming Out Day! We celebrate your courage to live your truth and commit to creating safe spaces where you are seen, heard, and respected. Your identity is valid, your story matters, and your well-being is our priority. You are not alone. +

06/27/2024

A great way to start my day- presenting to the Maine Pediatric & Behavioral Health Partnership Program through MCD Global Health on Fostering Inclusive Pediatric Care: Best Practices for Gender and Sexuality Affirmation.

Through the Maine Pediatric and Behavioral Health Partnership (MPBHP), MCD is implementing training opportunities that focus on LGBTQIA+ affirming care for the month of June🏳️‍🌈 .

These opportunities allow providers to increase their knowledge and confidence in managing patients’ behavioral health needs.

➡️ Learn more about the MPBHP: https://buff.ly/4b0Zk5a

06/26/2024

An honor to present with my colleague, Bethany Rocheleau, at the Association of SP Educators - ASPE Conference in Vancouver, BC this week.

Our workshop, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Case Development: Optimizing Psychological Safety for Everyone, highlighted some innovative work from our team at the MaineHealth Hannaford Center for Safety, Innovation & Simulation over the past few years. Best practices continue to be developed as it relates to teaching about LGBTQ+ (and other marginalized groups) in healthcare education, we were able to share a process that can help other programs optimize their current resources as they develop cases for simulation. While we did not have a perfect solution to present (that does take more resources), we felt that it was important to share the lessons we have learned in this process, so that others can take a step forward without needing to reinvent the wheel.

06/05/2024

Thrilled to have been invited to offer a social work perspective on “Trans Children and Youth in the Family Court System” to an international audience at the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts pre-conferencefamil institute.

I am learning so much from my co-presenters, Allan E. Barsky, PhD, JD (US- Florida), Lavanya Regunathan Fischer, LLM, LSE (India), John McKendrick, KC (United Kingdom), & Hon. Dianna J. Gould-Saltman (Ret) (US-California).

A full day of learning how to support families with trans youth who are in the process of mediation, combining legal and mental health perspectives.

05/31/2024

The Fenway Institute held the first annual research symposium highlighting the work of the Ken Mayer Fellows, a cohort of researchers committed to the mission of optimizing health and well-being for sexual and gender minorities and those affected by HIV.

It was a great event to attend, meeting likeminded folks, and I got to enjoy working remotely in Boston for the afternoon.