ARQ2: Project Evaluation and Report

Executive Summary

Asking the Right Questions 2 (ARQ2) is an assessment tool and a one-day training that provides clinicians with a helpful guide for initiating discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation with clients. Developed at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), it addresses key definitions and concepts, unique issues of concern to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, intersex and queer (LGBTTTIQ) people, the health impact of heterosexism and genderism, and ways that organizations can increase their cultural competency to better meet the needs of these diverse communities. Over the years, this initiative has involved staff from many CAMH programs including Provincial Services, Education Services, Nursing Practice and Professional Services, Program Development, Rainbow Services, Human Resources and Research.

Since 2004, an ARQ2 Project has been co-ordinated through Policy, Education and Health Promotion (PEHP), as part of a five-year Diversity Priority Plan resourced through the CAMH Development and Dissemination Fund. Project activities have included the co-ordination of the ARQ2 training across Ontario and a train-the-trainer initiative. In 2007/08, an evaluation plan for the ARQ2 Project was also developed and implemented. This included:

• a summary of evaluation scores for 2006/07 and 2007/08
• post-training telephone interviews with 30 training participants
• telephone interviews with the new external trainers and the core trainers on the train-the-trainer strategy.

Evaluation results showed that between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2008, 33 ARQ2 trainings were conducted across Ontario, involving more than 900 participants. Tabulated evaluation scores in 2006/07 and 2007/08 were consistent and exceptional (3.5 to 3.8 out of a possible 4), with the highest scores being reserved for the ARQ2 faculty. Post-training interviewees provided very positive feedback about the training as well. They felt that ARQ2 raised their awareness, made them more open and sensitive to the issues, and gave them a language with which to speak to clients. They would like to see training expanded to all levels of organizations and felt that the training “should be standard for all front-line workers.”

In the past two years, nine external ARQ2 trainers, situated in various locations in the province, have been recruited and mentored by four lead trainers at CAMH. Seven of the nine have been able to stay with the project and two new internal trainers recently joined the team. All 13 trainers have indicated that they remain committed to ARQ2 and would like to facilitate more trainings in the future. There is considerable outside interest in a second call for trainers as well.

The ARQ2 project has proven to be a very successful capacity-building initiative with tremendous growth potential. Twelve more trainings are scheduled for this fiscal year, and interest and need for the training, at both the community and agency level, remain high.

To move forward next year, the ARQ2 Project will require continued collaboration and dedicated staff from the various CAMH programs to organize trainings, facilitate sessions, co-ordinate internal and external trainers and provide administrative support. A balance of cost recovery measures and new funding will also be needed to ensure that the training remains geographically and financially accessible.

Click here to download a full copy of the report (PDF).

A one-day ARQ2 training is available, contact Marcia Gibson at Marcia_Gibson@camh.net.

 

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