Research Talk: Latina Transgender Woman and Law Enforcement

The second Brown Bag Research Talk of the Fall 2021 semester will take place virtually on Thursday, October 14, 2021 from 12 pm – 1 pm. It will featured Dr. Joanna Barreras from the CSULB School of Social Work presenting Increasing Trust between Latina Transgender Woman and Law Enforcement and Improving HIV-related Outcomes. Brown Bag Research Talks will be hosted periodically this semester by the Center and will feature the research of Latinx faculty and CSULB faculty conducting research on Latinx health and health disparities, as well as of other underserved communities. No RSVP is required for these events. One CHES credit was available for attending the talk.

Zoom Link

https://csulb.zoom.us/j/84185299455

Research Talk

Increasing Trust between Latina Transgender Woman and Law Enforcement and Improving HIV-related Outcomes

HIV-related inequities continue to affect Latinx communities, especially Latina transgender women (LTGW). Stigma and discrimination experiences may contribute to inequities by elevating negative physiological stress responses, blocking adaptive coping, and increasing the likelihood of suboptimal health behaviors. The goal of the present study is to develop an intervention, the first to address the need, as identified by LTGW for LTGW, to increase trust between law enforcement and LTGW. We have interviewed 11 LTGW to assess the acceptability of undertaking an intervention that involves law enforcement, as well as proposed structure and content areas to build trust and increase empathy of LTGW among law enforcement and 5  key law enforcement officers in the LAPD.

Dr. Joanna Barreras, PhD, MSW
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
California State University Long Beach

Dr. Joanna Barreras is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at California State University, Long Beach and the Associate Director of Research and Evaluation at Bienestar Human Services, Inc (one of Los Angeles County’s largest LGBT HIV services community-based organizations serving primarily Latinx adults). Her scholarly work focuses on addressing comorbidities and disparities linked to HIV among Latinx—as health inequities continue to affect Latinx communities. Specifically, she aims to develop and test culturally responsive interventions to improve health care service utilization among vulnerable populations.