Our Gender Health Program is committed to providing high-quality gender-affirming mental and social support for transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth in Indiana. Our team offers the the only gender health program in Indiana for children, teens and young adults who have experienced gender dysphoria for longer than six months and who may or may not desire to become a different gender. Our program accepts new patients up to age 22, at times supporting them through age 25. Family and parent involvement is critical to ensure patients feel safe and supported.
What Is Gender Dysphoria?
What Is Gender Dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria is a condition in which someone’s experienced gender does not match the gender assigned at birth.
Without proper care and support, individuals with gender dysphoria are at increased risk of depression, suicide, sexually transmitted diseases and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The Gender Health Program at Riley Children's Health strives to prevent these problems and promotes the well-being of your child.
Why Choose the Gender Health Program
Why Choose the Gender Health Program
Our program provides a multidisciplinary approach. Members of our gender health team include:
- Adolescent Medicine providers
- Pediatricians
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
Each member of the team understands and supports families and our patients, serving their emotional, mental and physical health needs. We will respect the identity of your child and offer a safe space to find care while family members and parents stay engaged with their child's care.
We will create an individualized care plan to help your child feel safe, healthy and supported. Our team will support you and your child with the appropriate counseling and other care needs in making any healthcare decisions.
Our social workers also help ensure that patients live in a safer environment and can find the community resources they need to live well.
Indiana Law Prohibits Gender Transition Procedures for Minors
As of Feb. 27, 2024, according to a new law, Riley physicians may not prescribe or administer hormone therapy or gender affirming medications for gender transition to patients under the age of 18. Physicians also may not refer a minor patient to another physician in or outside of Indiana for this type of care. While the gender health program at Riley will comply with the law, there is a multidisciplinary team that can provide mental health and social support for patients and their families. Existing and new patients should talk with their healthcare provider about what kind of support is available. Updates to this website will be made as new information is available.
Gender Health Program Resources
Gender Health Program Resources
Riley Children's Health provides the following forms for parents, healthcare providers and personnel. We have also curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.
Resources
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This growing organization provides support for people who are gender diverse as well as their family and friends. GenderNexus also offers education, counseling and access to many other resources.
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Gender Expansive Kids & Co., is an Indianapolis, Indiana based confidential, peer-led monthly support group for families of transgender and gender expansive children.
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Indiana Youth Group provides safe spaces, support groups, workshops, events and more for LGBT youth between the ages of 12 and 20.
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PFLAG is an organization for family, friends and allies of LGBT people. They advocate for LGBT rights, teach others about LGBT issues and offer a wide range of support groups.
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World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)
This professional organization teaches medical professionals about gender health issues, conducts research and helps shape the international standard of care for people with gender dysphoria.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
This CDC webpage includes links to national resources about transgender health issues.
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Indiana Legal Services LGBT Law Project
This project partners with the Riley Gender Health Program to provide statewide advocacy and representation to assist with medical, surgical and pharmacy appeals, legal name and gender marker change, bullying and sexual minority discrimination.
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Adolescent Gender Health Research and Training
Faculty in Adolescent Medicine participate in training health care professionals and providing cutting edge research in adolescent gender health.
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BU Wellness Network is the largest African-American AIDS service organization (ASO) in the state of Indiana. The Riley Gender Health program partners with BU Wellness to incorporate cultural humility and understand the unique intersections between sexual minority, gender minority, and racial minority youth and young adults.
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Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) at the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health in Indianapolis offers an LGBTQ+ ECHO in which faculty from the Riley Children’s Gender Health Program serve on the hub team, providing specialty education and training to primary care providers, mental health providers, pharmacists and community health educators from around the country in LGBTQ+ health.
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Damien Center provides mental health and non-clinical supportive services such as testing and social groups for gender diverse minors.
Related Programs & Departments
Related Programs & Departments
We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related programs & departments.
Health Professionals
For Health Professionals
Refer A Patient
Doctors with the Gender Health Program provide education for all medical professionals about gender dysphoria, transforming the way patients are treated across Indiana. We work with primary care providers from all around the state to help children, teens, adolescents and their families receive the support they need for a healthy life. To refer a patient, please call 317.944.8812 or submit a referral online using the form below.
Refer A PatientEducation
From medical student rotations to fellowships in adolescent medicine, Riley Children's Health offers opportunities for the next generation of doctors to learn about culturally competent care.