Discharge planning
Specific concerns related to the discharge planning process for LGBT clients may include an enhanced analysis of their social support, their living arrangement/environment, their employment status or type of employment, and ongoing issues that clients have identified related to their sexual orientation/identity. Social support involves the amount of support available to clients, which can increase their likelihood of remaining abstinent or in recovery. Social support often includes the family of origin and family of choice (e.g., sexual partner, friends, or others) and should focus on individuals who support clients’ efforts to create such significant changes. LGBT individuals may live in an environment that is not conducive to their ongoing abstinence/recovery (e.g., they have a partner or roommate who actively uses alcohol and drugs, or they live in close proximity to drug dealers or open air drug markets). Although these issues or concerns may be similar to those individuals from the larger population may face, it is important to assess and provide appropriate referrals for LGBT clients. Clients’ employment status or type of employment may also interfere with their ongoing abstinence/recovery. Specific issues may be the type of work the individuals perform (e.g., bartender, sex industry worker) or status (e.g., not in stable employment, disabled). Issues related to their sexual orientation/ identity may interfere with their recovery after discharge if ongoing support or counseling is not provided to meet needs indentified by clients.