Health
| See upcoming health events at Center Calendar: Health |
HIV & AIDS Related Services
Prevention
HIV prevention has been the cornerstone of the Center's work since our founding in 1983, at the height of the AIDS crisis in the United States. Prevention is extremely important to our community, particularly in light of these continued alarming statistics: For the last decade 50,000 people have been newly diagnosed with HIV in the United States and a quarter of the cases each year are young gay men. New York City remains the epicenter of HIV/AIDS in the U.S., as more than 107,000 New Yorkers are living with HIV, and thousands more don't know they're infected. New York City's AIDS case rate is almost 3 times the U.S. average, and HIV is the 3rd leading cause of death for New York City residents aged 35 to 54. African Americans, gay and bisexual men, transgender people and young people aged 13-29 continue to experience high and increasing rates of HIV infection in New York City.
- The Center distributes thousands of safe-sex kits to adults and youth each year.; We provide year-round HIV/AIDS client screenings, and offer referrals to public health insurance and housing options, as well as doctors who specialize in HIV/AIDS.
- The Center's Summer Camp Program provides a safe space where young people learn ways to avoid HIV infection, gain pride in their identities, and envision a healthy future for themselves and their communities through adult and peer support.
- The Center produces educational forums and cultural events that inform our community about the importance of HIV prevention; i.e. we devoted the entire month of March, 2012, to honoring the life and legacy of artist and HIV/AIDS activist Keith Haring, though lectures, film screenings, panel discussions and more. In May the Center is co-sponsoring a community forum with ACT-UP, Queerocracy and Positive Justice Project, to address this issue of HIV criminalization.
Youth Learns the Importance of HIV Prevention
Joseph came to the Center's Youth Program knowing nothing about how to avoid HIV infection. Luckily our unique programs flooded him with positive messages about how to remain HIV negative. Through a variety of groups including the Center's Entertainment Youth Enrichment Services (EYES) internship Joseph came out as gay in a welcoming environment, gained a positive body self-image and learned the vital importance of safe sex. Programs like this are part of the "Popular Opinion Leader" model supported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The idea is to have young people with influence send a message to peers that protecting themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases is a hip thing to do. When youth hear from peer leaders, they are more likely to listen and avoid putting themselves in risky future situations. Now Joseph has a wealth of information about HIV prevention and credits the Center's Youth Program for keeping him HIV negative.
Each year, the Center helps hundreds of individuals living with HIV and AIDS. The access we provide to vital support and information helps people lead happier, healthier lives. We offer individual, couples, family, and group counseling as well as a variety of events, speakers, and informal social gatherings for positive people and their loved ones.
- Our Newly Diagnosed HIV Positive Group helps people who have just learned that they are living with HIV, to find strength and support through community connection; participants learn that they are not alone and can continue to live and thrive with HIV.
- The Center provides more than 1,800 counseling and group sessions to LGBT people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS; in addition the Center provides case management for LGBT HIV-Positive recovery clients and part-time vocational counselors to assist recovery clients who are HIV positive with "return to work" and "appropriate training/school options."
- More than 1,000 LGBT youth and young adults attend HIV prevention and support activities and leadership training; thousands more attend educational forums and conferences. The Center is an active participant in advocacy efforts across the city to fight for more HIV funding, support and education, as well as participating in the NYC AIDS Advocacy Network which unites and mobilizes service providers, advocates, and consumers who work with people living and affected by HIV/AIDS and other health conditions across the city of New York to engage our city elected officials and health departments and to advocate for culturally competent initiatives, fair funding and adequate policies. The Center also rents rooms at a subsidized rate to several HIV support groups.
Newly Diagnosed HIV Positive Group Gives Hope to Those Once Hopeless
Ten weeks ago a group of men walked into the Center and told the facilitator of the Newly Diagnosed HIV Positive Group that they were planning for their funerals. They had no hope and concluded that being HIV positive was a death sentence. Fast forward to today. Now, members of the Newly Diagnosed Group are smiling and laughing. Their "what if" questions have gone from "What if I die tomorrow? What if all of a sudden I get an infection and die?" to… "What if I get a serious long-term partner and we want to adopt children?" The group facilitator is thrilled by their transformed attitudes: "Pointing out to them that their 'what if' questions now incorporate a future, is amazing," he said.
HIV Positive Young Person Finds Support and a Brighter Future at the Center
When 19-year-old "Adam" found out he was HIV-Positive, he began using drugs heavily to cope with the diagnosis. Fortunately, through the help of our youth counselors and a support group in our Youth Program, he found the tools that allowed him to let go of shame and stigma, and learn to love and take care of himself. "Adam" not only gave up his drug addiction, he's now helping other young people in his role as a peer educator in our Youth Program. He is living and thriving with HIV and paying it forward with his peers.
Testing
HIV testing is critically important for members of our community. Knowing your HIV status empowers you to take charge of your health, make wise decisions that are in your best interest, educate others about the importance of HIV prevention, and support for those living with HIV.
Our Programs and Services:
- Beginning in the summer 2012 the Center will become an HIV testing site for our community, providing quick oral testing and follow-up confirmatory blood tests. Tests will be free and performed by trained health educators with the goal of increasing the number of people who get tested for HIV and learn their status. This will increase prompt access to medical care for New Yorkers living HIV and help keep our community healthy.
Early diagnosis is critical to the health and well-being of those living with HIV. That is why the Center will begin providing HIV testing in the summer of 2012. It is vitally important to us to provide this resource to help strengthen the health and wellness of our community.
CONTACTFor more information or to speak with a counselor, call 646-556-9300. |
connect |
sign up | sitemap
| contact us | privacy | advertise
| reserve space | donate
now | become a center member