Lesbian And Gay Community Services Center Inc

EMPOWERING LGBT PEOPLE, BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITY.

CENTER CARE, SUPPORT & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS:THE CENTER IS A NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS (OASAS) LICENSED, OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. THE CENTER OFFERS A MEDICALLY SUPERVISED, INTENSIVE PROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE USE. IT USES A CLIENT-CENTERED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED MODEL WHICH INCORPORATES A RANGE OF HOLISTIC SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, AGES 13 AND OLDER, INCLUDING HARM REDUCTION COUNSELING, DROP-IN RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUPS, ALONG WITH NARCAN, FENTANYL TESTING STRIPS AND XYLAZINE TESTING STRIPS. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH SHORT-TERM MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, THE CENTER (VIA INDIVIDUAL, COUPLES, AND FAMILY COUNSELING) ADDRESSES A RANGE OF MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING COMING OUT, HIV AND AIDS PREVENTION AND EDUCATION, LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS, GENDER EXPLORATION, TRANSGENDER AND GENDER IDENTITY CONCERNS, IMMIGRATION, COMMUNITY TRAUMA AND MORE. THE CENTER'S LIFT (LGBTQ+ INSTITUTE FOR FAMILY THERAPY) CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TEACHES CLINICIANS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND CONFIDENCE NEEDED TO REDUCE REJECTING BEHAVIORS OF FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO ACCEPT THEIR LGBTQ+ CHILDREN WITH THE OPTION OF CE HOURS FOR CLINICIANS. CENTER SUPPORT PROVIDES COLLABORATIVE SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS 18+ TO SUPPORT THEM ACHIEVING THEIR SELF-DETERMINED GOALS AND CONNECTING TO SUPPORTIVE CARE ACROSS NEW YORK CITY. WE ARE MADE UP OF FOUR AREAS:- COMMUNITY CASEWORK- COLLABORATIVE AND VOLUNTARY SERVICES TO SUPPORT ROUTES TO STABILITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ROUTES TO STABILITY INCLUDE HOUSING, FOOD SUPPORT, TRANS AND GENDER EXPANSIVE AFFIRMING CARE, AND REFERRALS TO IMMIGRANT LEGAL SERVICES AND CONNECTIONS TO SHELTER, FOOD, AND MEDICAL CARE FOR IMMIGRANTS- PATIENT NAVIGATION- THE CENTER ASSIST COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPLORE AFFORDABLE COVERAGE OPTIONS, COMPLETE AN APPLICATION TO ENROLL IN A PLAN AND SECURE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR YOUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE COSTS. THE CENTER IS A DESIGNATED NAVIGATOR AGENCY FOR THE NY STATE OF HEALTH, THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE FOR NEW YORK THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. HIV AND SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES- PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH AND AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS. THE CENTER OFFERS ON-SITE, MAIL-HOME, KITS FOR HIV AND HEP C TESTING, SOCIAL SUPPORT GROUPS, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND EVENTS. - SOCIAL GROUPS- VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SAFE SPACES FOR BUILDING COMMUNITY, LEARNING, COLLABORATING, DISCUSSING AND MEETING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.- THE ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT ADVANCES EQUITABLE AND AFFIRMING POLICIES, PROTECTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL LGBTQ PEOPLE ACROSS NEW YORK STATE BY LEADING MOBILIZATION EFFORTS BUILT ON DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC COALITION BUILDING. THE CENTER LEADS A STATEWIDE ADVOCACY INITIATIVE THAT SEEKS TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY OF NEW YORK STATE. AS PART OF THIS INITIATIVE, THE CENTER SUPPORTS THE DIVERSE INTERSECTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO ENFORCE, PROTECT AND ADVANCE LGBTQ+ RIGHTS THROUGH PROACTIVE POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE WORK AND ALSO BY EDUCATING, EMPOWERING AND MOBILIZING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS VIA THE PROVISION OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TOOLS AND TRAININGS THAT INCUBATE AND DEVELOP THE EMERGING LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE. THE CENTER IS ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER AND CURRENT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NYS LGBT HHS NETWORK, A COALITION OF LGBTQ+ NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE HOLISTIC HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK. AS ADMINISTRATOR, THE CENTER WORKS WITH NETWORK MEMBER AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO A DIVERSE RANGE OF HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES AND RESOURCES., AS WELL AS INCREASING RECOGNITION OF AND FUNDING FOR THE CONTINUUM OF HEALTH CARE NEEDS IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW YORK.

CENTER YOUTH LEADERSHIP & ADVANCEMENT: CENTER ADVANCEMENT IS COMPRISED OF YOUTH LEADERSHIP & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING SERVING LGBTQ+YOUTH AGES 13-22 AND ECONOMIC INTIATIVES FOR ADULTS AGES 18+. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF LGBTQ PEOPLE OF COLOR, TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NONCONFORMING (TGNC), IMMIGRANTS IN THE COMMUNITY. CENTER ADVACEMENT CONNECTS LGBTQ MEMBERS PURSUING INTEGRATED CAREER READINESS, EMPLOYMENT THROUGH INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, FINANCIAL LITERACY, CAREER COUNSELING. SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION, A YOUTH CLUBHOUSE, AND A COALITION DESIGNED TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF SUBSTANCE USE AND HOMELESSNESS ARE ADDITIONAL SERVICES SPECIFIC TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 13-24. THESE SERVICES ENCOMPASS SHORT-TERM COUNSELING, OPEN AND CLOSED GROUPS, SOCIAL EVENTS, AND IN-COMMUNITY SERVICES IN SCHOOLS.

COMMUNITY BUILDING SERVICES: THE CENTER IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR DEDICATED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL STAFF HELP THOUSANDS OF VISITORS NAVIGATE THE CENTER AND ALL OF NEW YORK CITY EVERY WEEK. COMBINE OUR SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING WITH OUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEN PLACE ALL OF THIS IN A FACILITY LIKE OURS, AND WHAT YOU GET IS A ONE OF A KIND LGBT CENTER WITH A SPECIAL PURPOSE. OUR FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE A PLACE IN WHICH LGBT PEOPLE CAN MEET, SEEK SERVICES AND FIND SUPPORT. WHAT TRULY DIFFERENTIATES THE CENTER IS THE SENSE OF HOME THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THE MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE WHO VISIT US EACH WEEK. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING AFFORDABLE MEETINGS ROOMS AND EVENT SPACES FOR RENT, THE CENTER IS A RESOURCE AND INFORMATION HUB. OUR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL STAFF COORDINATE THOUSANDS OF ACTIVITIES EACH YEAR ON BEHALF OF THE LGBT ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS AND NONPROFITS WHO HOST THEIR FUNCTIONS IN OUR BUILDING. ALSO A HOME FOR THE ARTS AND EDUCATION SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE CENTER IS AT THE HEART OF LGBT CULTURE IN NEW YORK CITY. FROM THE FAMOUS KEITH HARING MURAL TO OTHER PERMANENT AND ROTATING ART INSTALLATIONS, THE CENTER PROVIDES A FORUM FOR ARTISTS, AUTHORS AND PERFORMERS TO CREATE, CELEBRATE AND CONNECT. THE CENTER IS ALSO HOME TO THE PAT PARKER/VITO RUSSO CENTER LIBRARY AND THE LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER NATIONAL HISTORY ARCHIVES. OPEN BY APPOINTMENT, THE CENTER'S ARCHIVE COLLECTION HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE THOUSANDS OF PAPERS, PERIODICALS, CORRESPONDENCE AND PHOTOGRAPHS DONATED BY LGBT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS.