The Rush Center Inc

THE RUSH CENTER STRIVES TO STRENGTHEN GEORGIA'S LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUEER COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, DEVELOPMENT OF SAFE GATHERING SPACES AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS.

UP UNTIL ITS CLOSING ON JUNE 15, 2020 AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT OF THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC, THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) OPERATED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:1. EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, AND ACCESS TO CARE(I) EDUCATION-TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE IN LIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) HAD AN EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PRESENCE AT MAJOR EVENTS HELD IN ATLANTA AREA THAT DREW LGBT INDIVIDUALS FROM THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST. THIS INCLUDED EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION ON A WIDE VARIETY OF HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING HEALTH SCREENING RESOURCES AND REFERRALS WHICH WERE PROVIDED THROUGH:PERIODIC EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.MEDIA CAMPAIGNS IN CONJUNCTION WITH MAJOR EVENTS IN GEORGIAS LGBT COMMUNITY.SEMI-MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTERS DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 3000 INDIVIDUALSA WEBSITE WHICH INCLUDED A LGBT FRIENDLY PHYSICIAN LIST FOR A VARIETY OF MEDICAL SPECIALTIES-THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) ALSO PROVIDED EDUCATION AND TRAINING ON LGBT HEALTH NEEDS AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN SEVERAL GEORGIA CITIES. THESE INCLUDED:TRAININGS AND CONSULTATIONS TO ADDRESS SUCH ISSUES AS LANGUAGE USED ON INTAKE FORMS AND INTERVIEWS, NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENTS, DISPLAY OF LGBT-INCLUSIVE LITERATURE, AND LEGAL PROTECTIONS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO LGBT INDIVIDUALS (WILLS, POWERS OF ATTORNEY, ETC.)(II) ADVOCACY-THROUGH ADVOCACY, THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) WORKED DIRECTLY WITH:ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS FULTON COUNTY SMOKE FREE COALITION, THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR LGBT HEALTH, GEORGIANS FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE AND GEORGIA EQUALITY ON LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY.INDIVIDUALS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF THE RELEVANT ISSUES AND EMPOWER THEM TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVESTHE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) WEB SITE AS A NETWORKING AND OUTREACH TOOL OFFERING RESOURCE CONTACTS, COLLABORATIONS AND DIRECT SERVICE CONTACT.(III) SUPPORT- THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) SERVED, AT NO COST, MEMBERS OF GEORGIAS LGBT COMMUNITY, ALONG WITH THEIR PARTNERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ALSO MAY HAVE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE. THESE SERVICES INCLUDED:REFERRALS TO LOW-COST HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, SUCH AS FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS OF GA, GRADY HEALTHCARE, THE CENTER FOR BLACK WOMENS WELLNESS, ABSOLUTECARE, AND PIEDMONT AVE. HEALTH & WELLNESS TO PROVIDE LOW COST SCREENINGS AND HEALTHCARE FOR UNINSURED/UNDER INSURED MEMBERS OF ATLANTAS LGBT COMMUNITY. THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) COVERED THE COST OF THESE SCREENINGS AND CARE THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY HEALTH FUND, SUPPORTED BY INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONSRUSH CENTER ON-SITE LIBRARY AND LINKS TO INFORMATION RESOURCES THROUGH THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.)S WEBSITEREFERRALS TO COMPLEMENTARY AGENCIES THAT HELP WITH MEALS, HOUSING, AND EXPENSES (IV) ACCESS TO CARETHE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) SERVED AS A SUB-GRANTEE OF POSITIVE IMPACT HEALTH CENTERS (PIHC) FOR WORK RELATED TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA), THROUGH THE RYAN WHITE PART A FEDERAL PROGRAM. THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) DID NOT HOLD THE MASTER AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.)S AGREEMENT WAS WITH PIHC.IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GRANT, THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) OFFERED NAVIGATION SERVICES FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE. THIS INVOLVED ANSWERING GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACA AND HELPING INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND AND SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR COVERAGE. NAVIGATORS DID NOT FILL OUT THE FORMS FOR INDIVIDUALS OR COLLECT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE INDIVIDUALS; THEY SIMPLY PROVIDED ASSISTANCE. NAVIGATORS DID NOT SUGGEST WHAT INSURANCE PLAN THE INDIVIDUAL SHOULD PURCHASE BUT ANSWERED GENERAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE POLICIES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIED FOR.(V) THE SPOT (HIV TESTING / SEXUAL HEALTH RESOURCE PROGRAM)THE RUSH CENTER, INC. PARTNERED WITH THRIVE SS AND THE ATLANTA HARM REDUCTION COALITION TO PILOT A SEXUAL HEALTH RESOURCE HUB ONSITE AT THE RUSH CENTER. THE SPOT IS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN LOCUS FOR HIV/STI TESTING, SEXUAL HEALTH INFORMATION AND SUPPLIES, LINKAGE-TO-CARE AND PREVENTION, AND CONNECTIONS TO HIV SUPPORT NETWORKS. THE SPOT PROGRAM IS A TRAINING GROUND, LEADERSHIP PIPELINE AND SKILL-BUILDING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LIVING WITH HIV AND ADDS MUCH-NEEDED AFTER-HOURS AND WEEKEND AVAILABILITY TO ATLANTAS TESTING AND LINKAGE LANDSCAPE.2. GATHERING SPACESAFTER THE LAST EXPANSION IN 2017, THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.)S GATHERING SPACES PROGRAM HAD A TOTAL OF 13 ORGANIZATIONS THAT CALLED THE RUSH CENTER HOME. SINCE THE ORGANIZATIONS FOUNDING, THE RUSH CENTER, INC. (FORMERLY THE HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC.) WAS COMMITTED TO SERVING NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY-BASED, GRASSROOTS GROUPS THAT WORK TO MAKE GEORGIA MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE.