YEAR IN
REVIEW
The Network has been busy since moving to The Center in February 2016
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JULY 31, 2016 – AUGUST 02, 2016
The Network hosts its first Network Retreat as a Center administered coalition in
Albany, NY. -
OCTOBER 19, 2016
The Network hosts its first Technical Assistance Conference as a Center
administered body in Albany, NY. -
OCTOBER 20, 2016
The Network hosts its first Budget Advocacy Day as a Center administered body in
Albany, NY. Network staff and members engage with the Governor’s office, Assembly
and State Senate leadership, government agencies OASAS, DOH and OMH and key staff
from both houses of the State Legislature. -
DECEMBER 1, 2016
On World AIDS Day, The Network officially launches its PrEP text campaign.
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DECEMBER 8, 2016
The Network releases “LGBT Health and Human Services Needs in New York State: A
Report from the 2015 LGBT Health and Human Services Needs Assessment” in
collaboration with Strength in Numbers Consulting Group.
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MARCH 17, 2017
After months of advocacy with the Governor and State Legislature, The LGBT Health &
Human Services Initiative is awarded an increase in funds, bringing its operating
budget to $5.2 million for FY18.
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YEAR IN
REVIEW
Network Campaigns
On World AIDS Day, The Network launched a text message campaign for PrEP (short for pre-exposure
prophylaxis), a pill that can lower the risk of getting HIV by over 90%. By signing up, New Yorkers
were
able to receive personalized information on PrEP and get connected to a medical provider through a
text
messaging conversation.
People texted in
of the New Yorkers reached
were referred or connected to
a provider.
of the New Yorkers reached were
people of color, which is almost 10%
higher than New York’s estimated
people of color population size.
of the New Yorkers reached
were uninsured or on
Medicare/Medicaid.
In a resolution passed by both the New York State Assembly and New
York State Senate in 2014, New York State officially declared March
LGBT Health Month. Senator Neil D. Breslin and Assembly Member
Richard N. Gottfried presented the resolutions to leadership, along
with The Network members. This year for LGBT Health Month, The
Network focused on barriers to access to health care for LGBT people
of color, building cultural competency for doctors providing care to
trans and gender nonconforming people, mental health for LGBT
youth and healthy habits building for LGBT older adults through a
social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
NETWORK
MEMBERS
CAPITAL REGION
In the Capital Region, Network members are the
core of care for the LGBT community due to a
lack of LGBT cultural competence among
primary care providers.
LONG ISLAND
In Long Island, Network members create safe
spaces for the LGBT community to build support
networks and improve health outcomes.
MID-HUDSON
In Mid-Hudson, Network members help build a
sense of community and individual pride to help
LGBT people lead happy and healthy lives.
NEW YORK CITY
In New York City, Network members help the
LGBT community access and prepare for
economic opportunities.
SOUTHERN TIER/
CENTRAL NEW YORK
In Southern Tier and Central New York,
Network members help lesbian and bisexual
individuals lead healthy lives.
WESTERN NEW YORK/
FINGER LAKES
In Western New York and the Finger Lakes,
Network members focus on increasing
competent and in-depth support for trans
and gender nonconforming youth.
ABOUT THE NETWORK
The New York State LGBT Health & Human Services Network’s goal is
to build a stronger, safer health care environment for all LGBT New
Yorkers. We work to do this by increasing cultural competency, health
care access and health education, Network member organizational
capacity, self-advocacy and leadership across New York’s LGBT
community.
Over the next five years, The Network will focus on increasing
employment opportunities and improving health care access for LGBT
New Yorkers, while reducing the health care access disparities for LGBT
people of color living in New York State.
Letter from Director of AIDS Institute
Dear Colleagues:
The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute is honored to
support and partner with The New York State LGBT Health & Human
Services Network (The Network). The AIDS Institute acknowledges The
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center for moving
The Network forward in its important work.
Since its founding in 1994, the core principles of The Network have
included responding to the needs of New York’s diverse LGBT
community and working to end health disparities. The Network is
comprised of dedicated individuals and organizations that have
positively impacted communities across New York and helped inform
our efforts at the AIDS Institute.
In 2016, The Network achieved several key accomplishments, including
the annual Network Retreat and NYS Budget Advocacy Day, their first
budget submission to the Governor’s office, and the official launch of
the “Bust the Myths, Get the Facts” PrEP text messaging campaign,
which is designed to offer personalized information about PrEP and
enhance PrEP access for New Yorkers.
In the next year, The Network will play a crucial role in improving the
quality of life for LGBT New Yorkers. Through coordination with more
than 50 LGBT organizations, programs and experts throughout the
state, The Network supports the goal to end health disparities in the
LGBT community – a critical component of Ending the Epidemic
efforts.
The AIDS Institute looks forward to our continued partnership with
The Network.
Sincerely,
Johanne E. Morne, MS
Director
AIDS Institute
To learn more about New York State Department
of Health AIDS Institute, click here.
The Center
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center currently
administers The Network. The AIDS Institute awarded the contract to
The Center, a founding member of The Network, in February 2016. As
administrator, The Center provides organizational and programmatic
support to Network members, coordinates statewide activities for The
Network and helps increase cultural competence of New York State
agencies so that they may better serve LGBT New Yorkers. In addition,
The Center works with The Network to increase funding, public
awareness and capacity of LGBT supportive service agencies across
the state.
To learn more about The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
& Transgender Community Center, click here.