Wednesday, January 8, 2025
1/8/2025
Ali Forney Center, the largest provider of comprehensive services and housing for homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in the nation, will engage those most in need of substance abuse treatment and mental health services and those most at-risk for contracting HIV and Viral Hepatitis (VH) in expanded treatment services: 18-24 year old homeless or unstably housed youth who identify as LGBTQ and are predominately people of color from across New York City. To address the high rates of substance abuse, HIV and VH among homeless LGBTQ young people, the program will expand treatment programming for ethnic and minority youth at-risk for HIV and Viral Hepatitis (VH) who also have substance use disorders and/or co-occurring mental health disorders. The goals of this project to: reduce the negative impact of behavioral health problems; increase access to and retention in treatment for mental health issues; reduce the risk of HIV transmission; decrease new HIV and viral hepatitis infections; and increase linkage to HIV care, including antiretroviral therapy, and increase linkage to hepatitis care. With these funds, we plan to accomplish the following: identify 100 youth with substance abuse and/or co-occurring disorders to enter into our program (500 over project lifetime); test 100 youth for HIV and/or VH annually (500 over project lifetime); engage those who are positive for HIV or VH in treatment, including ART for HIV positive young people; provide 100 youth with substance abuse counseling (500 over project lifetime); connect 100 youth to therapy and mental health counseling; and, reduce the frequency of substance abuse and/or maintain sobriety among 80 youth (400 over project lifetime).
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).