Posts Tagged ‘Rockland’

New Prevention Program for Women of Color Coming Soon

Thursday, September 21st, 2017
Woman of color

Image by Javi_Indy on Freepik – www.freepik.com

HVCS is launching a new infectious disease prevention program this December specifically for women of color. Our new Women’s Services Program will help prevent new HIV, STD, and hepatitis C infections among minority women in Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties. The program aligns with New York State’s “End the Epidemic” plan to increase the number of women who know their HIV/STD/HCV status and increase the number of women linked to medical care.

The Women’s Services Program will use a trauma-informed approach to outreach and prevention, since many women at high risk for these infections live with traumatic pasts or present-day circumstances, including abuse, homelessness, poverty, and immigrant status.

Our initial contract will run for five years, and we aim to serve at least 300 women each year. We look forward to sharing more news about this exciting and important new program in the future.

Rockland Pride

Wednesday, May 31st, 2017

The Rockland Pride Center celebrates LGBTQ Pride Month with a festival in downtown Nyack on Sunday, June 11, 2017.

Sign up as a vendor: https://rockland-pride-center.networkforgood.com/events/2316-rockland-pride-sunday-vendor-space

NYS Sen. David Carlucci Visits Our Rockland Office to Announce “HomeStart” Funding

Wednesday, April 12th, 2017

Thanks to New York State Senator David Carlucci, Hudson Valley Community Services (HVCS) is creating a new program for people who are transitioning from homelessness or living in a shelter to permanent housing. The program, to be called HomeStart, will supply newly housed individuals with basic “starter kits” to set up their new homes. Carlucci secured $50,000 of State funding to assist disadvantaged Rockland County residents.

We created this program to alleviate a huge problem faced by those who move into permanent housing. After life on the streets or in shelters, they often lack the basic equipment to independently sustain themselves and their families, and supplies like sheets, towels, kitchenware and cleaning supplies are not available through food banks or traditional housing programs.

The program targets under-served communities and specifically people who commonly use the emergency room and hospital for care. Our expanded care management services for people living with chronic illnesses put us in touch with an ever-growing number of clients who are homeless or in unstable housing situations. We can also customize the kits based on the number of family members and lifestyles. The HomeStart kits will make the recipients more secure and self-sufficient in new housing, and keeps them engaged in the programs and services that sustain their health.

When the Senator announced his support for the program, he said: “Newly housed individuals and families often come from a homeless situation or from living with friends or family and have no basic household items. HVCS’ HomeStart initiative will alleviate those costs by providing materials and allowing these individuals or families to direct their resources to obtaining the best healthcare they can.” We are delighted to collaborate with Senator Carlucci to ease the burden on low-income people who are restarting their lives in new housing, and we offer our sincere thanks.

World AIDS Day Rockland

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016

 

NEW CITY – The annual World AIDS Day event in Rockland will be held on Thursday, December 1st from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Quisqueya Sports Club, located at 25 Broadway in Haverstraw.

Rapid HIV testFree, private and rapid HIV testing will be available and you will receive your test results in 20 minutes.

Come learn the facts about HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) – the virus that can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Find out how HIV is spread, how it can be prevented, and the different services available for people with HIV or AIDS and their families.

“The World AIDS Day event in Rockland is a good chance to learn more about HIV and AIDS, get your questions answered, and get tested,” said County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert.

The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. Often, people are not aware that they are infected, as you can have HIV and still feel healthy. It is important to get tested so you don’t pass the infection to others. Many doctors and public health institutions, like the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the AIDS Institute, recommend testing of everyone between ages 13 – 64. How often you get tested depends on your risk for HIV infection. Get tested regularly if you are sexually active or an IV drug user. If you have HIV, early treatment can help you live a longer, healthier life. You can also take steps to protect other people.

HIV testing is especially important for pregnant women. An infected mother can pass HIV to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or through breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and have HIV, treatment is available for your own health and to prevent passing HIV to your baby.

The World AIDS Day event in Rockland is sponsored by the Health Department’s Infectious Disease Program. Call the Health Department at 845-364-2570 to find out about other places in Rockland where you can get tested for HIV. You can also call the toll-free New York State Department of Health AIDS hotline at 1-800-541-AIDS to schedule a free HIV test.

 

Rockland Pride

Friday, May 20th, 2016

Rockland Pride

For more information, please call Rockland County Pride, (845) 634-5729.

TO BE A VENDOR AT ROCKLAND COUNTY PRIDE SUNDAY,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.

HVCS’ Andi Straus Appointed to NY HIV Planning Council

Wednesday, January 27th, 2016

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed Andi Straus, HVCS’ Executive Director, to be one of five representatives of the Tri-County (Westchester, Rockland and Putnam) region for the HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council of New York. The Planning Council is mandated under Part A of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act. She was appointed for a three-year term. She is on the Executive Committee since she was also asked to be the new co-chair of the Tri-County Steering Committee, sharing responsibilities with Derrick Weekes, an Administrative Director at Westchester Medical Center. Andi is very pleased to be appointed since it means that we will have an active voice in discussions about regional treatment and services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

World AIDS Day Rockland

Thursday, November 19th, 2015

Rockland’s World AIDS Day event will be on Thursday, Dec. 3rd from 12pm – 6pm at the Quisqueya Sports Club.

Learn the facts about HIV/AIDS and get free, private and rapid testing.

 

Quisqueya Sports Club

25 Broadway
Haverstraw, NY 10927

Innovation at Work: HVCS’ New Yiddish-Speaking Care Manager

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

Because we’re always working to enhance our services and deliver quality care and access to everyone who needs it in the Hudson Valley, HVCS announces the creation of a new position to specifically serve the region’s Yiddish-speaking population. “Language and cultural sensitivity can be huge barriers to working with some communities,” said Saqib Altaf, HVCS’ Director of Client Services. “By tailoring our approach to outreach and hiring culturally-sensitive staff, we’re able to expand our services and offer help to those unable to connect with traditional healthcare providers.” Our new Yiddish-speaking care manager, Yossie Lebovic, started this month and works primarily with clients in Rockland and Orange counties.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Thursday, October 23rd, 2014

Please join us for the Transgender Day of Remembrance in Rockland County on Sunday, November 16, 2014.

The day will begin with a film to be shown at Nyack Library:

“Just Gender”

Co-Sponsored by Rivertown Film

2:30pm at Nyack Library, 58 S. Broadway, Nyack, NY

Just Gender tackles the all too often misunderstood world of transgender. The film explores the common myths and misunderstandings about transgendered people. It also explores the confusion between sexual orientation and gender identity, as reflected in the rigid binary view of the world generally held by society. Just Gender also touches on the discrimination, hardships and brutality resulting from those misconceptions and prejudices, including the numerous deaths caused by hate each year.

 

Walk & Vigil for Transgender Remembrance:
4:00pm (following the film)
Meet in front of Nyack Library, 59 S. Broadway, Nyack, NY
Walk from Nyack Library to Veteran’s Park in Nyack to a vigil and speak out in remembrance of Transgender people who have been killed because of transphobia (fear or hatred of those who are transgender or gender non-conforming). All are welcome to participate.

If you have any questions, please contact VCS Pride, (845) 634-5729 x307 or email gpr@vcs-inc.org.

National HIV Testing Day

Friday, June 20th, 2014

June 27th is National HIV Testing Day!

Do you know your status? When was the last time you had an HIV test? If you’re not sure, it’s time to find out. Whether you get a free, confidential HIV test on June 27th or set up an appointment that works for your schedule with HVCS’ staff, knowing your HIV status is vitally important.

To find out more about HVCS’ testing options, and if you’re at risk for HIV infection, visit our HIV testing page.

To mark National HIV Testing Day, the Westchester County Health Department and its Project WAVE (War Against the Virus Escalating) partners will offer free, rapid HIV tests on Friday, June 27, at the following locations:

Westchester County Health Department
Yonkers District Office
20 S. Broadway, 2nd Floor
8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Phone: 231-2500

Family Services of Westchester & Westchester Medical Center
Corner of Gramatan and Lincoln avenues, Mount Vernon
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Phone: 493-1172

Open Door Family Medical Center
165 Main St., Ossining
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Phone: 502-1479

Port Chester Open Door Medical Center
5 Grace Church St., Port Chester
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Phone: 406-8207

“An estimated 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV, and yet one out of five doesn’t know it,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler. “To find out your status, there are plenty of places in Westchester that offer free testing on a regular basis, like our Health Department clinics. The test is quick, simple and readily available, so there’s no excuse not to get one.”

The Westchester County Department of Health provides free, confidential, rapid HIV tests routinely at its HIV and STD clinics.

For more information, go to www.westchestergov.com/health and click on the clinic schedules link on the left.

WAVE works with more than 230 member agencies throughout the state to promote HIV counseling, testing and referrals.

Or check out Planned Parenthood’s free HIV testing on Friday, June 27th.

FREE* HIV TESTS
Friday, June 27

In honor of

National HIV Testing Day

Take a FREE* rapid HIV test at any PPHP Suffolk, Westchester, or Rockland health center on June 27.  Results available while you wait.  No appointment necessary, but recommended to reduce wait time.

 

PPHP Health Centers  

Suffolk County                                                    Westchester County
Smithtown: 70 Maple Ave.                                  White Plains: 175 Tarrytown Rd.

Huntington: 755 New York Ave., 3rd fl.               Mount Vernon: 6 Gramatan Ave., 4th fl.
Riverhead: 550 East Main St.                              New Rochelle: 247-249 North Ave.

West Islip: 180 Sunrise Hwy.                              Yonkers: 20 South Broadway, 11th fl.
Patchogue: 450 Waverly Ave.

 

Rockland County                                                Putnam County (**June 26)

Spring Valley: 25 Perlman Dr., 2nd fl.                 Brewster: 2505 Carmel Avenue

 

Quality. Affordable. Confidential.

www.pphp.org   1-800-230-PLAN (7526)

 

* The test and the office visit are free when visiting any PPHP health center for an HIV test only.

          ** Testing is free at Brewster center June 26 only.