Howard Brown provides these links for informational purposes only, and can not verify the content on these sites.  The views expressed on these sites do not necessarily represent those of Howard Brown Health Center.

Community-Based Organizations

AIDS Foundation of Chicago
http://www.aidschicago.org/about_afc/index.php
AIDS Foundation of Chicago is a local and national leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Access their site for advocacy, public policy, and latest news on treatment and prevention issues.

ALMA (Association of Latino Men for Action)
http://www.almachicago.org
Empowering Latino gay, bisexual, and questioning men by providing support, advocacy, and leadership opportunities, through innovative cultural programming.

Amigas Latinas
Support, education and advocacy group for Latina lesbian, bisexual and questioning women.
www.amigaslatinas.org 
contact: 773-661-0940 or info@amigaslatinas.org 

Bonaventure House
http://www.bonaventurehouse.org/html/main.htm
Chicago's only licensed recovery home for people with HIV/AIDS.

Center on Halsted
http://www.centeronhalsted.org/coh/calendar/home.cfm
Center on Halsted is a focal point in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community of Chicago, serving the community’s diverse social, recreational, cultural, and social service needs.

CORE Center
http://www.corecenter.org/
The CORE Center provides a comprehensive range of outpatient care to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Programs range from screening and primary care, to legal and social services.

Equip for Equality
http://www.equipforequality.org/
The mission of Equip for Equality is to advance the human and civil rights of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities in Illinois. It is the only statewide, cross-disability, comprehensive advocacy organization providing self-advocacy assistance, legal services, and disability rights education while also engaging in public policy and legislative advocacy and conducting abuse investigations and other oversight activities.

Gay Men's Health Crisis  
http://www.gmhc.org/index.html
GMHC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. Their mission is to reduce the spread of HIV disease, help people with HIV maintain and improve their health and independence, and keep the prevention, treatment and cure of HIV an urgent national and local priority.

GLSEN
http://www.glsenchicago.org
GLSEN engages the Chicago education community in creating safer schools by working with area high school Gay-Straight Alliances, funding a youth scholarship program, advocating for legal and policy change, and holding regular events for students, educators and others interested in LGBTQ issues.

Haymarket Center
http://www.hcenter.org
The mission of Haymarket Center is to aid people with chemical dependency in their recovery, by providing a continuum of optimal professional care that is responsive to the identified needs of the community.

Heartland Alliance
http://www.heartlandalliance.org/programs/programlist_categories.html
Heartland Alliance is a service-based, human rights organization focused on investments in and solutions for the most poor and vulnerable men, women, and children in our society. 

Lesbian Community Care Project (LCCP)
of Howard Brown Health Center
http://www.howardbrown.org/lccp 
The Lesbian Community Care Project (LCCP) of Howard Brown Health Center promotes the health and wellness of the lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgender community through healthcare services, public education, research, and programming.

National HIV Treatment Hotline – Project Inform 
www.projectinform.org/hotline/index.shtml
The Hotline has served tens of thousands of callers since 1985 and is staffed mostly with HIV-positive individuals who help callers sort through issues that most people living with HIV face at some time in their lives. Our operators know what it’s like to get an HIV diagnosis and how to live well with HIV.

National Runaway Switchboard
*The National Runaway Switchboard, established in 1971, serves as the federally-designated national communication system for homeless and runaway youth.  Recognized as the oldest hotline of its kind in the world, NRS, with the support of more than 150 volunteers, handles an average of 100,000 calls annually – more than 3 million calls since the organization’s inception.  NRS provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services to youth, families and community members throughout the country 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Over 13,000 youth have been reunited with their families through the NRS Home Free program done in collaboration with Greyhound Lines, Inc.  The NRS crisis hotline is 1-800-RUNAWAY.  For more information, visit www.1800RUNAWAY.org

Orgullo en Acción
http://www.orgulloenaccion.org/index.php
Orgullo en Acción is a group of Latino/a LGBTQQ community members united in working for social and political change. Their goals are to promote education, provide leadership development, and to increase Latino/a LGBTQQ awareness within communities.

PFLAG
http://www.PFLAGChicago.com
PFLAG is Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. It has seven chapters in Northern Illinois, and holds monthly support meetings.

T-PAN
http://www.tpan.com/
TPAN empowers people living with HIV through peer-led programming, support services, information dissemination, and advocacy. They also provide services to the broader community to increase HIV knowledge and sensitivity, and to reduce the risk of infection.

Vital Bridges
http://www.vitalbridges.org/
Vital Bridges helps people throughout metropolitan Chicago impacted by HIV and AIDS to improve their health and build self-sufficiency by providing food, nutrition, housing, case management and prevention services.

Government Resources

ADAP Program
http://www.idph.state.il.us/health/aids/adap.htm
The Illinois Department of Public Health administers the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). This site lists the criteria for qualification and category classifications.

CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Resources, which is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves.

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/
Access latest information about Medicare and Medicaid; download forms; useful links.

Circuit Breaker Program
http://www.cbrx.il.gov/
The Illinois Department on Aging 1) administers the Circuit Breaker program that provides grants to senior citizens and persons with disabilities and 2) enrolls qualifying individuals in the Illinois Cares Rx program (formerly Circuit Breaker Pharmaceutical Assistance and SeniorCare) that provides "wrap around" benefits with the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

DHS
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/
The Illinois Department of Human Services helps Illinois families achieve self-sufficiency, independence and health to the maximum extent possible.

Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities
http://www.hbwdillinois.com/
The goal of this program is to help people with disabilities return to work with full Medicaid health care benefits . HBWD not only encourages enrollees to work, but to increase the number of hours they are currently working. Just as the name says, the program provides health benefits for workers with disabilities.

HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau
http://hab.hrsa.gov

ICHIP Program
http://www.chip.state.il.us/
The Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan. Apply for coverage online; download forms.

Social Security
http://www.ssa.gov/
The complete and comprehensive site for social security. Includes links, resources, downloadable forms, latest news, calculators for benefits and retirement.

TARGET Center: Central Source for Ryan White TA
http://careacttarget.org

Educational Resources

The Body
http://www.thebody.com/index.html
A comprehensive resource for HIV/AIDS. You can Ask the Experts, participate in Forums, and find the information about the latest research for HIV/AIDS.

Crystal Breaks
http://www.crystalbreaks.org
Information on meth use in Chicago’s LGBT community.

Dance Safe
http://www.dancesafe.org/
Promoting  health and safety within the rave and nightclub community.

HIV Stops With Me
http://www.hivstopswithme.org
HIV STOPS WITH ME is a social marketing campaign which aims to reduce the stigma associated with HIV and to acknowledge the powerful role that people who are positive have in ending the epidemic. The campaign celebrates the contributions that are made every day by those most affected by the disease and has 45 spokesmodels from Boston, Buffalo, Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York City, Oregon, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle. The HIV STOPS WITH ME campaign features HIV positive real people talking about real issues.

LifeLube
http://www.lifelube.org/
LifeLube promotes candid and affirming sexual health education for gay and bisexual men over the age of 18. The site relies on frank, honest dialogue and language regarding sexual health and related topics. You must be over 18 to enter this site.

Planned Parenthood
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/
Planned Parenthood believes in the fundamental right of each individual, throughout the world, to manage his or her fertility, regardless of the individual's income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence.

Tweaker
http://tweaker.org/html/home.html
Asite that looks at crystal meth use and effects on the body, sex life, and your life. Includes a discussion forum and real-life stories.

Housing and Employment Assistance

AIDS Housing Info
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/aidshousing/index.cfm
In recognition of the unique effect HIV/AIDS has on housing for persons with HIV/AIDS and their families, HUD established the Office of HIV/AIDS Housing. The mission of the Office is to ensure that each HUD program and initiative is responsive to the needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS. The office performs policy, program, liaison, outreach, and program evaluation functions. One of the primary functions of the Office of HIV/AIDS is to manage the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. The HOPWA program is the only Federal program dedicated to the housing needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Chicago House
http://www.chicagohouse.org
Chicago House provides permanent, community-based housing, supportive services and basic life skills to individuals, families and children struggling with HIV and AIDS.

The Employment Project
http://www.theemploymentproject.org/index.html
The Employment Project’s mission is to help adults who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, gain stability through employment.

Interfaith House
http://www.interfaithhouse.org/index.php
For ten years, Interfaith House has provided residential care for homeless men and women in medical recovery. This 64-bed center on Chicago's West Side, offers interim housing and support to ill and injured homeless adults who would otherwise lack a stable and safe place to heal.

Renaissance Social Services
http://www.rssionline.org/aboutus.htm
RSSI provides comprehensive supportive housing services that enable clients who are low-income or homeless to gain entry into independent, permanent housing.

Legal Assistance and Advocacy

AIDS Legal Council
http://www.aidslegal.com/
The AIDS Legal Council exists to preserve, promote, and protect the legal rights of men, women, and children in the Chicago metropolitan area living with HIV/AIDS.

Lambda Legal
http://www.lambdalegal.org/
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago
http://www.lafchicago.org/
For over 30 years the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (LAF) has been providing free legal aid to hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable women, men, and children in Cook County. LAF provides advice to individuals on their legal rights; negotiates settlements on behalf of clients; represents clients in court in individual cases; represents clients in complex cases establishing legal precedents affecting thousands of individuals; works with government officials to improve public policies; works with community groups on community problems; and provides community legal education and self-help materials.

National Immigrant Justice Center
208 S. LaSalle, Suite 1818, Chicago, Illinois 60604   (312)660-1370
Contact: Hannah Rapp:  hrapp@heartlandalliance.org 
www.immigrantjustice.org 
Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is dedicated to ensuring human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, through direct services, advocacy, and public education.  NIJC’s National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Minorities (NAPSM) focuses on representing and advocating on behalf of LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants, including asylum and other matters. Experienced legal staff members represent clients, provide trainings and support materials for attorneys and social service providers, and respond to inquiries from jails throughout the country where immigrants are detained and seeking legal assistance.

Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois (TJLP) 
www.tjlp.org
Free legal advocacy for transgender people in Chicago, targeted by the criminal legal system.

Treatment Programs

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://dickeb.net/aa
A list of more than 50 LGBT-focused Alcoholics Anonymous meetings per week in Chicago.

Chicago Recovery Alliance
http://www.anypositivechange.org
Chicago Recovery Alliance offers free anonymous HIV, HCV & STD testing, HAV and HBV vaccinations, clean syringes and injection equipment, opiate overdose prevention and intervention (with naloxone).

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org
Information on Crystal Meth Anonymous 12-step programs.

Valeo at Lakeshore Hospital
http://www.chicagolakeshorehospital.com/GLBT/
Valeo at Chicago Lakeshore Hospital provides comprehensive psychiatric and addiction-related treatment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals.