Howard Brown Health Center Aims to Expand Services for Homeless and LGBTQ Youth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA INQUIRY:
March 24, 2015
Kellee Terrell at 773.388.8661
or KelleeT@howardbrown.org
Howard Brown Health Center Aims to Expand Services for Homeless and LGBTQ Youth
Planning Broadway Youth Center’s Move to Main HBHC Facility
March 24, 2015—Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) will initiate a community planning process to design the future home of the Broadway Youth Center (BYC) on the second floor of HBHC’s main facility at 4025 N. Sheridan Road. The BYC currently operates within a shared space of the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ on 615 W. Wellington Avenue.
HBHC officials made the announcement at the organization’s 2015 Annual Meeting commemorating 40 years of community service and the outlining the future of the organization.
“Over the past 40 years, Howard Brown has evolved its system of care to meet the unique health and wellness needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community,” said David Ernesto Munar, President and CEO. “We will continue to zealously pursue our mission so all segments of the diverse LGBTQ community enjoy healthy, fulfilling lives, including our youth. ”
Munar added, “Since its inception in 2004, the BYC has been located at three different leased locations to meet the program’s growing needs. With the rise in youth homelessness, we must respond by providing a more spacious and permanent home that can accommodate the 1,800-plus young people who walk through our doors each year seeking life-saving services.”
For the past decade, the BYC has provided an array of vital services for LGBTQ and homeless youth (ages 12-24), including day respite, food, group services, individual counseling, HIV/STI screening and treatment, laundry and storage assistance, case management, linkage to care, tutoring, a GED program and referrals to other needed services.
Laura McAlpine of McAlpine Consulting for Growth, who facilitated the 2013 BYC Task Force, will lead the planning process along with the assistance of an advisory board, BYC program staff, BYC clients, youth workers and other stakeholders. In order to communicate this progress, starting this fall HBHC will host community meetings to update stakeholders of official plans, timetables and other logistics that result from the input and strategy-development process.
“It is important for our agency to share with the community our strategy, roadmap and plans for strengthening our reach to LGBTQ youth and youth experiencing homelessness. Through the process, we will develop a cogent strategy for the BYC that aligns with other programs and services delivered at Howard Brown Health Center’s Sheridan location,” said Imani Rupert, BYC Director.
“Our primary goal is to create a process that represents HBHC’s continued commitment to providing affirming services for vulnerable LGBTQ youth,” Rupert said.
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About Howard Brown Health Center
Founded in 1974, Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) is the Chicago-based health care and research organization primarily serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning/queer (LGBTQ) community and its allies. HBHC serves more than 27,000 adults and youth each year. A patient-centered health home, HBHC provides primary medical care, behavioral health services, specialty chronic and infectious disease services, and conducts community-based clinical and behavioral research. www.howardbrown.org
About The Broadway Youth Center
As a program of Howard Brown Health Center and our community partners, the Broadway Youth Center offers comprehensive services to LGBTQA youth ages 12‐24. Services include HIV/STI testing, medical services, mental health services, health education outreach, a safe‐space Drop-In Center, tutoring, and resource advocacy. www.howardbrown.org/byc