AIDS Service Center NYC

The Alliance for Positive Change - formerly known as AIDS Service Center NYC (ASCNYC) - is a community organization that helps New Yorkers living with HIV and other chronic illnesses. Founded in 1990[1] by CEO Sharen Duke, ASCNYC provides direct services to over 1,800 New Yorkers per year, while its peer education programs and community outreach initiatives reach an additional 18,000. In 2017, the organization formally changed its name to The Alliance for Positive Change. This change came as the nonprofit expanded to help more New Yorkers with substance use and mental health issues, and program participants with chronic illnesses such as hepatitis, diabetes, and heart disease.[2]

The Alliance for Positive Change (formerly AIDS Service Center NYC
Founded1990
FounderSharen Duke
FocusHIV/AIDS
Location
Employees
95

The Alliance for Positive Change transforms lives of New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. It helps people access medical care, manage and overcome addiction, escape homelessness, get back to work, and find community. By addressing the underlying issues that contribute to poor health, the Alliance’s individualized, full-service approach and harm reduction philosophy help New Yorkers lead healthier, more self-sufficient lives.[3]

Based in midtown New York, ASCNYC partnered with the Keith Haring Foundation[4][5] to open the Keith Haring ASC Harlem Center in 2010 [6][7] and opened CASA Washington Heights to serve New York's Washington heights community in 2011. In 2016, the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center joined Alliance. Alliance's currently has six locations, which also includes Pelham Grand Supportive Housing in the Bronx and the Luis & Lillian Outreach Center in the Lower East Side.

Alliance partners with New York hospitals, such as Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital for care coordination and case management for patients with HIV/AIDS. ASCNYC is a member of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies.[8]

In 2009, singer John Legend gave ASCNYC permission to remix his song "If You're Out There" to create a music video promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and testing.[9] The video was launched at ASCNYC's annual Safer Sex in the City fundraiser.

Alliance programs and services promote the well-being, empowerment, and stability of persons living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. Program highlights include:

  • Peer Training Institute annually trains over 350 people affected by HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and substance use to be prevention and harm reduction Peer Interns
  • Comprehensive care coordination for 3,890 people living with chronic conditions per year, including medical, housing, substance abuse treatment, translation assistance, mental health services, entitlements advocacy, and childcare aid
  • Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center provides harm reduction services for over 1,900 individuals, and distributes almost 200,000 sterile syringes each year.
  • Reentry support services for over 700 men and women annually
  • Basic needs program that provides over 39,000 meals, as well as clothes, hygiene kits, food pantry and emergency aid for over 13,400 individuals and families annually
  • Specialized support and care navigation services for 1,966 women
  • 25 weekly support groups, educational workshops, and recreational activities

Alliance participates annually in Dining Out For Life each April, partnering with restaurants to raise funds to support HIV/AIDS-focused organizations.  In 2019, Alliance launched Manhattan HOPE in partnership with the NYPD and New York County District Attorney’s Office. Under the program, persons arrested for possessing a controlled substance can avoid prosecution if they complete minimal requirements through our free diversion program. And in June 2019, Alliance launched, Alliance on the Move, a mobile van that heads to communities across the city to provide free, life-saving HIV testing, prevention, health care, and harm reduction services.

References
  1. "AIDS Service Center NYC - Message from the Executive Director". Archived from the original on 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  2. West, Melanie Grayce (2017-10-16). "New York HIV Nonprofits Expand Services to Other Health Issues". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  3. "Overview". The Alliance. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  4. Keith Haring website, list of Keith Haring Foundation Grants Archived November 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. AIDS Service Center NYC to Open Keith Haring ASC Harlem Center - Global Cocktail - Gay Travel Blog - Passport Magazine Archived July 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Poz Magazine, June 2010 Archived March 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Rep. Charles B. Rangel website: Rangel Welcomes New AIDS Services In East Harlem Archived February 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, list of member agencies
  9. New York Daily News, June 22, 2009
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