Q&A
Q&A on specialized services for LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS communities
0:40:27
·
145 sec
Council Member Cabán inquires about the specialized nature of the HASA program for LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS communities. Administrator Scott French explains the program's design and approach to serving these populations.
- The HASA program is designed for individuals with HIV and AIDS, including but not limited to LGBTQIA+ community members
- Services are expected to be provided in a culturally competent manner
- French lacks specific information on the demographic makeup of the program's employees
- The program aims to provide individualized, whole-person approach to services, considering intersecting identities
Tiffany Cabán
0:40:27
The clients that were transferred the HASSA program that they were transferred to, is that a HASSA program designed specifically for the LGBTQIA plus community?
Scott French
0:40:38
It's designed specifically for individuals with HIV and AIDS, which would include individuals, right, for the LGBTQI plus community, not solely just for that.
0:40:47
Right?
0:40:47
It is available to any HAZA client who would like to avail themselves of it.
0:40:52
So it's not specific in that way, but all of the services and the expectations are that, right, services are provided in a culturally competent.
Tiffany Cabán
0:41:00
And what's the makeup of the employees of that particular hospital program in terms of the folks who are working and are part of that community, whether it's at the Intersection of the HIV AIDS community or the the queer community.
Scott French
0:41:14
I'll have to get back to you on those specifics.
0:41:15
I don't have those offhand in regards to those specific staff members.
Tiffany Cabán
0:41:19
And then I I just have one other follow-up as was discussed in fiscal 2025, exact budget hearing.
0:41:29
The GMHC, the community that they serve obviously has often has a mistrust in government and health related service delivery due to the challenges that they've experienced again at intersection of their identities and their health needs.
0:41:41
So I know you said that obviously that it's geared towards folks with HIV and AIDS where they were transferred to.
0:41:46
But can you talk more about the customized approach to provide those services to this particular population that was previously being served by GMHC?
Scott French
0:41:58
So all of our services in our hospice all services through hospice need to be developed through an individualized approach.
0:42:04
Right?
0:42:05
And our case managers, as well as those working in the vocational program are trained to be able to approach things similarly to the career services program from a whole of person approach.
0:42:15
So that means, including the intersection of someone's identities.
0:42:19
So it's really about understanding what individuals are interested in and then being able to connect them to those services that best meet their needs.
0:42:28
I don't have specifics on each of these individuals.
0:42:30
Again, I'm happy to get some more information and follow-up with you, but all of our services are meant to, you know, engage folks in that way.
0:42:38
You know, while we did have to cut this program from GMHC, right, we did retain and keep a program with them around financial management, which does serve, you know, similar clients as those in the RISE program.
0:42:50
I know it's not the same, but I did want to just