Dr. Robert Garofalo, Medical Director of the Adolescent HIV Program at Children's Memorial Hospital, now leads the expansion of the existing Youth Program at HBHC.
Many youth in the Chicago community miss the benefit of basic healthcare, necessary social services, educational programs, or stable adult guidance that is readily accessible to the average child.
Howard Brown's new effort targets programs and resources for the specific needs of these at-risk youth.
The program is a collaborative effort between Children's Memorial Hospital, Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago Department of Public Health, and other community-based organizations. The program focuses on the development of improved full-service, barrier-free, accessible healthcare and social services for at-risk youth—particularly amongst young women, communities of color, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender populations, and homeless youth.
Services available through current Youth Drop-In programs also prepare to expand.
'As we continue to see the rates of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, and substance abuse skyrocket amongst at-risk youth and under-served populations, the need for swift intervention couldn't be greater,' said Dr. Garofalo.
'Too often the services that are available are fragmented, geographically inaccessible, or adolescents aren't aware of or uncertain about using them.'
For more information regarding the new director, youth programming or other services provided by Howard Brown Health Center please contact Mike Stein at (773) 388-8794 or at MikeS@howardbrown.org .