2020 Annual Report: https://annualreport.howardbrown.org/
Howard Brown Health was founded in 1974 and is now one of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) organizations. With an annual budget of over $145 million, the agency serves more than 40,000 adults and youth in its diverse health and social service delivery system focused around seven major programmatic divisions: primary medical care, behavioral health, research, HIV/STI prevention, youth services, elder services, and community initiatives. Howard Brown serves men, women, trans and gender non-conforming folks, infants, youth, and children through a multi-site operation based in Chicago that includes a main health and research center in the Uptown neighborhood, Howard Brown Health Sheridan, and our other clinics Howard Brown Health Halsted in Lakeview, Howard Brown Health Clark in Rogers Park, Howard Brown Health 63rd Street in Englewood, Howard Brown Health 55th Street in Hyde Park, Howard Brown Health at Thresholds South in Back of the Yards, Howard Brown Health at La Casa Norte in Humboldt Park, the Broadway Youth Center, and three Brown Elephant resale shops in Chicago (Lakeview and Andersonville neighborhoods) and Oak Park.
2020 Annual Report: https://annualreport.howardbrown.org/
Image Social Determinants of Health
https://howardbrown.org/era/advocacy/
ERA’s advocacy team focuses on initiatives that improve the health and lives of people within the LGBTQ+ community who need it most. We work to advance patient access to affirming health care and address social determinants of health. We advocate for progressive public policy, participate in grassroots efforts, and lead community education initiatives that support our four primary focus areas:
All people deserve the right to affordable and affirming healthcare. For LGBTQ+ individuals, finding such healthcare can be an even bigger challenge. Our advocacy team is working with partner organizations to ensure that both our patients and the greater LGBTQ+ community in Chicago and beyond have the healthcare they need to live their best lives.
We work with local state and national representatives to ensure that LGBTQ+ people’s experiences are equally represented in the lawmaking process. Howard Brown Health participates in Transgender Lobby Day, Community Health Centers Lobby Day through the National Association for Community Health Centers (NACHC), and advances local LGBTQ+ initiatives that improve the health and well-being of our community.
Navigating insurance and healthcare systems can be a daunting task, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals. Howard Brown Health is dedicated to standing up with our patients when equal treatment becomes a barrier to one’s health. We work with our insurance navigators and partners to help identify patient concerns and the trends that allow for systemic discrimination in the healthcare industry.
We partner with local and national organizations to both create and impact law and policy that help improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people. Our team collaborates with partners, offering insight into how policies may impact our patients and the broader LGBTQ+ community. We continue to work with our partner advocacy and legal organizations to support LGBTQ+ affirming policies and push back against policies that put our community and their well-being at risk.
