Recognizing the barriers to quality medical care faced by members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, the board of directors of AIDS Community Alliance has taken the bold steps to begin the discussion of what role AIDS Community Alliance may play in finding the answer to this on-going challenge in our community.

The board of directors believes that ACA has the skills, resources and partnerships necessary to improve health outcomes in eight areas that were highlighted by the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association in its companion document to Healthy People 2010:
 HIV/AIDS (all of ACA's HIV/AIDS programming will continue and expand as needed)
 Sexually Transmitted Infections (diseases)
 Immunizations and Infectious Diseases
 Health Communication
 Access to Quality Health Services
 Mental Health and Mental Disorders
 Substance Abuse
 Cancer

In the first year of ACA's LGBT Community Health Initiative (July 2010 - June 2011), ACA will:

• work to address the disparities in sexually transmitted infections, immunization and infectious diseases.
• launch a health communication and education program around LGBT health issues.
• investigate the means and best practices of addressing LGBT access to quality health services.
• integrate a limited mental health services programming specifically for members of the lgbt community into the services offered by ACA.

If you are interested in learning more about ACA's LGBT Health Initiative or are interested in volunteering with the project, please call 1.800.867.1550 or email lgbt health.