Unfortunately, many health service facilities are not open at these times. However, if additional services were offered, people would be more receptive to utilizing free health services. African-Americans in particular, were the most responsive to access health screenings if free childcare and convenient public transportation were made available. People are telling us if free childcare, better hours and convenient public transportation were made available, they would be more apt to utilizing the services of screening centers and clinics. Community groups that have existing programs addressing some of these concerns will be a part of this program in order to help provide services that are consistent to community needs.
Free services are available everywhere.
The Test, Link, Care program will help us do a better job of educating people about locating their nearest facility because we have created partnerships with many local community-based organizations, which strengthens our outreach capabilities and gives us added ability to help individuals access care. The Test, Link, Care community partners include HDG, HCCI, Iris House, Harlem United, Community Healthcare Network, North General Hospital and the New York City Department of Health. The New York City AIDS Awareness Survey was conducted in November 1999. The barriers to testing and treatment questions make up the second release of statistics from this survey. The first set of survey results encompassed general AIDS awareness questions and was released on World AIDS Day, December 1, 1999.