Current Programs & Services
Be the Generation Bridge is funded through fhi360 and the Legacy Project and is designed for CBOs to work in partnership with researchers involved in biomedical prevention research. The MOCHA Center has partnered with the Rochester Victory Alliance and the New York City HIV Prevention Trials Unit to offer education, awareness, and knowledge around HIV Vaccine and HIV Prevention Trials. The grant serves the Buffalo, Rochester, and New York City communities. Through a series of quarterly Community Advisory Board meetings, bi-monthly Community Forums, focus groups, major events, and research partner trainings, the MOCHA Center will reach out to Black and Latino MSM and Transgender communities.
MOCHA Promise is funded through the New York AIDS Institute and offered at both the Buffalo and Rochester sites. Program activities included: Peer Advocates Training; Community PROMISE EBI; Prevention Outreach; Internet Outreach; Discussion/Peer Groups; Referrals (including follow-up) to CTRS, HEP A/B/C screening/treatment, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Pathways to Care, HIV Care & Treatment; Presentations & Lectures; and Community Events. Target Groups: Youth and Young Adults ages 16-29 and collaterals who report high-risk behaviors.
Pathways to Care is funded through the New York AIDS Institute and offered at the Buffalo site as well as in the Niagara Falls area. Program activities include: free and confidential screenings for People Living with HIV/AIDS; access to Uninsured Care Programs (Medicaid, CHP, FHP, and/or other public and private health insurances); linkages and referrals (including follow-up) to Case Management, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, HIV Care & Treatment; Food Pantry; Women’s Wellness Program; presentations & lectures; and outreach. Target Groups: People living with HIV/AIDS (Food Pantry also accepts residents of 14209 zip code).
Reinforcing Education and Advancing the Development of Independence (R.E.A.D.I) is funded through the New York AIDS Institute and offered at both the Buffalo and Rochester sites. Program activities include: Risk Reduction Counseling; Prevention Outreach; Internet Outreach; Client Navigation to Risk Counseling, CTRS, HEP A/B/C screening/treatment, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Pathways to Care, HIV Care & Treatment, Housing, Transportation, and Social Services; Life Skills Services; HIV/STI/HEP C Informational Groups; and Community Events. Target Groups: Youth and Young Adults ages 13-24 and collaterals who report high-risk behaviors.
Sexual Health Promotion through Youth Leadership (SHPYL) – The MOCHA Center is a subcontractor with the Action for a Better Community (ABC) and provides services for youth in the Rochester area. The grant if funded by the New York AIDS Institute. The initiate focuses on developing youth leaders; increasing assets and strengths of youth leaders; proving training and ongoing support of youth leaders; increasing knowledge and medically accurate reproductive health information; strengthening youth and adult collaborations/partnerships in the community; utilizing Making Proud Choices – an evidenced based sexual health education program; creating social marketing campaigns targeting optimal sexual health and behavior for youth; referring youth for HIV/STI/HEP C testing, engaging parents and other adults in the community. Target Groups: Youth and young adults ages 16-24.
The New York State Taskforce on Black Gay Health (Taskforce) is a collaborative capacity building and technical assistance project between the MOCHA Center and Gay Men’s Health Crisis and is funded by the New York AIDS Institute. The services are based in the New York City Satellite Office at the GMHC. The Taskforce targets organizations, throughout the State of New York, that provide HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment and/or other services to black gay, bisexual or otherwise identified men who have sex with men.
The MOCHA Center operates a Food Pantry program through our subsidiary organization, AIDS Family Services in Buffalo. The pantry provides nutritional assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom are on limited incomes and/or are unable to work. Proper nutrition and adequate caloric intake are all absolutely essential to the health and well-being of persons living with HIV/AIDS. Clients receiving this service are more able meet their basic dietary needs and are able to choose from a menu that allows them to select food items that they prefer, accommodating various dietary preferences, needs and restrictions. Food Pantry staff provides guidance to clients in selecting foods that will create healthy, appealing meals. Personal care items, clothing and linens are provided on a limited basis. Infant formula, baby food, and diapers are also available to HIV positive mothers and their children in need.
The MOCHA Community Drop-In Centers serve as the hub, some might say the heart, of the diverse bisexual, lesbian, gay, transgender and straight communities in Rochester and Buffalo, New York. The Centers provide a safe, nurturing environment that helps even the most vulnerable of our community to find their voice, their confidence, and their network of loving care to prepare for a future where they will contribute to a society that both welcomes them as well as embraces them. The Drop-In Centers provide a combination of both support networks and programming to meet the cultural, emotional, social, health and recreational needs of the LGBT people of color and also their friends. Our current services include a computer lab, discussion groups; safer sex education groups; professional development and job readiness workshops; crisis counseling; anti-violence training and peer education training programs.
