Health Outreach To Teens (HOTT)
Health Outreach To Teens is a comprehensive program designed specifically to meet the medical and mental health needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning adolescents and young adults ages 13-24, and homeless, runaway, street-oriented, sex worker and squatter youth. These services are offered both at a dedicated youth-only medical suite on-site at Callen-Lorde, and on HOTT's medical van, which travels to areas in lower and mid-Manhattan in the afternoons and evenings where youth are known to hang out.
All of HOTT's confidential services, which are offered in an accessible, nonjudgmental, caring atmosphere, are provided free of charge or at low cost (insurance is accepted). HOTT will register young people 21 years old and younger for health care services, and provide ongoing care up to their 24th birthday. After their 24th birthday, they will be transitioned into adult care.
Services provided by the HOTT program include:
Medical Services
- General medical care/physical exams
- Gynecological exams/family planning/reproductive health
- Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections
- HIV testing
- HIV primary care
- Nutritional assessment and guidance
- Cross-Gender Hormone Therapy
Counseling and Mental Health
- Individual counseling on:
- Sexuality and gender identity
- Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse/trauma
- Depression/anxiety
- HIV and other medical diagnoses
- General supportive counseling
- HIV pre/post-test counseling
- HIV support group
- Crisis intervention
Psychiatry
- Psychiatric Evaluations
- Psychopharmacological management
Care Coordination
- General care coordination services
- HIV care coordination
- Housing and insurance assistance
- Medical specialist referrals
Health Education
- Safer sex materials
- Nutritional counseling
- STI/HIV education
- Reproductive health support
The HOTT Mobile Medical Unit:
HOTT's mobile medical unit - a fully-equipped medical van with exam and counseling rooms and a group area - is utilized to bring access to health care to young people who may not otherwise receive it. HOTT meets youth on their own terms, where they hang out, and works to build trust between clients and the HOTT staff. The multi-disciplinary team provides outreach, health education materials, health kits (with condoms, hygiene supplies, etc.), and most importantly, an entry point to health and social services.
Services at the mobile medical unit include:
- General health assessments
- Crisis intervention/urgent medical care
- Crisis counseling and HIV pre-test counseling
- Referrals
- Health education and safer sex materials
