Far Rockaway residents are invited to take charge of their health at the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center’s (JPAFHC) summer community health fair.
The JPAFHC is kicking off its annual, free community health fair series at its Far Rockaway location at 1288 Central Ave. from noon to 3 p.m. this Saturday, June 14. This year’s Summer Series Community Health Fair theme is “Sexual Wellness for All; Healthy Choices, Healthy Futures.” Upcoming events will be held on July 12 at the Arverne location, Aug. 2 at JPAFHC’s Jamaica location, and on Aug. 16 at the Red Hook, Brooklyn location.
The event will provide accessible health care and public health awareness sessions for people of all backgrounds and identities. Participants will have access to free health screenings, including STI and HIV testing, reproductive health education sessions, LGBTQ+ inclusive services, and family planning resources.
Participants will also have access to a direct Q&A session with medical professionals as part of the health fair’s “Ask the Doc” booth. Giveaways, raffles, and food will be available while supplies last, as well as special early registration incentives, including free food samples from local vendors.
Keisha Gilles, VP of Engagement and Strategic Initiatives at the JPAFHC, said that she hopes residents who attend the health fair feel empowered, educated, and connected to essential resources. “At JPAFHC, we are steadfast in our mission to reduce risky behaviors, enhance sexual health outcomes, and cultivate a supportive and healthier community that fully embraces individuals from all backgrounds and circumstances,” Gilles said.
Gilles explained that in reaching out to the broader community, JPAFHC is able to address and promote overall health and wellness, and connect individuals to health services. The “Sexual Wellness For All” event also creates a space for open dialogues about sexual health to reduce the stigma surrounding these conversations, especially for unmarried people and adolescents.
Gilles said that Far Rockaway residents, and the other communities that the JPAFHC serves, face a unique set of public health challenges, including higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension compared to citywide averages. By hosting the community health fair and other events, attendees can have access to free health services, including social services, health screenings, dental OB/GYN, WIC, primary, and pediatric care. “ We aim to empower our community with resources that address the social determinants of health, fostering a healthier future for everyone in all the communities we serve in Southeast Queens and Red Hook, Brooklyn,” she said.
Natana Cruickshank, director of programs at the JPAFHC, explained that the HIV and STI testing services serve to normalize this type of testing, which is a critical part of primary care services. According to Cruickshank, based on 2022 NYC surveillance data, the HIV diagnosis rate is 14.1-25.8 per 100,000 people in the Far Rockaway area.
“We see it as our duty to provide status neutral, all-inclusive services to help people living with HIV get connected to care and to support those who are HIV negative in remaining negative,” she said “This health fair offers us an opportunity to create access to these critical screenings as well as opportunities for health education and dispelling myths. Sexual health is still a taboo subject for the communities we serve, and we want to promote JPAFHC as a safe space for our communities to engage in these much-needed resources.”
The JPAFHC has had a legacy of working in HIV prevention in the Far Rockaway area, providing HIV testing and education to the community for over 30 years. For many years, condoms and safer sex products give-aways and risk reduction counseling have been primary tools in addressing HIV exposure. Within the last decade, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that helps to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition for HIV negative people, is now in the JPAFHC’s healthcare arsenal.
“In its early days, PrEP was not marketed as something for everyone. Our team works to educate our communities that PrEP is not just for gay white men but an option for anyone with increased chance for exposure to HIV,” Cruickshank said. “ We are very lucky in New York State that PrEP is required to be covered by insurance, which creates access for everyone regardless of socioeconomic status. It is exciting to offer our patients an option that they can control, even if they are unable to negotiate other risk reduction strategies in their daily lives.”
Cruicshank added that having events surrounding sexual health will help to overturn misconceptions relating to STIs and HIV, including the belief that HIV only happens to “certain people.” “HIV does not have a look or a lifestyle. Our message at JPA is clear: if you are between the ages of 13-65 years old and are sexually active and/or injecting drugs, you should get screened at least once per year,” she said.
Cruicshank also noted that a large part of JPAFHC’s programming is providing status-neutral education, because despite the advancement in HIV care and treatment, there is still fear surrounding an HIV diagnosis.
“We hope that attendees walk away informed and armed with resources to help them navigate their health, with clarity on the importance of centering their sexual health as a part of good health,” said Cruicshank. “With our status-neutral and all-inclusive approach to care, we also hope to inspire patients to consider making JPAFHC their medical home.”
