The Help Line

For many Staten Islanders afflicted with HIV/AIDS, the Helpline (718-HIV-CALL) is a first step toward getting the help they need.  This telephone hotline operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., answering hundreds of calls each year on such topics as HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment issues, information and referral resources and counseling issues. 

Information & Referral Services:

Consumers, providers and general community members can receive services from a trained and caring Information & Referral Counselor at each of the agency’s three storefront sites, 25 Hyatt Street in St. George, (The PLACE), 380 Van Duzer Street in Stapleton and 166 Port Richmond Avenue in Port Richmond. Our hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Available services include:

• referrals to health, mental health and social services on Staten Island and throughout New York City;
• one-to-one counseling and crisis intervention;

• confidential HIV counseling and testing;
• intakes for case management services for people living with or at risk for HIV;
• assistance in applying for Medicaid, Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus and the New York State AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP);

information on a variety of health and wellness related topics, including but not limited to:

• HIV and AIDS transmission, prevention and treatment;
• Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections (STIs)
• Hepatitis A, B and C
• Pregnancy, birth control and reproductive health
• Alternative and complementary therapies
• Community resources
• Alcohol and substance use, treatment, recovery and harm reduction
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues and resources
• Epidemiological data for students and service providers

Each site has a supply of periodicals, newsletters,  pamphlets, books, and videotapes as well as Internet access for referrals and research assistance.

The Port Richmond Information & Referral Counselor is bilingual in English and Spanish, and a Peer Educator who speaks French and a number of African languages is available at The PLACE on Mondays and Thursdays.