Howard Brown Health Center

Founded in 1974 as an STI clinic for gay men, Howard Brown Health became a nationally recognized research and treatment institution during the development of the Hepatitis B vaccine in the late 1970's and later in combatting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Now, as a one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ focused community health systems, Howard Brown delivers high-quality, affordable health services to patient populations and geographic areas disproportionately affected by health inequities throughout Chicago. As a federally qualified health center (FQHC), Howard Brown implements a comprehensive patient-centered medical home model, which underscores collaborative health outcome management for patients disproportionately affected by chronic conditions. The agency serves more than 27,000 patients and clients each year through seven programmatic divisions: primary medical care; behavioral healthcare; STI/HIV prevention, screening, and outreach; education, research, and advocacy; youth services; elder services; and case management for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) or people at risk of becoming HIV-positive, women, and transgender individuals. With these services, Howard Brown serves its mission of eliminating health disparities and improving health outcomes experienced by LGBTQ individuals through research, education, and the provision of services that promote health and wellness. Strong community collaborations, a commitment to patient centered care, and intentional expansion in areas of unmet need have increased Howard Brown's primary care population by 38% in the past year, from 13,047 primary care patients in 2016 to 18,029 patients in 2017. This growth echoes the agency’s ability to effectively adapt and expand clinic sites and service lines to meet patient needs as they appear.