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Center Support

Providing direct and peer support services since we opened our doors

Center Support includes:

The Access Pride Project: Resources and Referrals

The Pride Center of the Capital Region is your Center for all the info you need on being queer in the Capital Region. Whether you’re in need of a LGBT friendly therapist, lawyer or wedding officiant, you can find it, and much more, at the Pride Center’s Access Pride Project!

Since the Pride Center opened our doors over 40 years ago, we have been the place for the Capital Region’s LGBT community to get connected to everything. The Access Pride Project is the revamped all new resource hub of the Pride Center of the Capital Region! Through the Access Pride Project, you can get information about; Legal resources, Trans resources, Substance abuse recovery, Education and training, Support groups, Religious/spiritual resources, Doctors, Wedding resources, Employment, Advocacy, Housing/homelessness, Social and dating, Family services, and much more!

At its essence, the Access Pride Project is “LGBT Community Resources”, a comprehensive database of community organizations providing critical services to the LGBT community and an up-to-date “Business Directory” of LGBT-friendly businesses. Hundreds of people call each month for this information, whether it’s legal, health-related or they just moved to the area. The Access Pride Project at the Pride Center has all the information the LGBT community needs.

How can you Access Pride??
Call Us! Referrals are available by phone Monday-Friday between 9am and 5pm. After hours, please leave a message and someone will return your call.

Visit Us! To speak with someone in person by dropping by the Rainbow Café! The Café is Open 6-9PM Saturday-Wednesday and 9-10PM Thursday and Friday. The Rainbow Café was the first program of the Pride Center when we opened our doors in 1970. Staffed by an amazing team of volunteers, the Café is a great resource if you are looking for information, to get connected to the Pride Center’s programs and services, or if you just moved to the area. The Café hosts special events like movie nights and community group meetings and receptions. You can also borrow a book from our Joe Norton Lending Library, and use the free internet equipped computers.

Talk to Us! Referral Night in the Rainbow Café occurs on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 6pm to 8pm. Meet one-on-one with a trained volunteer Referral Coordinator who can provide you with a friendly and comprehensive personalized approach to connect you to any and all resources you may need. If you are not sure what exactly you are looking for, speak to a volunteer Referral Coordinator, and together, you can get plugged in.

Email Us! Email your request to accesspride@capitalpridecenter.org and someone will get back to you. Make sure to include all your contact information in case we have questions about your request. You can also check out the Pride Center website as well as our monthly Community Newsletter for a complete listing of community resources as part of the Access Pride Project.

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The Rainbow Drop-in Café

To speak with someone in person regarding the Access Pride Project resources and referrals, drop by The Rainbow Café! The Café is Open 6-9PM Saturday-Wednesday and 9-10PM Thursday and Friday. The Rainbow Café was the first program of the Pride Center when we opened our doors in 1970. Staffed by an amazing team of volunteers, the Café is a great resource if you are looking for information, to get connected to the Pride Center’s programs and services, or if you just moved to the area. The Café hosts special events and movie nights, or community group meetings and receptions. At the Rainbow Café you may borrow a book from our Joe Norton Lending Library, use the internet equipped computers, or browse the Access Pride Project brochure table for information on all of the programs of the Pride Center as well as community events and referrals. Referral Night in the Rainbow Café is a reoccurring event on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month in the Rainbow Café. Whether you are in need of a doctor, lawyer, or counselor or if you’re new to the area and want to talk to someone to help you get acquainted with Albany’s social opportunities, Referral Night is the place to be! Have the opportunity to meet one to one with a trained volunteer to get personalized information and the specific resources you need.

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Peer Support Groups

    • Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Men’s Support Group:MONDAYS 7pm, The Center (332 Hudson Ave, Albany)
      A support group for GBT men to talk about coming out, sex, religion, dating and other issues. For more information, contact the Pride Center at (518) 462-6138.

 

    • Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Women’s Support Group:TUESDAYS 7pm, the Center (332 Hudson Ave, Albany)A support group for LBT women to talk about coming out, sex, religion, dating, relationships, and other issues. For more information, contact the Pride Center at (518) 462-6138

 

    • Support Group for Family and Friends of LGBTQ People:
      Every 2nd Tues of the month at 7PM at the First Unitarian Society of Schenectady, 1221 Wendell Ave, Schenectady, NY.
      A support group for family and friends of LGBT people wanting resources and guidance on coming to terms with their family member.For more information, contact the Pride Center at (518) 462-6138 or Julia Helfman at (518) 372-9911

 

  • LGBTQ Youth Group (Ages 13 to 18):
    Every Friday night 7PM to 8:30PM

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Center Counseling Services

Center Counseling services are offered through a partnership between the Pride Center and the State University of New York at Albany School of Social Welfare program. Low cost counseling is offered under the clinical supervision of Arlene Istar Lev., LCSW, CASAC.

Counseling services are offered to address issues such as:
Relationship and couple issues, family and parenting issues, healing trauma and abuse, sexual orientation and gender identity, depression and anxiety, addictions and recovery, living with HIV and chronic illness.

Due to high demand, counselor availability is limited and there may be a wait to see a counselor. This program is offered consistently from September to May, counselor availability in the summer may be reduced. For a referral to a counselor who can see you immediately, please call us at 462-6138 for a referral.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a counselor,
call (518) 462-6138 ext. 12.

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Capital Region LGBT Mental Health and Substance Abuse Network

Building on our experience and reputation as specialists connecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community members to safe, sensitive, and supportive resources, the Pride Center is proud to announce the formation of the Capital Region LGBT Mental Health and Substance Abuse Network!

The Capital Region LGBT Mental Health and Substance Abuse Network’s mission is to create a community of providers who deliver culturally competent care to the underserved population of LGBT people, including LGBT people of color and transgender individuals. The Network connects providers to each other and national organizations and best practices in order to comprehensively address the needs of the LGBT community and identify best practices.

Studies show that LGBT individuals are more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to report hostile treatment and substandard care by their healthcare providers. Due to fear of negative consequences, LGBT clients are particularly unlikely to reveal information about their sexual orientation or gender identity. To complicate these matters, some healthcare providers often lack knowledge about LGBT issues and are therefore unable to provide the necessary resources and information to their clients. By joining the LGBT Mental Health and Substance Abuse Network, agencies and practitioners commit to providing culturally competent and inclusive care to LGBT people in their care, and the Pride Center will ensure that the latest research and program information is available for Network members to continue their professional development in these areas.

If you would like more information about the Network or would like to join, please contact Program Director Curran Streett by email at programs@capitalpridecenter.org or call 462-6138. If you are a provider who would like to join the Network, please click here to fill out the member sign up form. For information on upcoming events, please see our events calendar at www.capitalpridecenter.org/events.

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Recovery Groups, hosted by the Pride Center

Providing a safe and welcoming environment for community members in recovery to meet is part of the Pride Center’s commitment to promote the well being of LGBT people.
The following groups meet weekly at the Pride Center, 332 Hudson Ave:

  • Alcoholics Anonymous, All Genders : Every Sunday 7 PM
  • Overeaters Anonymous: Every Monday 6PM
  • Alcoholics Anonymous, Men Only : Every Monday 7:30PM
  • Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous: Every Wednesday 6:30PM
  • Narcotics Anonymous: Every Thursday night. 7:30PM

* These groups are not programs of the Pride Center, they are independent groups unaffiliated with any larger organization.

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Confidential HIV Testing, provided by the AIDS Council of NENY

Second and Fourth Fridays each month, 6-8:30pm in the garden level meeting room at the Pride Center. Stop in for a free confidential HIV, Hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis test. For automated information on testing locations, call 518-HIV-TEST. For information on the Pride Center’s HIV Testing schedule, call (518) 462-6138.

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