Who We Are
Health People: Our Mission
To empower and train residents of communities overwhelmed by chronic disease and AIDS to become leaders and educators in effectively preventing ill health, avoidable hospitalization and unnecessary deaths.
FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY
A community health agency based in the South Bronx, Health People uses groundbreaking peer-to-peer education, innovative program curricula, instructive workshops, and referral relationships with other service and health care providers to empower program participants to lead healthier, safer and more productive lives.
A Pioneer in
Peer Education
1st community agency in the South Bronx to start a successful peer support program for women living with AIDS.
An Innovator in Community Health
1st to launch a community-wide initiative for the prevention and self-management of asthma.
A Leader at the Forefront of Change
1st to be approved by the CDC to offer the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), in 2013.
Our Core Values:
- Compassion
- Integrity
- Advocacy
- Innovation
- Community Building
What We Do
Health People began in a single room at Bronx Community College in 1990 as a womens’ AIDS prevention and support program, during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. Now in its 25th year, Health People has grown to become a multi-faceted health agency offering a range of HIV/AIDS services for men, women and families; prevention and support services for Hep C, STIs, mental illness and substance abuse; workplace wellness solutions for chronic illnesses such as diabetes; plus award-winning mentoring programs.
How We Help
Health People continues to successfully utilize, in all of its programs, its original model of training people most affected by disease to become peer educators to educate others and advocate for the community. Using this model, we have empowered residents by teaching them how to manage and/or prevent chronic illness through effective health management and self-care. In the process, we have inspired hope, created jobs, and improved the health of thousands of people in need. Many other organizations have studied and now use our model.
Our Impact
25
Years of Experience
500+
Peers Trained
20,000+
Lives Changed
“Before I became a Health People Peer, I was homeless and in a really bad place. But Health People showed me how to help myself and others, too. Since joining Health People, I’ve earned my BA and also a Masters in Public Health. I’m now heading up the Arches Mentoring Program, helping young men on parole build new skills — and it feels good.”
, Health People Senior Program Coordinator, 2013-14 Fellow at the Center for Bronx Non-Profits, Member of Bronx Community Advisory Board #2
“When I contracted HIV in 1999 from my now late husband, I was devastated. I had two young children at home and didn’t know where to turn. Then, in 2001, I joined Health People as a Peer and enrolled my kids in their mentoring program. Being a health educator has helped me teach my kids and others to how to stay safe, and has given new meaning to my life.”
, Health People Community Advocate and Health Educator, Member of NYS AIDS Service Delivery Consortium Advisory Board
“I started at Health People as a Peer, looking for answers for my daughter, who had asthma. I also wanted to learn more about diabetes because my grandmother died of that disease. Now I’m the Coordinator for Health People’s Diabetes & Chronic Illness Prevention and Self-Management Programs. I’m grateful that I can help people manage and prevent chronic diseases.”
, Program Coordinator; “Master Trainer,” Stanford University Chronic Disease & Diabetes Self-Management Programs; Trained Lifestyle Coach for CDC-recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program