Callen-Lorde Community Health Center

We are nearing the end of the summer and wanted to send you an Mpox update. We are seeing low rates of transmission when compared to other outbreaks: Since January 1, 2026 there have been 102 people who have tested positive for Mpox, and 14 in the last month (July 12 - August 8).

There has been a small increase in travel-related Clade I Mpox cases recorded in people returning from Europe. Clade I is a more severe strain of Mpox. However, transmission levels are not high in NYC right now.

Overall, this is good news! And much of it is due to the efforts in our community to get vaccinated. So let's keep it up! Remember, in order to be effective you need to get both doses of JYNNEOS vaccine. It gives you solid protection. At this moment no booster is recommended, so it's a great time to check in with your provider if you haven't gotten or completed the vaccine series. Let's keep each other safe as summer winds down!

Callen-Lorde is performing community outreach at your favorite function. Outreach focuses include HIV prevention including the latest long-acting injectable (LAI) PrEP tools, mpox education and awareness, and overdose prevention. Keep an eye out for one of our Peers (led by our Supervisor of Community Outreach and Education, Zephyr) out and about at parties and community events near you to help answer questions and get you access to care.

And follow us here to hear about where we will be showing up next!

Interested in having outreach at your nightlight event? Check out the event outreach form to make a request: Callen-Lorde is performing community outreach at your favorite function. Outreach focuses include HIV prevention including the latest long-acting injectable (LAI) PrEP tools, mpox education and awareness, and overdose prevention. Keep an eye out for one of our Peers (led by our Supervisor of Community Outreach and Education, Zephyr) out and about at parties and community events near you to help answer questions and get you access to care.

And follow us here to hear about where we will be showing up next!

Interested in having outreach at your nightlight event? Check out the event outreach request form: https://bit.ly/4c0bwGv

Congrats to our incredible 2025-2026 Keith Haring Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Fellowship in LGBTQ+ Health graduates!

Through the fellowship, we offer a premier LGBTQ+ healthcare training program that enhances knowledge, increases compassion and brings awareness to the healthcare barriers that LGBTQ+ communities face.

Today's grads have completed a full-time, year-long program and have developed new skills to help reduce the gap in health disparities for LGBTQ+ people. We can't wait to see what they do next!

A big shoutout to all of the fellowship staff and the Keith Haring Foundation for their longstanding support and investment in this important program.

To honor Black Pride month, today we will be hosting an Instagram Live conversation between Dr. Demetre Daskalakis and Deviant's Micah Marquez about what barriers still exist for the q***r Black and Brown people and how we can come together as a community to ensure health equity for all.

Tune in to our Instagram today, August 11th at 12 pm EST to learn more about the work ahead of us in creating a healther community and celebrate the beauty of Black Pride.

To close out National Health Center Week, our CEO Patrick McGovern penned this op-ed alongside Community Healthcare Network President and CEO, Robert Hayes, detailing that when it comes to accessing behavioral health virtually, many people on Medicaid are left out.

Innovation in care isn't just about technology, and as telehealth visits for behavioral health become one of the most effective tools to reach patients where they are, we must also remove barriers to accessing this necessary care.

New York State can fix this inequity by ensuring community health centers receive equitable Medicaid reimbursement for behavioral health services delivered virtually, regardless of where the patient or clinician is located.

Read more about how we can advocate for health centers to better meet the needs of the communities we serve here: https://bit.ly/4zaPD1c

Behind every appointment booked, every check-in made, every act of care — there’s a Callen-Lorde staff member showing up for you. Now is your opportunity to show up for them.

We have collected your messages of affirmation and celebration and are proud to share them with our staff today.

Comment below and we will add your response to the growing list of appreciation.

Healthcare requires more than just a single clinical visit. Community Health Centers provide comprehensive integrated care including medical, behavioral, dental, and more — all under one roof.

At Callen-Lorde, we don't only care for an individual, we care for the whole person. And when we care for our community, we care for every individual. We can't accomplish this by ourselves and are thankful for our network of supportive elected officials, donors, community and advocacy partners.