HIV and AIDS Programs

The Legal Action Center works to prevent HIV/AIDS and reduce the harm it causes to many thousands of individuals and their families and friends by:

• protecting people with HIV disease against discrimination and violations of privacy and providing assistance on other legal issues;
• advocating for expanded prevention, care and other services, including syringe exchange and harm reduction services for drug users;
• analyzing links between HIV/AIDS, alcohol and drug use and other public health and social problems, and devising innovative responses to these issues; and
• providing training and assistance to individuals, service providers and government agencies on discrimination, confidentiality, HIV testing, government benefits, family law, living wills and health care proxies, permanency planning, HIV/AIDS reporting, partner notification, syringe deregulation, and other issues.

The Legal Action Center provides programs both Nationally and within New York State.

NATIONAL HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS Legal Services • LAC provides legal assistance to people in recovery, people with HIV, and people with criminal records who suffer from discrimination or violations of privacy Policy Advocacy • LAC advocates for the expansion of drug and alcohol and HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and research • LAC advocates for welfare reform policies that promote employment and sobriety for people with a history of alcohol or drug problems • LAC works to end discrimination against people in recovery and people with HIV/AIDS Research • LAC conducts research on the interactions of the addiction treatment and prevention field and other systems, including how Medicaid & TANF can fund increased access to alcohol and drug treatment • LAC conducts research on the legal barriers facing people with criminal records in all 50 states   NEW YORK HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS Policy Advocacy • LAC works to expand prevention, treatment and care services for people at risk for or affected by HIV and AIDS, including expansion of safe, legal access to clean needles • LAC monitors implementation of New York’s case reporting and partner notification laws • LAC advocates to protect confidentiality and fight discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS Legal Assistance • LAC provides legal assistance to people with HIV/AIDS who suffer from discrimination, violations of privacy, or other legal problems • LAC provides training and technical assistance to agencies that work people with HIV/AIDS to protect confidentiality, overcome discrimination, and address other legal problems