AFFIRMATIONS COMMUNITY CENTER

Since its inception in 1988, the mission of Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center has been to provide a welcoming space where people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and cultures can find support and unconditional acceptance where they can learn, grow, socialize, and feel safe. As the primary nonprofit LGBTQ+ human services organization in Metro Detroit and the largest LGBTQ+ Community Center in the state, Affirmations is looked to as the “front porch” to an array of vital resources. The center provides numerous programs and services to the LGBTQ+ community including a Welcome & Resource Desk; support and discussion groups; community education and training; mental health services and care coordination; youth programming; and community spaces, activities, and events. Affirmations is also a focal point for many meetings within the LGBTQ+ community, including town halls and community conversations, as well as offering a myriad of volunteer opportunities including guest services, outreach/education, advocacy, and special events/fundraising.

With an operating budget of $2.1M, Affirmations currently serves over 60,000 individuals annually and supports other smaller Michigan LGBTQ+ groups/ centers. The population served includes Southeast Michigan’s LGBTQ+ youth (12-22); LGBTQ+ seniors (55+); transgender/ gender non-conforming community; LGBTQ+ community; employees of small, medium, and large businesses; families of LGBTQ+ individuals; and the recovery community. The center is proud to serve all ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds in the greater Metro Detroit area; no one who believes in the mission is turned away.

From the beginning, Affirmations has conducted programs, provided services, and created interventions that build toward greater health equity and quality of life for LGBTQ+ individuals in Michigan.

Our specific programs include:

Health and Human Services
Affirmations has been answering the call for affordable, accessible, culturally competent, and affirming behavioral health care for over ten years. However, during the pandemic and at the request of the community, Affirmations expanded the program to include three full-time licensed therapists and a full-time care coordination manager to support meeting basic needs. Our clients are seen in person and virtual. If they do not currently have insurance or are underinsured, we have a sliding scale fee (no one is turned away who is seeking help). Affirmations also provides transportation assistance to those with limited or no access to reliable transportation through free bus passes and trips from a ride-share service.
*Mental Health Services: Currently our therapists see over 100 clients for mental health
services, but the waiting list continues to grow. In late 2023/ early 2024, Affirmations will grow the therapy program to include another two full-time telehealth therapists. This will expand the availability and access to affirming and affordable counseling, especially for individuals who live further away and/or have limited accessibility (no transportation or means to make in-person appointments).
*Care Coordination Services: Affirmations’ Care Management offers necessary care
coordination services to provide the kind of individualized, holistic, and reliable care to community members seeking additional support in areas such as housing, employment, education, healthcare and insurance access, transportation, food assistance, and more. This program offers direct wraparound services (transportation assistance, legal aid, name change clinics, food assistance, and housing and insurance needs). Currently, our individualized assistance services serve over 50 clients. Additionally, our care coordination services include monthly community programs such as food pantries, free legal aid clinics, housing clinics, and gender marker/name change clinics. All these services are free and are grant funded.

Vaccination Clinics and STI Testing
Free and accessible HIV and STI testing has been a cornerstone of our offerings since 1990. Affirmations has worked with non-profit community partners Matrix Human Services, UNIFIED, and Oakland County Health Division to ensure easy access to essential health information in a safe, affirming place.

We also offer monthly vaccination clinics for both COVID-19 and MPox, and we distribute educational information with the goal of increasing enrollment by LGBTQ+ individuals and allies into Medicaid within Michigan.

Youth Programming
Transportation assistance is available to all youth and/ or families looking to participate in these programs; removing barriers is key to our youths’ success.
*Leadership and Job Readiness Program: This is a 16-week, curriculum-based
program that molds LGBTQ+ Youth into leaders by providing them with career development skills and advocacy tools; offered twice a year. Topics include resume writing, interview skills, DEI training, mental health, self-care, and much more. Participants who complete this program are eligible for internships across various departments of the organization. Ages range from 14-18 years.
*Drop-ins and Events: Affirmations offers a myriad of events and drop-in opportunities
throughout the year for our youth. This includes a Pride Prom, a monthly Reading Rainbow book club in partnership with the Ferndale District Library, and drop-in hours for games, activities, and socialization with peers. All events are free.
*Art Classes: Affirmations is piloting new art classes for youth aged 7-18 throughout 2023-2024. The first session will be creative writing starting in August 2023. But other sessions throughout the year will include painting, collage, and photography. These classes will be offered for free.
*Youth Internships: This is a paid summer internship program, for ages 14-18, to work 10-hour work weeks where they learn and contribute to center projects, daily tasks, and other career-focused activities.

Support and Discussion Groups
Affirmations hosts and offers over 27 support and discussion groups throughout the week ranging from NA & AA to coming out support groups to Transgender discussion groups.