Heat Program

02/23/2026

🚨 Severe Weather Advisory – Monday, February 23, 2026

In alignment with official advisories issued for New York City, including the Blizzard Warning and hazardous travel conditions reported by the National Weather Service, the HEAT Program at Downstate will be closed on Monday, February 23, 2026, following the hospital’s suspension of clinic operations.

All scheduled patients are being contacted directly to reschedule appointments.

We urge our community to avoid non-essential travel and to follow guidance from NYC Emergency Management and the National Weather Service.

Please continue to monitor our website and official social media channels for updates.

The safety of our patients, staff, and community remains our highest priority.

12/01/2025

Join us on Friday, December 5, 2025 for HEAT’s World AIDS Day Symposium: A Legacy of Healing and Hope at SUNY Downstate.

World AIDS Day is a moment to honor our past, uplift our community, and stand together for compassionate, equitable care. For more than twenty years, the HEAT Program has supported Brooklyn youth with HIV prevention, treatment, and holistic care.

Starting at 3:30 PM, enjoy refreshments, interactive displays, and community connection. Our ceremony begins at 5:15 PM with performances, a panel discussion, and a special recognition of HEAT staff who have dedicated over two decades to serving young people.

Event Details
Friday December 5, 2025
3:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Alumni Auditorium, SUNY Downstate

All Brooklyn youth, families, students, partners, and neighbors are welcome.
Help us honor the past and build a future of healing and hope.

10/23/2025

🔥 This Revolution Has Results

HIV diagnoses in NYC dropped 36% since 2014.
Why? PrEP. TasP. Testing.
Because the community showed up, spoke out, and took action.

💪🏽 This is what a revolution looks like.
Now it’s your turn — protect your peace, your health, your power.

👉 Visit www.BrooklynIsPrEP.org
to join the movement.

10/22/2025

PrEP = Power.
No stigma. No fear. Just freedom.
Join the — because loving yourself means protecting yourself.

👉 Get started at BrooklynIsPrEP.org

10/21/2025

Pride Starts With Protection. Power Starts With PrEP.
This PrEP Aware Week, we celebrate Pride in PrEP — because loving yourself means protecting yourself.

💊 Whether you choose the pill or the shot, PrEP gives you freedom, confidence, and control.
💬 Talk to your provider.
🚀 Take the step.
💪🏽 Join the today.

👉 Visit www.BrooklynIsPrEP.org
to get started — free, confidential, and judgment-free.

10/21/2025

🌟 Gratitude. Pride. Community. 🌟

We are deeply honored to share that the Stonewall Community Foundation has awarded the HEAT Program a $35,000 grant during their Revel 2025 – 35th Anniversary Celebration held on October 16, 2025, in New York City.

This incredible gift means so much more than funding—it’s a recognition of the young people we serve, the power of affirming healthcare, and the ongoing fight to ensure q***r and trans youth have safe, compassionate spaces to thrive.

From everyone at HEAT, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the Stonewall Foundation team, donors, and community partners who make this work possible. Your belief in our mission helps us continue to deliver life-saving, culturally competent care to Brooklyn’s LGBTQAI+ youth.

💖 Thank you for standing with us.
💪🏽 Together, we are building healthier, prouder, and more inclusive futures.

Read more about this celebration of care and community on our website:
🌐 www.heatprogram.org

10/20/2025

❤️‍🔥 Day 2 of PrEP Aware Week 2025: Love Without Fear

For men who love men: PrEP is your power, your protection, your peace of mind.
Whether it’s pills or injectables, PrEP helps you take control of your health and your pleasure.
This isn’t just prevention, it’s liberation.

✨ No shame. No stigma. Just freedom to love safely.
👉 Join the and start your journey today at www.BrooklynIsPrEP.org

💪🏽

10/19/2025

It’s the start of PrEP Aware Week 2025!
This year’s theme: , a movement for health, freedom, and power.
Whether you choose the pill or the shot, PrEP gives YOU the control to prevent HIV and protect your peace. No shame. No stigma. Just power.

⚡ Join the revolution.
⚡ Learn the facts.
⚡ Get on PrEP today.

👉 Visit www.BrooklynIsPrEP.org
to get started.
💪🏽

10/17/2025

🧛🏾‍♂️ Don’t let fear haunt your health. 💊✨
Join the revolution → www.BrooklynIsPrEP.org

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is powerful HIV prevention—available as a daily pill or a long-acting injectable (every 2 months). Both options are safe, effective, and free or low-cost for most people.

Whether you like to set it and forget it with the shot, or stay on track daily with the pill, PrEP gives you control and peace of mind.

Fear Less. Live More. PrEP Protects. 💪🏽

10/14/2025

✨ It Starts Today! ✨
Brooklyn is PrEP’d — and ready to lead the PrEP Revolution! 🚀

Join us as we prepare to celebrate PrEP Aware Week 2025, connecting our community to free, judgment-free HIV prevention resources. Learn how PrEP, PEP, and DoxyPEP can help you take control of your sexual health — safely, proudly, and on your own terms.

💥 Explore events, stories, and how to get on PrEP today:
👉 www.heatprogram.org/brooklynispreped

🩺 Powered by the HEAT Program — Brooklyn’s home for inclusive, youth-centered care.
📍 Free. Confidential. LGBTQAI+ affirming.

03/11/2025

🌟 Meet Jessica Michel: The Heart Behind HEAT’s HIV/STI Testing! 🌟

At HEAT, we’re all about breaking barriers and accessing sexual health. Meet Jessica Michel, our HIV/STI Testing Coordinator, who’s on a mission to empower young people—especially young Black women—to take charge of their health. 💜✨

From community events to wellness spaces, Jessica ensures that getting tested is easy, safe, and stigma-free. She knows that taking that first step can be scary, but she’s here to remind you that knowing your status is power! 💪🏾

🔗 Watch her full interview & read her story on our blog! https://youtu.be/ThyiFvu2gHs

SUNY Downstate

At HEAT, we take pride in the dedicated individuals who make our community a safe, supportive, and empowering space for young people. In this edition of "Mee...

02/11/2025

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 A Message of Support & Affirmation from Dr. Jeffrey Birnbaum
At the HEAT Program, we believe in creating a safe, inclusive, and affirming space for transgender youth seeking healthcare, mental health support, and community.

Dr. Jeffrey Birnbaum, Exec. Director of HEAT recently shared an inspiring message reaffirming our unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of transgender youth.

Now more than ever, support, understanding, and access to care matter. Whether you or someone you know needs gender-affirming care, mental health services, or HIV prevention resources, we are here for you.

Help us spread the message of love, acceptance, and empowerment by sharing this post. Together, we can ensure that every young person knows they are valued, supported, and never alone.

For more info visit www.heatprogram.org