Here's To Life

Mission

HTL is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit that has a mission to eradicate the suffering brought on by the dual diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and substance use disorders in adults and youth in metropolitan Atlanta by providing individualized addiction, and other behavioral health counseling, and social support services.

History

Here’s to Life (HTL) is one of Atlanta's leading providers of specialized substance abuse counseling and education specific to HIV-positive Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and Transgendered communities. Since 2007, we have provided an innovative culturally appropriate integration of primary health care with addictive disorder care for the homeless, HIV-positive MSMs, and Transgendered populations. Our innovative method begins with medical or social detoxification, mental health stabilization, and traditional drug treatment and segues into professionally facilitated, peer-infused recovery support services. Our approach encompasses a multidisciplinary team approach consisting of well-trained/licensed addiction, professionals, social scientists as well as peer-led recovery coaches.

Agency Program Description

Here's To Life is a holistic harm reduction model with a client-centered approach to provide Treatment-On-Demand with a focus on behavioral health outreach to facilitate relationships between healthcare providers’ practices and agencies addressing the various social determinants of health. Warm transfers to appropriate providers for preventive care screenings including behavioral health services provide immediate steps to ensure access to further medical services and treatment when necessary.

Here's To Life’s target audience represents Atlanta’s most economically vulnerable and underserved gay men of color and transgender individuals populations who, in addition to living with HIV/AIDS, have experienced and are at risk for homelessness, domestic violence, substance use/misuse, incarceration, and mental illness.

Led by a professional multi-disciplinary team, HTL’s program model addresses the issues rarely touched in mainstream substance abuse treatment programs. The goals are to reduce the unsuccessful attempts at the treatment that is the struggle of many of our consumers and improve the chance for MSM and transgender individuals to live successful, drug-free productive lives.

HTL’s tiered program is designed to accept and support individuals entering services from community outreach, detox or partner networks and supporting them through person-centered phases based on each individual’s unique lived experience or station on the continuum.

While the core of the agency’s services is substance abuse treatment, HTL has other synergistic services that holistically respond to varied behavioral, prevention, and social support needs of some of Metropolitan Atlanta's most at-risk communities, particularly among African American MSMs and Transgenders. Our program menu includes emergency housing, substance abuse education, linkage to care services, and HIV support groups. The agency has been able to develop a seamless continuum between services that would be considered HIV care, HIV prevention, and behavioral health treatment.