Historical Timeline of Evergreen Health

The Buffalo AIDS Task Force (BATF) is established at an organizational meeting on July 14, led by Dr. Ross Hewitt with help from community volunteers.

In November, the BATF incorporates as the Western New York AIDS Program (WNYAP).

The WNYAP receives a $35,000 grant from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) AIDS Institute to begin operations as WNY’s regional AIDS Community Service Program.

The WNYAP hires its first paid staff person, a program coordinator. Volunteers answer hotline calls and reach over 100 individuals through educational programs in the community.

WYNAP staff and volunteers work together on a fabric memorial.

The WNYAP implements HIV/AIDS educational programs for community members and professionals.

The WYNAP expands to 3,000-sq. ft. of office space in the Jackson Building in Buffalo, NY. The volunteer coordinator position is created, making a total of seven paid staff members.

A small group of friends gathers at WNYAP to make a fabric memorial in honor of a friend who died from AIDS related illness, creating the Mending of the Hearts Memorial Project.

The WNYAP Legal Advisory Team, comprising volunteer lawyers from across WNY, forms to provide free legal resources for agency clients.

The education staff begins offering safer sex home parties.

The WYNAP receives funding to begin an Alcoholism Services Program and Adolescent Services Program.

The WYNAP sponsors the first Fall Conference on AIDS in Western New York.

Guests enjoying the music of Buffalo’s Outer Circle Orchestra at the first Cause for Celebration event, held at the Main Place Mall.

The WNYAP changes its name to AIDS Community Services of Western New York, Inc. (ACS) and adopts the evergreen tree logo.

ACS begins a prison initiative to provide HIV/AIDS education to inmates and prison personnel.

ACS sponsors a regional HIV forum.

ACS sponsors the first Cause for Celebration event and raises $16,000 for HIV/AIDS services.

ACS joins with 11 other Community Service Programs to establish an Association of NYS Community Service Programs, which hires a lobbyist in Albany to advocate for increasing state funds for AIDS programs.

ACS agrees to become a pilot site for the NYSDOH AIDS Institute’s new Medicaid-reimbursed case management program known as the Community Follow-up Program, which triples the number of staff providing services to people with HIV and their families.

ACS opens its first satellite office in Jamestown to serve people with HIV living in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties.

Two new support groups are formed: the Jamestown HIV+ Group and the HIV+ Chemically Dependent Group.

Volunteers at the first AIDS Walk in Niagara Square, downtown Buffalo.

The Evergreen Foundation is established.

ACS sponsors the first AIDS Walk in Buffalo.

The Evergreen Foundation begins an Emergency Housing Assistance program and provides housing subsidies to 30 families and utility assistance to 60.

An Art Therapy group is established.

The historic Roanoke Building, before renovations.

In anticipation of beginning medical services, ACS moves to 20,000 square feet of office space in the historic Roanoke Building located at 206 South Elmwood Avenue.

ACS receives its Article 28 license from the NYSDOH and begins providing primary care and HIV specialty care services under the name Evergreen Health Services.

The Evergreen Foundation purchases a historic Victorian brick house at 200 South Elmwood Avenue, now known as “The Victorian.”

Alianza Latina becomes the first affiliate of ACS.

ACS staff pose together at Buffalo Pride in 2002.

ACS and Project REACH, WNY’s syringe exchange and harm reduction provider, collaborate to open the Urban Services Center on the corner of Bailey and Kensington Avenues.

ACS launches a multi-media campaign with the slogan Getting Tested Saved My Life.

ACS opens a satellite office on Porter Avenue in Niagara Falls, NY.

Restoration of The Victorian is completed and provides 11 offices and community meeting space.

ACS sponsors a new fundraiser, Dining Out for Life™, in collaboration with 27 local restaurants and raises $22,069 for HIV and AIDS services.

ACS receives its first federal funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for prevention and rapid HIV testing targeted to high-risk communities.

The Watkins building.

ACS purchases a six-unit apartment building adjacent to the Roanoke building on West Chippewa Street known as the Watkins Building, expanding the agency’s housing services to provide low income housing, with three of the apartments available to people living with HIV.

The full staff of Evergreen Health poses together across from 206 S. Elmwood in 2007.

Buffalo’s syringe exchange program, Project REACH, and its seven staff members become part of ACS’ Division of Prevention Education.

ACS’ Prevention Education Team develops the Life Changes program, a drop-in center designed to create safe space for men of color who have sex with men and engage them in HIV testing, risk reduction and health care services.

Trustees of The Pride Center of WNY vote unanimously to join the Evergreen Association.

ACS and its affiliate organization, Alianza Latina, join forces to begin enhanced outreach to reach those at highest risk for HIV and engage them in agency services. Partnering with the SUNY Buffalo School of Public Health, staff work in identified neighborhood-based gathering places frequented by people in high risk communities to conduct observation, engagement, and linkage to HIV testing, health, and support services.

ACS opens The Wellness Center on the first floor of the Roanoke to provide safe space, structured activities, and daily lunches for agency clients.

ACS receives funding to establish two new programs: HIV Medical Transportation and Living Skills Counseling.

The Pride Center takes over planning and implementation of Buffalo’s Gay Pride Parade and Festival.

The agency changes its corporate name from AIDS Community Services to EHS, Inc. (doing business as Evergreen Health Services). The name change reflects expanded services to people living with other chronic illnesses in addition to HIV. The name of the primary and specialty practice is changed to Evergreen Medical Group.

Evergreen Health Services opens The Pharmacy at Evergreen. Located on the first floor of 206 S. Elmwood Ave., the pharmacy serves the agency’s primary and specialty care patients and is also open to the public.

Evergreen receives funding from the NYSDOH AIDS Institute for the Criminal Justice Initiative to provide education and support in three area correctional facilities.

The Pride Center receives a grant from the NYSDOH AIDS Institute to fund the Transgender Health Initiative.

Evergreen begins the process of becoming a certified Health Home as part of New York State’s Medicaid managed care reform efforts.

Evergreen purchases the Prospect Avenue Baptist Church at Carolina and Georgia Streets in Buffalo, now known as Evergreen Commons.

Evergreen’s affiliate Alianza Latina is designated and funded by the NYSDOH AIDS Institute as a Multi-Service Agency. Alianza Latina is renamed Community Access Services of WNY, Inc. to reflect its expanded focus to provide HIV prevention, testing, and community support communities of color in the City of Buffalo.

Evergreen Health Services collaborates with Spectrum Human Services and Catholic Health System to form Health Home Partners of WNY, LLC to offer care coordination services. Evergreen’s HIV Case Management Team expands its focus to serve people with other chronic illnesses.

Evergreen begins offering STI screening and treatment services with support from the Pharmacy at Evergreen.

Evergreen begins offering rapid testing for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and is approved to receive free HCV test kits from the NYSDOH.

Buffalonians enjoying the first ever Buffalo Pride Festival at Canalside.

The Pride Center sponsors and coordinates the Buffalo Pride Festival and expands related events to include a raising of the pride flag at Buffalo City Hall, the Gay 5K, the Dyke March, and the Allen Street Festival. The 2013 Pride Parade draws more than 100 participating organizations and businesses. The post parade festival is held for the first time at Canalside at Buffalo’s waterfront and attracts an estimated 15,000 people.

In partnership with NYSDOH AIDS Institute, Evergreen begins participation in a pilot program for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a daily pill that can be taken by people who are HIV-negative to prevent acquisition of HIV.

Evergreen receives its first federal housing grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Evergreen leaders breaking ground on the expansion of the Roanoke Building.

Evergreen Health is licensed by the NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) for outpatient treatment services, becoming the first program licensed in NYS using a harm reduction model.

Evergreen purchases a mobile van which is custom-designed for syringe exchange, HIV and HCV rapid testing services.

Construction begins on expansion of The Roanoke building at 206 S. Elmwood Ave.

The Syringe Exchange Program receives NYSDOH approval to open a satellite in Jamestown, to be located in the Mental Health Association building at 31 Water Street.

Evergreen leaders cut the ribbon at the new Evergreen Lofts.

The Syringe Exchange Program is approved to expand services to Niagara County through the mobile unit.

Evergreen opens Evergreen Lofts, a 56-unit apartment building for people at risk for homelessness, at 362 Genesee Street in Buffalo.

The final beam for the construction of the addition at 206 S. Elmwood, signed by members of Team Evergreen.

Evergreen opens a 33,000 square foot addition at its central offices at 206 S. Elmwood Avenue.

Evergreen is approved as a “Rapid Tx” provider to offer patients HIV treatment the day they test positive.

To address the opiate overdose crisis, Evergreen receives funding from NYSDOH to provide low-threshold medication assisted treatment co-located with the syringe exchange program and other harm reduction services.

Evergreen leaders cut the ribbon at 320 Prather Ave.

Evergreen sponsors a regional Harm Reduction Conference for area substance use professionals.

The Pride Center hosts a Transgender Wellness Conference attended by 100 providers and community members.

The Harm Reduction Mobile Unit serves 317 people with 46,779 syringes dispersed and 69,605 syringes collected.

Evergreen Health opens primary and specialty care site at 320 Prather Avenue in Jamestown offering HIV, HCV, and STI testing and treatment, as well as PrEP services.

Evergreen Health and Community Access Services open a new site at 3297 Bailey Avenue, the new central offices for CAS, where they begin offering STI screening and treatment and PrEP services.

Evergreen Health opens a Financial Counseling Center to assist patients with navigating financial and insurance components of their healthcare.

Evergreen COO Mike Lee poses at an Evergreen COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

Evergreen begins offering temporary drive-through COVID-19 viral screening in the parking lot at the Bailey Ave. site.

Evergreen purchases the building at 320 Prather Avenue in Jamestown, current site of Jamestown primary and specialty care services.

Evergreen opens dental services for patients with HIV on the second floor of 206 S. Elmwood.

Evergreen Health’s application to become a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHCLAL) is approved. Becoming an FQHCLAL supports Evergreen’s long-term organizational stability, and opens up more services for patients.

Evergreen’s new facility at 800 Hertel Ave.

Evergreen announces acquisition of the primary care clinic of People, Inc. and begins providing primary care services at a new location at 800 Hertel Avenue. The site offers a “one stop shop” for people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Evergreen Health receives its Adult Outpatient Mental Health Clinic license from New York State’s Office of Mental Health (OMH).

A new partnership with Aspire of WNY is announced whereby Evergreen Health will begin providing primary care services to 1,000 Aspire patients on site at their clinic at 7 Community Drive, with services beginning in early 2022.

Evergreen staff work at the Mpox vaccine clinic.

Evergreen’s acquisition of the primary care practice of Aspire of WNY is announced.

The Center for Behavioral Health opens a new Drop-In Center on the first floor of the Watkins Building to provide low-barrier support, shower and laundry services, and other basic necessities for people who use drugs and are at risk for overdose as an extension of the Harm Reduction Center.

The Pride Center announces a new Transgender Youth Program, supported by a grant from Evergreen Health. The program will offer drop-in services, social activities, individual and family support for gender-diverse youth under age 18.

Evergreen is asked by the Erie County Department of Health to assist with offering vaccines for the emerging Mpox public health crisis. Evergreen offers space at The Commons and staff support for Erie County’s vaccine clinic. Between July and September, more than 2,000 people receive vaccines through this collaborative effort.

Community Access Services is approved by FeedMore WNY as a partner affiliate food pantry, allowing CAS to receive free food from the food bank to stock its pantry.