Floor Statements
Statement in Recognition of Dr. Barbara Warren's 20th Anniversary at the LGBT Center
Washington, DC,
April 28, 2008
Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. Barbara Warren who is celebrating 20 years of service, dedication and hard work at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center in New York City.
Dr. Warren joined the staff of the center in 1988 as a psychologist and only healthcare professional within the staff of six. Today, the Center has a staff of nearly 80 with a third of those in service to health programs created under her leadership. Dr. Warren is one of the greatest resources to be found at the Center, a font of information and a tireless worker for the LGBT Community and all New Yorkers. Dr. Warren has created numerous health programs, many the first of their kind, which now serve as examples both nationally and internationally. This array of programs include programs concerning HIV/AIDS, Crystal Meth, Bereavement, Alcohol, Substance and Tobacco Abuse, the Lesbian Cancer Initiative, the Gender Identity Project and the new Center CARE Recovery. Center CARE Recovery is the first licensed, outpatient LGBT-specific alcohol and substance abuse recovery program in New York State. Additionally, Dr. Warren created the Center Youth Program, Youth Enrichment Services (YES), 18 years ago, the first LGBT Youth program in the country, which has grown today to serve countless youth from all over the New York Metro area. Barbara has been active for many years in helping to secure critically important funding for LGBT social service programs through the New York State Network of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health and Human Services Providers, the National Association of LGBT Community Centers and the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, and is also a Faculty Member at the New York State Academy of Addiction Studies and at the graduate programs of Fordham University, Hunter College, Columbia University and Yeshiva University. Dr. Warren was the principal writer of the official state-sponsored (NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Service's Training for Counselors) training curriculum, which addresses sensitivity to LGBT-specific needs.
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