New HIV health center receives $8 million in federal grants

Officials announced a new HIV health center at Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center was greenlit for funding Monday.
The new Star Health Center-Brookdale will receive nearly $8 million in federal grants and plans to serve more than 2,500 HIV patients.
The center will expand the HIV services currently offered at the hospital with features like substance abuse and mental health counseling.
Each patient will be assigned a "navigator" who can accompany them to appointments and make home visits.
The center is being made in a partnership between SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center.
The design and location of the center is unknown. Officials say the idea is to make the center feel like a community clinic in comparison to the current center, which was initially designed to process hospital patients.
Officials hope to open the center in the next year.