OUR STORY

The Birth of the Alexis Project

In 1984, Dr. Astrid Heger, a visionary pediatrician at LA General Hospital, founded the first-ever Medical Hub. This groundbreaking initiative aimed to provide coordinated, high-quality healthcare to children involved with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). This Hub became a medical home for these children, offering medical exams, forensic evaluations, and mental health assessments.

As the years passed, VIP expanded its services to include the Adolescent Care and Transition (ACT) clinic, helping teenage patients with chronic medical problems transition to adult services. However, the need for specialized care for LGBTQ+ youth became increasingly apparent, particularly since an estimated 30% of foster youth identify as LGBTQ+.

In Honor of a Fierce Advocate

The Alexis Arquette Legacy

The Alexis Arquette Legacy

In 2016, the Alexis Project was born, named in honor of the late Alexis Arquette, a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. With generous support from the Alexis Arquette Family Foundation, the project was established to address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. Building on VIP’s rich history of integrating medical and mental health care, the Alexis Project created a specialized healthcare program with staff attuned to the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Landmark Achievements

  • In June 2021, the LA County Board of Supervisors released the first Care With Pride Motion.

    This motion urged various county departments to assess and expand services for LGBTQ+ people, emphasizing gender-affirming care. The motion highlighted the Alexis Project as a successful partnership between VIP Community Mental Health Center and LA General Medical Center, providing essential services toLGBTQ+ community members in need.. Alongside the determined efforts of longtime community advocates, this official endorsement strengthened the call for a designated Gender Health Program at DHS in the years to come—the Alexis Project being its first.

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  • Today, in 2024, the Alexis Project continues to expand

    As a public-private partnership between VIP Community Mental Health Center and the Department of Health Services. Operating in Boyle Heights and Lincoln Heights in East Los Angeles, the project provides tailored services to LGBTQ+ individuals across LA County.

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The Alexis Project was founded to fill significant gaps in healthcare and social services for LGBTQ+ individuals.

  • An estimated 30% of foster youth identify as LGBTQ+ (The Williams Institute, 2019).

  • Between 20% and 40% of homeless youth in the United States identify as LGBTQ+ (The Community Partnership, 2017).

  • LGBTQ+ youth have higher rates of out-of-home placements and are more likely to live in group homes (Fish et al., 2019).

  • Up to 70% of gender minority adults and 56% of sexual minority adults report experiencing discrimination from health providers (Bhat, Canella, & Gentile, 2022).

Our Commitment

The Alexis Project remains steadfast in its commitment to providing comprehensive, integrated care for transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse patients. By enhancing access to gender-affirming mental health and medical services, promoting best practices, and developing holistic programming, we strive to improve the overall quality of life for our patient population.