Mar 22, 2022 Babs Siperstein PROUD Center Recognized by NASW-NJ as Organization of the Year

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s Babs Siperstein PROUD Center has been recognized by the National Association of Social Workers – NJ Chapter (NASW-NJ) as its Organization of the Year. The award was presented March 18 at the NASW-NJ’s 2022 Awards for Social Work Excellence, which are presented annually during National Social Work Month.

The NASW-NJ’s Organization of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments by an organization that serves the community and has made demonstrable contributions to the broader social work community and/or community at large over the course of the year. The organization demonstrates a commitment to the values and ethics of the social work profession and commitment to advancing the work through partnership and advocacy.

“We are delighted to recognize The Babs Siperstein PROUD Center for its forward-thinking work in meeting the needs of unique and underserved populations,” said Jennifer Thompson, MSW, Executive Director of NASW-NJ. “Rather than scale back services in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center increased its client base to more than 1,000 individuals in need. While the LGBTQIA+ community is under attack in many spaces, the PROUD Center is leading the charge to ensure they receive the care and support they need to survive and thrive.”

The Babs Siperstein PROUD Center recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. Opened as PROUD Family Health in 2017, it was the first in New Jersey to provide specialized primary care services for the LGBTQIA+ community. Originally starting as a one-night-a-week clinic, the center served just over 200 patients in its first year. In 2019, it was renamed the Babs Siperstein PROUD Center in memory of transgender activist Barbra “Babs” Casbar Siperstein and moved into a new space to accommodate a growing patient population.

Today, the Babs Siperstein PROUD Center serves more than 1,000 patients and is open five days a week offering services such as primary medical care, hormone therapy and monitoring, HIV prevention, health education, counseling, support groups and referrals for specialty services.

“We are committed to providing a safe, supportive environment where members of the LGBTQIA+ community are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve,” said Tony Cava, president and chief executive officer at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. “We continue to grow and expand our services to ensure that our patients have access to the health care services they need throughout each stage of their lives.”

For more information about the Babs Siperstein PROUD Center, visit www.rwjbh.org/somersetproud. To schedule an appointment, call 855-776-8334.