Alder Health Services

Founded by a group of concerned citizens in a church basement in Lancaster City in order to address the growing local AIDS epidemic, Alder Health Services began providing services to the South Central Pennsylvania community as the Lancaster AIDS Project in 1985. Originally, an all-volunteer organization exclusively serving Lancaster County, the Agency slowly expanded to meet the changing needs of the growing number of people living with HIV throughout South Central Pennsylvania. Services were added in Lebanon County in 1994 and the Agency changed its name to AIDS Community Alliance in 1996 at the time that programming was launched in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry Counties.

Building upon the Agency's 25 years of experience providing HIV/AIDS services, HIV-related housing services and HIV prevention programming to fourteen counties throughout South Central Pennsylvania, the organization began a new journey in February 2010. Physically, the Agency moved to its new administrative office at 100 N. Cameron St., Ste. 301-East, Harrisburg. The real journey, however, began long before the movers arrived.

Throughout the summer and fall of 2009, the board of directors had debated and sought feedback from friends, coworkers and members of the community to determine what the future of Agency should include. Should the Agency continue to focus exclusively on the challenges of HIV in South Central Pennsylvania? Should the organization expand and use its skills to address other challenges facing the communities it serves? At the culmination of the strategic planning process-on the night before the Agency's big move-the board of directors approved a new expanded goal statement to guide the Agency as it continued to evolve.

While fully committed to the continuation and expansion of the high-quality HIV/AIDS care and supportive services, HIV-related housing services, and HIV prevention programming, the Agency, under the new name of Alder Health Services works to impact positively the health disparities experienced by populations who have traditionally been marginalized by the mainstream healthcare system.

Today, Alder Health operates health centers providing medical care, mental health services, support services, STD screenings and treatment, HIV testing and health and wellness programming in Harrisburg and Lancaster.  Individuals from throughout South Central Pennsylvania access the program daily.

The Roots of Our Name: Alder Health Services

The name Alder Health Services was adopted in October 2010 to reflect the expanded services and programs of the organization. The name was inspired by the Alder Tree which according to Celtic tradition is giving and nurturing. The Alder Tree restores poor soil to health and provides shelter against harsh conditions. Within the Celtic Tree Zodiac, the Alder is a trailblazer who is extremely focused, dislikes waste and is motivated by action. 
The board of directors believes that, like the Alder, the services of Alder Health Services are innovative and nurturing while fully committed to bringing health and comfort to those who are often left out of the current systems and services in the community.