Boston Happens Program
Who We Are
Whether you’re HIV positive, don’t know your HIV status, or are at risk for HIV, the prospect of HIV is can be scary to confront. Here at Children’s Hospital Boston, our Boston HAPPENS (HIV Adolescent Provider & Peer Education Network for Services) program is here to help.
Since 1993, We've been caring for youth and young adults living with HIV who are 12 to 24 years old in the Metropolitan Boston area.
We also offer free and confidential testing for HIV, STIs, and Viral Hepatitis to youth and young adults. For youth with recent known exposures, or for victims of sexual assault, we offer Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) treatment and follow-up services, which can greatly reduce the chance of HIV infection.
Bilingual services (English/Spanish) are available with bilingual providers, and interpreters for other languages are also available.
Website Under Construction
The HAPPENS Team is working on updating our website. We look forward to completing all the updates soon!
Now Offering Free STI Screenings
Boston HAPPENS is now able to offer free screenings for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphillis, and Hepatatis C for young people ages 13-24. You may be eligible if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- You are between the ages 13-24
- You do not currently have health insurance
- You cannot afford your medical office visit copay
- You do not currently have a PCP or are not engaged in care
See our HIV/STI Screening Section for more information.
Treatment and care
We have specialists in adolescent medicine, HIV care, nursing and mental health to answer your questions about HIV and provide you with a wide range of health care and support services, including:
- Primary care and gynecological services
- HIV care and medications
- Full checkups and lab tests
- STD testing and treatment
- Birth control and family planning
- Access to HIV clinical trials
- Cervical and anal pap smears
- Special immunizations
It?s easy to get tested for HIV
We offer free and confidential HIV Rapid Testing, so you can get your results the same day that you come in to get tested. A member of our team will prick your finger with a very small needle, and we use a drop of your blood to run the test right here. You can know your results in only 20 minutes. And if you are HIV positive, we can help make sure you get into care and receive the services and support you need.
See our HIV Testing page for more information
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HIV Testing
Helpful Links
Donate to our program
Get the facts about HIV
AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts
Health Initiatives for Youth (HIFY)
For HIV+ youth
