2005 Annual Report - The Actors Fund

health SERVICES
In 2005, 3,955 individuals received direct assistance through the
Health Service programs of The Fund.
In addition, more than 400,000 individuals accessed health
insurance information through our internet resources.
Health Insurance Resource Center
The year 2005 was a tremendous year of growth for the Health Insurance
Resource Center. The Center offered the largest number of seminars ever
as part of its commitment to educate those in our community, and the staffs
of arts service organizations, about how to access health insurance and
affordable, quality care. Actors’ Fund representatives spoke at a variety of
local, state and national venues, including the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C.,
the National Assembly of State Art Agencies Annual Conference in Idaho and
the AFTRA membership meeting. Outreach seminars were also conducted in
Chicago, New Jersey, Philadelphia and throughout New York City. Over 660
people attended seminars led by the New York office and over 250 attended
workshops hosted by the Los Angeles office, an increase of more than 50%
over 2004. In addition, more than 800 people received one-on-one counseling
through the Center. 2005 also saw the growth of the AHIRC website, which
has become a premier health insurance resource on the internet, accessed not
only by people in the entertainment industry but by thousands of independent
contractors, individuals and small businesses.
Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic
The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic provides medical care and insurance
counseling services to under- and un-insured entertainment professionals.
The clinic, which is located at The Fund’s Aurora Residence in Manhattan,
is associated with the Center for Family Medicine at Columbia University
Medical Center and is led by a full-time medical director and family physician
from the Medical Center, along with volunteer physicians. In 2005 the clinic
added its first full-time health insurance counselor to its patient services. The
counselor helps people identify health insurance resources when they visit the
clinic, assisting them in getting services and developing a long-term plan for
Looking Ahead members Gina DeVivo, Matthew Underwood,
Chelsea Mansolino & Ryan Sparks.
employment &
TRAINING
obtaining health care.
In 2005, 1,895 people received Employment and Training
assistance from The Fund.
Actors’ Work Program
The Actors’ Work Program helped those who wanted to develop alternate
work and increase their financial stability. This year more than 1,150
employment placements were achieved through the program in such
fields as temping, teaching, political campaigning and fair housing testing.
AWP provided career counseling, job training and job placement to help
clients find work that could be done while continuing in the entertainment
industry or while developing a new professional direction. New partnerships
were formed with businesses and industries where the skills of arts and
entertainment professionals made them ideal candidates for employment,
including tour companies, arts-in-education programs, arts administration
and the fitness industry, as well as traditional entertainment, performing and
production work. In addition, AWP provided tuition assistance for clients
who wanted to return to school at such institutions as New York University,
the Fashion Institute of Technology, Baruch College, Rutgers University,
Hunter College, the City University of New York and the Florida Culinary
Institute. The AWP approach is holistic, with the goal of helping find work
that is rewarding and complements career goals while feeding the soul.
AIDS Training and Employment
In 2005, the AIDS Training and Employment Project (ATEP) assisted
those with AIDS who wanted to return to the workforce or engage in other
meaningful activities. ATEP counselors worked with individuals to assist
them in career assessment and planning, educational advisement and
funding, job searches and skill development, including computer training,
proposal writing and resume creation. Working in partnership with The
Fund’s HIV/AIDS Initiative, ATEP assisted clients in assessing their health
status and its relationship to work, exploring possible career/job/volunteer
opportunities, and analyzing the challenges and issues of returning to the
workplace while living with AIDS/HIV.
YOUNG
performers
In 2005, The Fund assisted 313 young performers and their family
members with unique, pro-active, targeted programs.
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Looking Ahead
Young performers ages 9-18 and their families participate in Looking
Ahead, The Fund’s program that supports young performers and helps
them develop the values, skills and confidence they need to make successful
transitions to fulfilling adult lives. The Looking Ahead Leadership Council
was expanded and community service activities were added to the activity
schedule.
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