AIDS-Related Community Services (ARCS) is the largest organization solely dedicated to providing HIV/AIDS services to people in New York's Hudson Valley region. It was founded in 1983 by a small group of lesbian and gay citizens who refused to stand idly by in the face of government inaction as this disease devastated those they loved. Since then, the Agency has grown to service the needs of over 25,000 community members annually through our locations in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties. A professional and caring staff provides quality case management, client advocacy, emergency assistance, education, outreach, and prevention for adults, children, and families, as well as the general community. We believe in building partnerships with clients to guide them, and give them the information they need to make informed decisions for themselves.

ARCS’ mission is to foster prevention and reduce the transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and to ensure access, equity and justice for people who are affected by HIV in order to maximize their quality of life.

Our core purpose is to encourage life-affirming decisions on the part of all individuals.

ARCS is the service component of the Mid-Hudson Valley AIDS Task Force, Inc. A copy of our latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, from the Finance Department, or from the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.