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AIDS Outreach Mission: To increase knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS, and to improve the quality of life for those who are HIV positive or have AIDS. Services
Offered: We provide free
HIV prevention and education programs to any group or agency in Hamilton
County. We also provide
free, confidential HIV testing in the community upon request for various
groups and agencies. For
those who have HIV/AIDS, we offer case management services as well as
medical care management services in Southeast Tennessee.
HIV Prevention and Education Program: Our HIV Outreach
department offers free HIV/AIDS educational and prevention programs
groups and agencies in Hamilton County upon request.
The information we offer is most appropriate for audiences ages
13 and up; however, our programs are flexible and can be tailored to fit
the needs of most any group. We
provide “HIV 101”, explaining the basics of the virus, how it is and
is not transmitted, and how to remain HIV negative.
Our educators are always exploring new, innovative ways to get
the message out to the public that HIV is a preventable disease, and
provide them with the tools and information they need to stay safe. If you would like to
request an HIV program and/or HIV testing for your group or agency, click
here to
receive one of our program request forms.
Just print, fill it out, and fax it to HIV Outreach at 209-8288.
One of our staff members will contact you as soon as possible to
accommodate your request. If you have any
questions about our services, please give us a call at 209-8272.
Because we’re an outreach department we are frequently away
from the phones, but if you will leave a message we will return your
call as soon as possible. Are you HIV positive
and live in one of the following counties:
Bledsoe, Bradley, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn,
Meigs, Polk, Rhea, or Sequatchie? Do
you have a loved one who does?
If so, there are several services that can help you or your loved
one live a healthier, higher quality life. Our HIV case manager
helps people who have HIV/AIDS and live in Hamilton County access
services such as Social Security and Disability and food services, as
well as providing a link to other agencies that offer help with housing
and other needs in emergency situations. Our HIV Medical Care
Manager works specifically to get people with HIV/AIDS into the medical
system. Our Medical Care
Manager assists those who do not have insurance and have limited incomes
in accessing the Ryan White Program.
Ryan White pays for HIV related doctor’s visits, medications,
dental care, and nutritional care for qualified applicants.
The Ryan White Insurance Assistance Plan helps those who must pay
a premium on their insurance or TennCare to meet those premiums and keep
their coverage active. Assistance
is also offered with getting onto TennCare.
Related
Links: www.chattanoogacares.org What happens when you
get tested for HIV at the Health Department or through one of HIV
Outreach’s community testing sites? One of our HIV
counselors will take a few moments to fill out paperwork with you that
gives us permission to do the HIV test.
Because we are a confidential clinic we do require information
such as your name and address, but we do not give this
information to others. After
the paperwork is complete, the HIV counselor will talk with you about
HIV, how it is and is not contracted (gotten), and about any ways you
have been at risk for HIV infection.
They will then draw blood from your arm to send to the lab for
testing. The lab performs a test
the EIA, which is a very sensitive test that looks for antibodies.
If that test is negative, that person is considered to be HIV
negative at the time the test is performed.
If that test is positive, the lab runs a second EIA.
If it is positive again, a different test, the Western Blot, is
performed. The Western Blot
is a very specific test that looks even more closely at antibodies,
looking for those that are related to HIV.
If the Western Blot if positive, a person is considered to be HIV
positive. *If you are tested in
the clinic, you will come back to the clinic in two weeks to receive
your test results in person. The
counselor will discuss with you what your results mean, whether they are
positive or negative. If
your results are negative, the counselor will explain that the window
period from the time of infection until a person shows as HIV positive
can be anywhere from one week to six months, and that if you have had
unprotected sex or shared needles in the last six months, you will need
to be retested to ensure you are truly HIV negative. *If you are
tested at one of HIV Outreach’s field sites, you will be given the
option of calling us in two weeks to get your results or coming in to
the clinic in person. If
you choose the option of calling, we will discuss with you how we
maintain your confidentiality and what your responsibility is for
keeping your information to receive results confidential.
When you call we will discuss your results with you and what
those results mean, as well as the window period for HIV. Questions
about HIV?
Want HIV educational services?
Need help getting HIV related medical care?
Drop us an email
and we will get back with you as soon as possible. Administration
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Community Health
| Case Management
| Clinical Health| |
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