Community Support Services
The AIDS Institute funds a portfolio of services that reduce the barriers People Living with HIV (PLWH) face when navigating the healthcare system. Programs increase linkage to and retention in HIV medical care and treatment to achieve viral suppression among PLWH.
- Aging with HIV
- Benefits Counseling
- Emerging Communities
- Legal Services for Individuals and Families
- Ryan White Support Services
Aging with HIV
The People Aging with HIV (PAWH) Pilot supports the health of people living with diagnosed HIV over 50 years of age. Services include outreach, non-medical and medical case management, health education, psychosocial support services, insurance navigation, cognitive, physical, and behavioral screening services and other tailored services identified regionally that are consistent with the pilot goals. Program models include both medical facilities and community-based organizations statewide and address barriers and needs of older adults living with HIV so that they can maintain optimal health, including but not limited to sustained viral suppression, improved management of co-morbidities, and improved emotional health and sense of social connectedness.
Client Eligibility:
Must have documented proof of:
- Over 50 years of age
- An HIV/AIDS diagnosis;
- NYS residency; and,
- Household income that is not above 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for the documented number of persons in the household.
Contact:
Benefits Counseling Initiative
The two (2) funded Benefits Counseling programs offer in person and remote benefits counseling services to strengthen the knowledge and ability to navigate benefits for persons living HIV/AIDS. Services focus on individual client benefits counseling and support with navigating state and federal assistance programs and any other benefit programs.
Credentialed Benefits Counselors help clients learn about their benefits, and ensure they are receiving, maintaining, and maximizing all eligible benefits, as well as making decisions about beginning or returning to work. Clients are referred to legal and other supportive services as needed. Educational sessions/seminars are provided upon request.
Client Eligibility:
Must have documented proof of:
- An HIV/AIDS diagnosis;
- NYS residency; and,
- Household income that is not above 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for the documented number of persons in the household.
Contact:
Deborah Hanna, MPH
Initiative Director, Legal Services and Benefits Counseling Initiatives
Division of HIV and Hepatitis Health Care
deborah.hanna1@health.ny.gov
Emerging Communities
Emerging Communities designated programs are in the Northeastern and Western New York Regions, regions that have had comparatively high rates of AIDS diagnoses and present specific challenges when addressing the needs of person with HIV.
Ryan White funding supports innovative programs that are designed to assist gay men and Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) living with HIV/AIDS who are not currently engaged or sporadically engaged in treatment and care; and engage/reengage them in HIV health care and treatment by addressing the specific needs that gay men and MSM living with HIV/AIDS present with when seeking services. Services provided include Non-Medical Case Management, Health Education/Risk Reduction, and Psychosocial Support Services.
Client Eligibility:
- Ryan White eligible gay men and MSM living with HIV/AIDS who are either unengaged or sporadically engaged in HIV care and treatment and experience barriers to achieving viral suppression;
- Must have documented proof of:
- An HIV/AIDS diagnosis;
- NYS residency; and,
- Household income that is not above 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for the documented number of persons in the household.
Contact:
Joyce Parkhurst
Initiative Director, Ryan White Support Services and Emerging Communities Initiatives
Division of HIV and Hepatitis Health Care
joyce.parkhurst@health.ny.gov
Legal Services for Individuals and Families to Support Continuity in HIV Care Initiative
Services support the provision of proactive and comprehensive legal services for HIV-positive individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS as well as family focused psychosocial support services for families with minor or dependent children.
Legal assistance and representation are provided for a wide variety of legal matters including consumer/finance, discrimination, domestic violence, education, employment, health, housing, income maintenance, individual rights, and family legal matters. Family stabilization support services work in conjunction with the initiative’s funded legal service providers to promote stability for families and to ensure future care and custody plans are in place for dependent children.
Client Eligibility:
- Persons living with HIV/AIDS
- Parents living with HIV/AIDS with dependent children
- Guardians/ caregivers of dependent HIV-infected and affected children
- HIV-infected/affected dependent children at risk of being orphaned due to HIV/AIDS
Contact:
Deborah Hanna, MPH
Initiative Director, Legal Services and Benefits Counseling Initiatives
Division of HIV and Hepatitis Health Care
deborah.hanna1@health.ny.gov
Ryan White Support Services Initiative
The Ryan White Support Services Initiative funds provision of the following support services to persons living with HIV/AIDS in New York State:
Non-Medical Case Management (NMCM): NMCM is the provision of a range of client-centered activities focused on improving access to and retention in needed core medical and support services. NMCM provides coordination, guidance, and assistance in accessing medical, social, community, legal, financial, employment, vocational, and/or other needed services.
Health Education/Risk Reduction (HE/RR): HE/RR is the provision of education to clients living with HIV/AIDS about HIV transmission and how to reduce the risk of HIV transmission. It includes sharing information about medical and psychosocial support services and counseling with clients to improve their health status.
Food Bank/Home Delivered Meals (FB/HDM): FB/HDM is the provision of actual food items, hot meals, or a voucher program to purchase food.
Medical Transportation (MT): MT is the provision of nonemergency transportation services that enables an eligible client to access or be retained in core medical and support services.
Housing: Housing is the provision of transitional, short-term, or emergency housing assistance to enable a client or family to gain or maintain outpatient/ambulatory health services and treatment, including temporary assistance necessary to prevent homelessness and to gain or maintain access to medical care.
Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA): EFA provides limited one-time or short-term payments to assist a client with an urgent need for essential items or services necessary to improve health outcomes, including utilities, housing, food (including groceries and food vouchers).
Psychosocial Support Services (PSS): PSS provides group or individual support and counseling services to assist eligible people living with HIV/AIDS to address behavioral and physical health concerns.
Client Eligibility
Must have documented proof of:
- An HIV/AIDS diagnosis;
- NYS residency; and,
- Household income that is not above 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for the documented number of persons in the household.
Contact:
De Anna Davis-JeffersonInitiative Director, Ryan White Support Services
Division of HIV and Hepatitis Health Care
deanna.davis-jefferson@health.ny.gov
Joyce Parkhurst
Initiative Director, Ryan White Support Services and Emerging Communities Initiatives
Division of HIV and Hepatitis Health Care
joyce.parkhurst@health.ny.gov
Mark Perez
Initiative Director, Ryan White Support Services
Division of HIV and Hepatitis Health Care
mark.perez@health.ny.gov
