St Louis Effort For Aids Inc

TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON THE PREVENTION OF HIV/AIDS AND TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THOSE AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE.

ST. LOUIS EFFORT FOR AIDS PROVIDES EDUCATION ON THE PREVENTION OF HIV/AIDS AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE. OUR VISION IS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT HIV/AIDS AND FULLY EMPOWERED TO ADDRESS THIS PREVENTABLE DISEASE WITHOUT STIGMA, FEAR OR HATE. AS AN ADVOCATE AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROVIDER FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH OR AT RISK OF BEING INFECTED WITH HIV/AIDS, EFA'S MISSION AND VISION ARE ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY (NHAS) OF ZERO AIDS-RELATED DEATHS, ZERO NEW INFECTION, AND ZERO DISCRIMINATION. IN 2017, 24 STAFF IN THE CLIENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDED RYAN WHITE CASE MANAGEMENT TO 1,657 PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS. CASE MANAGERS ASSIST CLIENTS IN LOCATING, EXPEDITING, PLANNING AND COORDINATING MEDICAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES, CONDUCT BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENTS AND CONNECT CLIENTS WITH APPROPRIATE WRAP AROUND SERVICES, INCLUDING TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS, AND ELIMINATE OTHER BARRIERS TO CARE. EFA RECEIVED THE RYAN WHITE PART B CONTRACT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SENIOR SERVICES, EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2017, RESULTING IN THE ADDITION OF 7 NEW POSITIONS. PART B INCLUDES THE REGIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR, CASE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION, LINKAGE TO CARE COORDINATOR, AND SPECIALTY CASE MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING LINKAGE TO CARE, TRANSITIONAL, LOST TO CARE (BEACON) AND A HEALTH COACH.EFA'S ACCESS PROJECT CONSORTIUM INCLUDED BOTH FEDERAL NAVIGATORS AND CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELORS WHO ASSISTED VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WITH ENROLLMENT IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT'S INSURANCE EXCHANGES. THE STATEWIDE CONSORTIUM IS STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED TO ENGAGE PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH HIV OR AT RISK FOR CONTRACTING A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION. THE MISSION OF ST. LOUIS EFFORT FOR AIDS ALONG WITH OUR SUB GRANTEE AGENCIES (KANSAS CITY CARE CLINIC, SPECTRUM HEALTH CARE, AIDS PROJECT OF THE OZARKS, AND WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY) IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY HIV/AIDS AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. ACCESS DIRECTLY SERVED 5,094 CLIENTS IN THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN REGION AND 13,904 STATEWIDE IN MISSOURI.EFA'S PREVENTION SERVICES CONDUCTS THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ON HIV AND OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIS) AND PROVIDES FREE HIV/STI TESTING AND STI TREATMENT. TREATMENT SERVICES ARE IMPLEMENTED ON A PUBLIC HEALTH MODEL THAT FOCUSES ON DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO FURTHER REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES. IN 2017, EFA'S TEAM OF SEVEN PREVENTION SPECIALISTS PROVIDED SERVICES TO 10,558 DIRECT CLIENTS WITH EMPHASIS ON MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN, AND AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN, WOMEN AND YOUTH. OUR HIV/STI SERVICES PROVIDED TESTING, COUNSELING AND FREE STI TREATMENT FOR 6,186 INDIVIDUALS.THE PAWS PROGRAM PROVIDES PET FOOD OR VETERINARY CARE FOR THE PETS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE TO GIVE THEM UP WHEN THEIR COMPANIONSHIP IS MOST NEEDED. OUR FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL ALSO SERVED CLIENTS DIRECTLY WITH A MEAL ONCE A MONTH AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. TOGETHER PAWS AND FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL SERVED 161 DIRECT CLIENTS.EFA'S BOARD AND LEADERSHIP STAFF CONTINUED TO ENGAGE WITH OTHER AIDS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO EXPLORE BEST PRACTICES AND ASSESS WAYS IN WHICH THE REGION COULD PROVIDE MORE INTEGRATED TREATMENT AND CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS, SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE LIVING WITH OR AT RISK OF BEING INFECTED WITH HIV AND INDIVIDUALS WITH CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. BASED ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED IN 2017 WHICH CONFIRMED THAT KEY STAKEHOLDERS AGREED COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED IN ONE LOCATION WOULD BENEFIT PEOPLE LIVING WITH OR AT RISK OF BEING INFECTED WITH HIV/AIDS OR STIS, THE AGENCY MOVED FORWARD IN 2017 TO SPECIFICALLY BEGIN COLLABORATIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE THE HIV MEDICAL HOME (HMH) INTEGRATED MODEL, AND IN DECEMBER 2017, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO PROCEED WITH DUE DILIGENCE TO DETERMINE VIABILITY OF A MERGER.