Southern Arizona Aids Foundation

TO INCREASE AN AWARENESS OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA THROUGH EDUCATION, AS WELL AS PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HIV/AIDS

CARE SERVICES: THE CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT ENSURES THAT PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN OPTIMAL HEALTH AND LIVE AS INDEPENDENTLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE. SAAF CONTINUES TO PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING, PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES. CARE SERVICES PROGRAMS ARE GROUPED INTO THREE PRIMARY AREAS: CASE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND HOUSING SERVICES.OF ALL THE PEOPLE SERVED LAST YEAR, 92% WERE LOW, VERY LOW, OR EXTREMELY LOW INCOME, WITH 53% LIVING BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. DUE TO THE ONGOING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND THE STRESS OF LIVING WITH LIMITED INCOMES, THE DEMAND REMAINED HIGH FOR BASIC SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING HOUSING, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, EMERGENCY RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS ESSENTIAL MEDICAL SERVICES INCLUDING DENTAL CARE AND MEDICAL BENEFITS MANAGEMENT.SAAF PROVIDED SERVICES TO 1,516 PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AND THEIR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA INCLUDING PIMA, COCHISE, SANTA CRUZ, GRAHAM, AND GREENLEE COUNTIES. OF THESE, 122 WERE NEW CLIENTS TO SAAF.CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES - CASE MANAGEMENT PROVIDED NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF CARE AND ACTION PLANS, AND PROVISION OF OR REFERRAL TO NECESSARY SERVICES. CASE MANAGERS SUPPORTED CLIENTS BY LINKING THEM TO MEDICAL CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, AND OTHER NECESSARY SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS.SUPPORT SERVICES - COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES - DENTAL SERVICES (PROVIDED STATEWIDE EXCEPT FOR MARICOPA AND PINAL COUNTIES) - FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES, INCLUDING THE FOOD FOR LIFE PROGRAM AND THE FOOD PANTRY, ENSURE DISTRIBUTION, HARVEST DAYS, EMERGENCY MEALS - HOLIDAY PROJECT - MEDICATION BENEFITS MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE ENROLLED THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT FEDERALLY FACILITATED MARKETPLACE'S (PROVIDED STATEWIDE) - MEDICAL BENEFITS COST SHARING ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE ENROLLED IN STATEWIDE ADAP PROGRAM - SUPPORT GROUPS - TRANSPORTATION SERVICES - HYGIENE/CLEANING SUPPLIES - OTHER PERSONAL SUPPORT SERVICESHOUSING SERVICES - SAAF PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV. - SAAF PROVIDED OVER 659 PERSONS (INCLUDING HOUSEHOLDS) WITH HOUSING SERVICES TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, ASSIST WITH RENT/MORTGAGE/UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND SUSTAIN HOUSING, USING OUR HOUSING FIRST MODEL APPROACH.HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO SUPPORT CLIENTS IN BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR HOUSING, REFERRING TO OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES, AND LINKING TO HIV MEDICAL CARE.

PREVENTION/ EDUCATION: SAAF'S PREVENTION DEPARTMENT USES EMPOWERING HARM REDUCTION APPROACHES TO CULTIVATE HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. WITH PASSION, COMPASSION, HUMILITY, AND CREATIVITY WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE CREATE SEX-POSITIVE, SAFER SPACES, AND PROVIDE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SERVICES THAT ARE CLIENT-CENTERED. WE EMBRACE AND RESPECT OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH A FLEXIBLE, NON-JUDGMENTAL APPROACH. NEVER FORGETTING WE ARE THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE; WE USE OUR ENERGY AND EXPERTISE TO FOSTER SOCIAL EQUITY. WE CULTIVATE COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS TO ACHIEVE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES. WE ARE A TEAM. WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER -- FIERCELY ADVOCATING FOR AND WITH OUR COMMUNITIES. WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO PUSH BUTTONS. WE DON'T WAIT FOR CHANGE. WE INITIATE IT! PREVENT! PROMOTE! PROTECT!PREVENTION SERVICES TARGETED POPULATIONS AT INCREASED RISK OF HIV INFECTION OR TRANSMISSION, HEPATITIS C INFECTION, SUBSTANCE USE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND SUICIDE. COMMUNITIES SERVED INCLUDED GAY/BISEXUAL MEN AND OTHER MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM); MEN AND WOMEN WHO INJECT DRUGS, HAVE A HISTORY OF INJECTION DRUG USE, ARE CURRENTLY IN DRUG TREATMENT, AND/OR HAVE A HISTORY OF INCARCERATION; YOUTH, INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LGBTQ YOUTH; LGBT COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT, AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS. SAAF PROVIDED EFFECTIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS, PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES AND HEALTH EDUCATION AND RISK REDUCTION ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDED OUTREACH, INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS, GROUP-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS, COMMUNITY-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS, HEALTH EDUCATION/PUBLIC INFORMATION, AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES. PREVENTION PROGRAMS CONDUCTED THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ABOVE INITIATIVES: - ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT, RISK-REDUCTION COUNSELING, SYRINGE ACCESS SERVICES, AND/OR RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SERVICES - EDUCATION, SKILLS BUILDING, AND/OR TRAINING THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS, GROUP-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING. - OUTREACH SERVICES IN WHICH SAFER SEX MATERIALS WERE DISTRIBUTED DURING OUTREACH, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND PROGRAMMATIC EVENTS. HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING WAS PROVIDED BY TRAINED SAAF STAFF. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TESTING WAS AVAILABLE IN PERSON ONLY AT SAAF. SAAF DID BEGIN AN AT-HOME HIV TESTING INITIATIVE. CONFIDENTIAL HIV TESTING USING 4TH GENERATION HIV RAPID TESTING TECHNOLOGIES WAS AVAILABLE. PEOPLE RECEIVED HIV RAPID TESTING SERVICES AT SAAF, HEPATITIS C RAPID TESTING WAS ALSO MADE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO INJECT DRUGS OR HAVE A HISTORY OF INJECTION DRUG USE AND HCV RAPID TESTS WERE CONDUCTED AT SAAF. PREVENTION PROGRAMMINGHIV TESTING - HIV COUNSELING, TESTING, AND REFERRAL - ALERE DETERMINE COMBO TEST (20 MINUTES) - SAAF TESTING MONDAY-FRIDAYPRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PREP) NAVIGATION SERVICES - FOR PEOPLE AT-RISK OF HIV TRANSMISSION - EDUCATION AND SUPPORT - READINESS ASSESSMENTS, BENEFITS COORDINATION, AND REFERRALS TO MEDICAL PROVIDERSSYRINGE ACCESS PROGRAM (SAP): MONDAY, WEDNESDAY - ACCESS TO HIV AND HEP C TESTING - ACCESS TO CLEAN WORKS, BLEACH KITS, HYGIENE ITEMS - BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH STAFF AND ACCESS HEALTH RELATED INFORMATION, INCLUDING OPTIONS FOR TREATMENTYOUTH PROGRAMS - YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND LGBTQ LEADERSHIP (YELL): SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION/REDUCTION AND COALITION BUILDING - ARIZONA LIFE LINKS FOR YOUTH (ALLY): SUICIDE PREVENTION, LGBTQ YOUTH, ARTS INITIATIVE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA MUSEUM OF ART. - LIGHTHOUSE: COLLABORATION WITH SIROW AND OUR FAMILY SERVICES. SAAF PROVIDED CAPACITY BUILDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAININGS FOR YOUTH SERVING PROVIDERS. - SPECTRUM: COLLABORATION WITH SIROW AND DEVEREUX BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. SAAF PROVIDES SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HIV PREVENTION GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL PREVENTION NAVIGATION SERVICES. - EON YOUTH LOUNGE: SAAF PROVIDES HIV TESTING AND HIV/STI PREVENTION; EDUCATION, SUPPORT, AND A SAFE SPACE FOR LGBTQ YOUTH - YOUR STORY: SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HIV EDUCATION AND PREVENTION SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS OF COLOR. HIV, HCV, AND HBV TESTING SERVICES; CAPACITY BUILDING AND SOCIAL MARKETING - SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION & EDUCATION PROGRAM: PROVIDES EDUCATION AND SKILLS-BUILDING TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS REGARDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW TO PREVENT VIOLENCE IN INTIMATE PARTNER RELATIONSHIPSADULT PROGRAMS - ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAM (AVP): CASE MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY SHELTER WAS PROVIDED THROUGH THE AVP PROGRAM FOR LGBTQ SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE SAFETY PLANNING, GOAL PLANNING, BASIC NEEDS, EMERGENCY AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, ADVOCACY, AND SUPPORT NAVIGATING THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

THE VOLUNTEER RESOURCES PROGRAM OFFERS VOLUNTEER SUPPORT TO ALL AREAS OF SAAF IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING VITAL OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE TRAINING, CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND STAFF SUPPORT TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO TAKE ON THESE IMPORTANT ROLES THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY. VOLUNTEER RESOURCES PROVIDES MONTHLY ORIENTATIONS TO NEW VOLUNTEERS. VOLUNTEERS MADE AN IMPACT BY HELPING TO SUPPORT A HEALTHIER AND STIGMA-FREE COMMUNITY THROUGH ADVOCACY, OUTREACH, AND SUPPORT.IN 2020-2021, 423 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 3,562 VOLUNTEER HOURS, WHICH EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY $101,660 ACCORDING TO THE INDEPENDENTSECTOR.ORG AND THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.