“The support is amazing. Gotta have it. I got to have it!”
Charlotte, ASA Client
Dear Friend of ASA, Today, we are thrilled that people living with HIV, who adhere to their medications, are living longer, healthier lives. Prevention medications such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) are proving incredibly effective at keeping people HIV-negative, and ASA is innovating to meet community needs and break down barriers to accessing life-affirming care. I am asking you to support ASA’s innovative programs and services with your 2018 year-end gift of $100, $500, $1,200, or more! Your investment will help us continue to remove barriers and expand access to life-affirming care and transmission prevention for Central Texans affected by HIV. We have made amazing progress in this fight to end HIV, but it is not yet over. We need your help! We continue to expand our capacity and services to meet community needs and fill gaps in care for Central Texans affected by HIV. In September, ASA’s Moody Medical Clinic opened its doors, offering primary and HIV care, same-day PrEP prescriptions, sexual wellness counseling, HIV/STI testing and treatment, and behavioral health services. We know patients who have their basic needs met through comprehensive, wrap around support achieve better health outcomes. The ASA Moody Medical Clinic is the center point of this model, innovating the HIV healthcare landscape and providing truly comprehensive care and wellness by integrating medical services with our existing direct and social services: case management, the Jack Sansing Dental Clinic, the Helping Hands Food Bank, health insurance assistance, housing assistance, support groups, and much more! With all the progress that has been made, the fact remains that too many Central Texans face incredible barriers to care. A lack of access to preventative, HIV and primary care, and stigma still associated with an HIV diagnosis are keeping people like Foxy from reclaiming their health and well-being.
Foxy
Foxy’s barriers came from the place she least expected – the people charged with keeping her healthy and saving her life. Foxy remembers being a part of close to 70 sex workers on Chicon Street before the AIDS epidemic hit, now there are only a handful of them that remain. “I had gone to the doctor and didn’t even know [my status]” Foxy recalls, “The nurse came into the room and just asked ‘How long have you had HIV?’ Then she said they could not help me, and I needed to go somewhere else for my care.” A patient’s initial impression of the healthcare system often sets the tone for their ability to stay in care. By offering life-affirming care to Foxy and people affected by HIV, ASA makes it easier for patients to focus on their health and well-being.
“I am so excited for ASA’s new clinic, where girls like me can get care we need without negative stigma getting in our way! ASA cares about me. I wish [the clinic] had been around years ago so my sisters could have had a place to go where they are treated right.” The clinic’s patient-centered, life-affirming approach signifies ASA’s continued commitment to addressing new and existing barriers to care. But we know housing instability, food scarcity, and isolation can undo even the best medical care. When Charlotte tested positive in 2005, she was referred to ASA’s Women Rising Project, an empowerment program providing both staff and peer support for HIV-positive women. “When I was first given my diagnosis, I thought I was going to die,” Charlotte remembers. “The Women Rising Project saved my life. Over the years ASA has helped me with case management, and food… The support is amazing. Gotta have it. I got to have it!” ASA is special because it recognizes that barriers to long-term health do not begin and end with medical care. When Charlotte walks through our doors, she enters a patient-centered environment of fully integrated care that takes a team approach to helping her stay healthy, access nutritious food, re-establish her sense of community, and so much more. “It all being integrated together really makes it easier for me to access. The most critical thing [for my health] is me having support!” says Charlotte.
Charlotte
As patients like Foxy and Charlotte age, they are now dealing with comorbidities such as diabetes, high-blood pressure, and inflammatory disease. Our clinical staff have the expertise to help patients understand and navigate the effects of multiple medications and medication adherence, and address any additional health complications in a patient-centered environment.
While more people are living longer lives with HIV, a younger generation is increasingly impacted by new infection rates. In fact, 65% of all new infections last year were people under 35 years old. ASA works to combat new infections through testing, PrEP for those at risk, and early intervention care for those newly infected. Innovation also means meeting patients where they are to offer HIV and STI testing, education, counseling and treatment. Our Health Promotion Department (formerly ASA’s Prevention Department) has relocated to Springdale in East Austin to increase access to care for traditionally marginalized communities. ASA is working to better serve African-American and Latinx communities in Austin who are disproportionately affected by HIV. The Q Austin, the Women Rising Project, Healthy Relationships Program, Testing, Early Intervention Services (outreach & education), and the Condom Distribution Network will now all be located where they are needed most. This location will also allow ASA to meet clients for case management, food bank deliveries, and service intakes. Last month, while getting tested by ASA’s outreach team “John” tested positive for HIV. The outreach team went to work immediately linking him into care at the ASA Moody Medical Clinic, he was in front of an ASA doctor the next day, and walked out of his appointment with a prescription for life-saving medication. “John” said the care provided by the outreach and clinic staff took a lot of fear out of a situation that could have been overwhelming and he was grateful a place like ASA exists.
Getting “John” into care immediately not only improves his long-term health comes, it also reduces the risk of continued transmission and puts the community on the path to zero new HIV cases in Central Texas. Getting to zero new HIV cases is a community-wide goal. ASA is collaborating with the city of Austin and our community partners in making Austin a Fast-Track City and truly ending the AIDS epidemic in Austin and Central Texas. As a Fast Track City, ASA works alongside other organizations and local leaders to help more people get tested, know their status, receive sustained treatment, and reduce the impact of stigma and discrimination. Your continued support means ASA can play a leading role in the Fast Track City initiative. It means people like Foxy, Charlotte, and “John” have access to timely medical care centered around compassion and dignity. Your continued support reduces barriers and broadens access to PrEP and other critical prevention tools. It provides innovative programs and ensures we drive toward our ultimate goal of getting to zero new HIV case in Central Texas. Thank you so much for your 2018 year-end gift of $100, $500, $1,200, or more in support of our work, being a part of our mission, and for your continued investment in AIDS Services of Austin. We wish you a happy holiday and New Year. With gratitude,
Paul E. Scott, CEO
P.S. In 2019, we expect close to $250,000 in cuts to public funding for our food bank, prevention, and testing services despite an increase in the number of people needing HIV related services in Austin. Thank you for your gift this holiday season and know that it will put us on the path to zero new HIV cases and support all Central Texans affected by HIV.
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