VIRGINIA
ETSI HEALTH CLINIC ETSI Health Clinic, a 501C-3 non-profit organization based in Hampton, Virginia, has been at the forefront of providing culturally competent HIV/AIDS preventive care and linkage to care for the past three years. With a mission to empower transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals and improve their overall quality of life, ETSI focuses on communities that often reside in high-risk environments for HIV/AIDS infections. To support its operations, ETSI secures grant funding from various sources, including Gilead Sciences, Sentara Healthcare, The Virginia Department of Health, Youth and Adult Opportunities, and Destination Tomorrow. These funds enable ETSI to offer a range of critical services, including HIV/STI testing, COVID-19 testing and vaccines, and gender-affirming care. ETSI's comprehensive services encompass HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, HIV testing and counseling, outreach services, and gender-specific care to address community stabilization, domestic violence prevention and shelter, substance abuse, case management, and mental health support. Additionally, ETSI extends its assistance to individuals both living with and without HIV/AIDS by providing housing support, sexual abuse education, vocational training, employment readiness, domestic violence support, and mental health education through partnering agencies. The dedicated team at ETSI consists of competent and compassionate professionals, including community health workers, substance abuse counselors, case managers, part-time medical physicians, clinical compliance managers, therapists, phlebotomists, outreach specialists, client navigators, HIV educators, and testers. These staff members receive mandatory HIV and counseling training as required by the Virginia Department on a quarterly basis. ETSI is expanding its services by establishing a full health clinic in Portsmouth, Virginia, located in the southeast region of the state. Portsmouth, the 9th most populous city in Virginia and part of the Hampton Roads Metropolitan south side area, has been selected as the site for this expansion due to documented disparities in HIV healthcare within the city. With a population that is 52% Black or African American, Portsmouth exhibits significant HIV rates, particularly among African American women. The city also faces challenges related to domestic violence, homelessness, substance abuse, and survival sex work. By opening the Portsmouth Health Clinic, ETSI aims to provide vital HIV/STD testing services to address these pressing issues and serve the community in need. BLAQUEOUT MAGAZINE.
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