The History of AIDS Response Effort

AIDS Response Effort, Inc. (ARE) is a non-profit 501(c)3, which was incorporated in Richmond, VA on May 24, 1991. ARE is the only AIDS Service Organization (ASO) in this geographical area. ARE's mission is to provide financial and supportive services to those infected and affected by AIDS and to create awareness and prevention education programs in a rural community which has yet to overcome the challenges of stigma, discrimination and denial of the epidemic.

ARE has four full-time and one part-time employee who provide all service delivery in client services and prevention education programs. Without ARE, those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS would have no help with financial and supportive services directly related to their disease.

In 1998, ARE negotiated an agreement with Valley Health System (VHS), the regional non-profit health care provider group which includes Winchester Medical Center, Warren Memorial Hospital, Shenandoah Hospital, urgent care centers and home care services.

Experience in Delivering HIV Services

ARE began with a number of volunteers who had the compassionate foresight to begin addressing the needs of the AIDS crisis in the community in the late 1980's. Their initial effort was in establishing a support group for those living with HIV/AIDS. A strong belief in HIV/AIDS client services and education has made ARE the sole provider of HIV/AIDS services in the Lord Fairfax Health District 7 (LFHD7) service area (Winchester City, Frederick, Warren, Clarke, Shenandoah and parts of Page counties).

As the epidemic changed from one of crisis to a chronic manageable disease, the needs of ARE clients have also changed. ARE now has clients that have a variety of needs that range from access to primary medical and dental care and case management, to needs for emergency food, transportation and drug assistance. ARE has been successful in providing access or referral to medical and specialty care for its client base.

ARE and Valley Health Services created a pilot project to establish a Medical Management Clinic (MMC) for HIV/AIDS clients. These clients were able to have comprehensive case management and medical care, nutritional counseling, substance abuse and mental health care in a single appointment in a comfortable medical setting. This pilot project ended in September 2000 because of the changing health care needs of the clients. Many became healthier, returned to work or obtained Medicaid/Medicare services.

Experience In Administering Grants

ARE has been funded through federal and local government grants since 1993 which include client care and prevention grants. Ryan White I, Ryan White II, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and CRCE (Client Referral Counseling Services) are some of the grants received by ARE to provide across the board health care and housing to the clients of the agency. Additionally, ARE has been awarded project grants by The United Way, Gill Foundation and Northwestern Community Services all of whom provided additional monies for prevention education, HIV OraSure Testing and special client needs.