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Support Services for PWH/A

Being diagnosed with HIV or AIDS can evoke many feelings such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness. In the past, HIV or AIDS was thought of as a terminal illness and many people withdrew from family, friends or other life activities. However we now know that HIV, when treated early and adequately, does not necessarily mean a death sentence, and can become a manageable chronic illness.

We are here to help you to get the services that you are entitled to. Our goal is to create a comfortable and safe space for those who are living with or are affected by HIV/AIDS. Our services are confidential and free to all regardless of your gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, nationality, religion or creed.

Eligibility Requirement: Proof of HIV positive status

 

Here are the services we provide:

Bilingual Case Management

When you join our case management services, we will assign a bilingual case manager to work with you.   S/he will help you to assess your needs, and assist you in obtaining services such as: medical treatment, mental health, health insurance, public financial assistance, housing, and other various supportive services. Your case manager will meet with you on an ongoing basis to continuously reassess and attain your social services needs.

Languages Available:
Our bilingual staff is fluent in various Asian & Pacific Islander languages such as:

  • Chinese: Cantonese, Mandarin, Fuzhounese
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • South Asian: Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati
  • Thai
  • Vietnamese

We provide advocacy to accommodate your medical or other social service needs.

Support Groups

We provide various support groups for our clients.  Our support groups are confident in providing a caring, safe and confidential environment to share experiences with others living with HIV/AIDS.  We offer the following support groups:

Mandarin Speaking:
A psychosocial based support group for our clients that meets once a month.  The group is facilitated entirely in Mandarin. 

Living (English Speaking):
An educational based support group for our clients that meets 6 times/year. The group is facilitated entirely in English.

These support groups aim to promote better understanding of medical treatment and provide a caring, safe, and confidential environment to share experiences with others.

 

Full-Body Acupuncture Service

Our licensed acupuncturist is trained in traditional Chinese medicine, and offers full-body acupuncture service to our Client Services Department, registered clients and/or APICHA primary care clinic patients.

 

Emergency Financial Assistance

If you need financial assistance— rent, utilities, prescriptions, etc. Our case managers can help you apply for public assistance designed specifically for those living with HIV/AIDS. If you have a financial emergency, there is a limited amount of funding available to clients who qualify.

 

Care Coordination

When you join our Care Coordination program, we will assign a bilingual care coordinator and bilingual patient navigator to work with you on an ongoing basis to provide assistance for medical needs.  They will provide individual support/assistance to ensure that you understand your medical treatment and to obtain other various service needs. We offer the following support services:

  • One-on-one health promotion educational sessions
  • Directed Observe Therapy (DOT)
  • Other social and entitlement assistance (e.g., housing, insurance)
  • Referral and onsite supports (e.g., clinic, dental office)

Eligibility Requirements:

Must receive services from one of the following medical facilities:
APICHA (400 Broadway)
Astor Medical (67 Irving Place, 5th floor)
Pride Medical (3867 Broadway)

 

Food and Nutrition Services

This is an educational program promoting healthy living for HIV positive individuals (targeting A&PIs). We provide fresh ingredients that are culturally sensitive to Asian & Pacific Islanders’ diets. Our food pantry bag consists of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Diabetic Pan-Asian, and Pan Asian Vegetarian grocery selections.     

We do our best to avoid canned food products by providing fresh fruits and vegetables in each pantry distribution, and we educate our clients about the importance of a balanced diet in relation to their health and HIV medications.

Services Provided:

  • Nutritious Food Pantry Bag, or Food Voucher
  • Individual Nutritional Counseling
  • Nutrition Seminars
  • Cooking Workshops