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(York, Pa.) - Family First Health, a
Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing
high quality, affordable care at its sites in York,
Lewisberry and Hanover, has been awarded a $20,000 grant
that could improve the treatment of area residents living
with HIV and AIDS. It was one of nine organizations that
received between $5,000 and $20,000 from the AIDS Fund of
South Central Pennsylvania, a special project of The
Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC).
"We are indebted to the generosity of our donors, partners such as the National AIDS Fund and volunteer Advisory members who are dedicated to supporting this critical issue. Without this support, we would not be able to fund such worthy causes in our community like the Caring Together Program," said David Leas, AIDS Advisory Co-Chair. Karen McCraw, director of social services at First Family Health, said the grant would enable the Caring Together Program to extend case management hours or hire another case manager. In 2007, one part-time and two full-time case managers provided services to 375 HIV-positive patients in the York area. "This grant will make a significant difference in the services we provide to our patients," McCraw said. "We are very appreciative of this grant and thank TFEC for their continued support of the Caring Together Program." According to statistics compiled by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1,039,000 and 1,185,000 Americans live with HIV/AIDS. Another 24-27 percent remain undiagnosed and unaware of their HIV infection. The Foundation for Enhancing Communities is one of 29 National AIDS Fund partnerships nationwide and the only one in Pennsylvania. The primary goal of the partnership network is to raise funds and make grants to AIDS service organizations in local communities. "The grantmaking committee was impressed by the quality and range of applications, and we are pleased to be able to offer support for these organizations and programs, hoping to make a tangible improvement in the lives of those living with HIV and AIDS in our community," said Ellen Brody Hughes, Chair of the AIDS Fund's Grantmaking Committee People with HIV require a variety of medical and support services to maintain optimal health and wellness. The Caring Together team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, nurse care managers and nurses, a pharmacist, case managers, behavioral health providers and others have a comprehensive knowledge of working with HIV patients and providing optimal care. Services provided by Caring Together include: primary HIV medical care, dental care, nutritional consultation, services of an HIV counseling pharmacist, nurse care management, prescription drug assistance, adherence counseling, access to clinical trials, social service case management, housing/utility assistance, transportation assistance, behavioral health care, certified Spanish translators, support groups, food bank access, benefit screening and enrollment assistance. To make access to our services as easy as possible, Caring Together has established a single point of contact for the program. Clients or medical providers can call our Nurse Care Manager at 851-3643. The Nurse Care Manager will assess the client's needs, schedule a medical appointment, and contact other Caring Together team members who will provide other services as needed. Family First Health is now offering rapid HIV testing: OraQuick. The free, confidential test requires no blood draw and provides results in 30 minutes. Testing hours are Mon.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. For more information, call 846-6776. About Family First Health |
