Direct Services
With a full-time staff of eight (8), more than forty (40) volunteers, and a $1 million annual budget, ACRC consistently produces effective results for its clients and community partners through its HIV/AIDS and HCV programs.
HIV/AIDS Living Now©
Living Now is a community-driven, community-participatory, community-empowering peer education program. It is called “Living Now” because it affords all participants a positive and constructive outlook on living with HIV/AIDS. As a community-driven program, it relies on the input and oversight of community opinion leaders and stakeholders.
Community members make decisions related to program content, structure, and continuous improvement processes. Clients’ sharing of experiences shape the discussion of class topics. Community leaders, community public health providers, and community representatives conduct the class sessions. As a result, participants empower themselves personally and gain skills and insights for empowering others in their community.
In 2002, the State of California designated Living Now as a model HIV and HCV peer education program. It is one of the premier peer education programs in the nation. More than two hundred (200) clients enrolled in Living Now classes in 2002, while one hundred forty (140) graduated and were certified as peer educators.
Hepatitis C Living Now©
Based on the HIV Living Now program, HCV Living Now responds to the specific needs of those infected with Hepatitis C. This condition is the leading cause of liver transplants nationally and has emerged as an enormous public health threat. Given the limited medical treatment options available for HCV at this time, it is essential for clients to use a variety of strategies to remain healthy and prevent their disease from progressing.
Vivamos Ahora (Spanish Living Now©)
The Spanish Living Now program provides outreach, client advocacy, and HIV treatment education to monolingual Spanish-speaking HIV-positive persons. Complemented by multifaceted and multidisciplinary client support mechanisms, the Spanish Living Now program provides services in an accessible and culturally sensitive/appropriate manner.
HIV Food Services
ACRC's HIV Food Services program provided nearly 17,000 bags of groceries and over $32,000 in grocery vouchers to low-income HIV-positive people in San Mateo County last year.
Technical Assistance
ACRC's Technical Assistance program helps other community and public organization and government agencies develop customized HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C peer education programs enabling providers to more effectively reach people in their specific communities.
Clinical Trials
ACRC's HIV/AIDS Clinical Trial programs employs two clinical research nurses to conduct HIV/AIDS studies and clinical trials at ACRC's Redwood City site. ACRC provides referrals for people interested in participating in viral hepatitis clinical trials.
Outreach
ACRC Outreach program staff reach people at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, methadone clinics, and Veterans hospitals to ensure their basic HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C social services needs are met.
Case Mangement
ACRC Case Management program provides referrals and information, emotional support, and integrates ACRC clients into the network of social services such as mental health, substance abuse treatment, needle-exchange, housing, and legal services. Case managers keep an active client roll and makes hundreds of referrals annually.