| Location |
| 1500 21st Street |
| Website |
| http://www.caresclinic.org/ |
| Phone Numbers |
| CARES Main Phone: 916.443.3299 |
| Pharmacy: 916.914.6256 |
| HIV/STD Testing Line: 916.914.6305 |
| Hours |
| Medical Clinic |
| Mon/Tue: 9:00am-5:00pm |
| Wed-Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm |
| Dental Clinic |
| Tue/Wed, & Thu 9:00am-4:00pm |
| Pharmacy |
| Mon-Fri: 9:00am-6:00pm |
| Laboratory |
| Mon-Fri: 9:00am-1:00pm, 2:00pm-6:00pm |
| Chiropractor |
| Friday: 9:00am-5:00pm |
The CARES Clinic was established in 1989 and is the largest HIV/AIDS nonprofit clinic in the Sacramento region. Serving over 2,000 people each year, Sacramento CARES is an AIDS Service Organization serving people living with HIV and AIDS.
Mission Statement: "We transform lives through HIV/AIDS care, research and community awareness."
Services
CARES provides a wide range of services and programs for persons living with HIV in one convenient location. Such services include:
- HIV/AIDS Specialty medical care, antiretroviral therapy and referrals.
- Primary care
- Dental care
- Gynecology
- Dermatologist
- Chiropractor
- Psychiatric care
- Case management
- Substance abuse services
- Mental health counseling, sexual health counseling
- Health Education programs including nutritional guidance and counseling
- Prevention for Positives training
- Partner Counseling & Referral Service
- HIV testing for sexual and needle sharing partners
- Referrals to clinical trials for new medications and new treatment options
- Support groups for the newly diagnosed
Open to public:
- Full service Pharmacy with a Clinical Pharmacist to help understand your medications.
- HIV and STI Testing (Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Chlamydia).
HIV/AIDS Testing
FREE HIV & STD testing: Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, Thursday, 9:00am-7:00pm. *Making an appointment ahead of time can help individuals avoid long waiting times on Monday’s and Fridays, as these are the busiest days for HIV & STI testing. For more information e-mail [email protected].
CARES encourages high-risk groups to get tested annually, and makes testing available to all people. Those who are at high-risk are sexually active gay and bisexual men, Hispanics, and African Americans. Free testing for Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Chlamydia is also available.
CARES is a confidential resource for everyone-every race, age, and sexual orientation. Some people may not have the resources to pay for testing, or have the fear that their parents or peers may find out, but the goal is to make testing a routine. Educate yourself and others you care about.
The process is simple:
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In a sensitive and professional manner, staff will discuss how the test works, what the results mean, sexual health risks, and how HIV is transmitted.
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The test is performed using OraQuick. OraQuick does not involve needles. This test consists of a quick swipe in an individual’s mouth, and results can come in as quick as 20 minutes.
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Post-test counseling: Results are discussed, if the test is positive then a confirmatory test will be done. An initial appointment will be scheduled with a case manager. If results are negative, possible exposure to HIV in the last three months will be discussed. It may be possible that an individual may need to retest.
Dental Care
Dental staff provides on-site cleanings and basic dental procedures.
Health Education
CARES' Health Educator is available to explain to patients in detail how HIV/AIDS acts in the body, and inform family members about what to expect. Programs including nutritional guidance and counseling. Most patients seen at CARES have complex problems and many require psychiatric care. Thanks to the increased availability of doctors and psychiatric services patients with severe depression, bipolar disorder, and other serious mental illnesses have been stabilized.
Nutritional Counseling
Dietitian is available to help develop diet plans and provide nutritional advice.
Medical Care
A complete clinic is available for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Medical Case Management
Provides planning, coordination, and following-up by a trained expert. CARES counselors give patients complete care and attention. They are able to help with food, housing, and other services. If a patient is coming from another organization Case Management is able to help find other programs a patient may need. Case Management is on site for medical and insurance information; as well as help with treatment plans. Through Case Management patients are able to find other resources outside of CARES. If CARES doesn't offer a service a patient needs Case Management is dedicated to finding it. Case Management is also able to help with disability, mental, and welfare issues.
Social Services
- Housing assistance
- Medical assistance
- Benifits counseling
Support Groups
There are a variety of groups to help people cope with HIV/AIDS. These support groups include:
HOPE Group, which is where patients of CARES get together for a night of fun and relaxation with activities like open mic night and poetry.
Partner Services has counselors to help make it easier to discuss HIV/AIDS results to family members, partners, or roommates. Counselors teach patients how to communicate and help coach patients along.
Positively Speaking Trained speakers whose lives have been affected by HIV go into the community and share their their personal account of what their life was like before diagnosis, at diagnosis, and what is it like living with HIV.
The Pharmacy at CARES
On-site is a full service HIV/AIDS specialty pharmacy, which is open to the public. Also available is a clinical pharmacist to help patients create a plan for taking their medication. Free contraceptives are available.
You can contact the Pharmacy at CARES at 916.914.6256.
A separate line is available for those who need to request a refill, 916.914.6256. Clients are asked to request a refill at least five business days in advance.
Prevention Services
CARES offers a community education program:
- HIV 101: CARES health professionals cover how HIV is transmitted, how the virus replicates, treatment, medications, side effects, disease progression, and living with HIV.
Support CARES
CARES is always looking for community support. There are several opportunities to help: volunteer, donate, become a donor and sponsor.
Donate
| https://cares.webconnex.com/giving/donatenow |
Volunteer
CARES uses volunteers in several categories. These include:
- Transportation to medical and social service appointments at CARES during the day and evening groups at night.
- On‐going Support Providing Food for People with HIV/AIDS
- Fund Raising
- Helping Individual Clients
- Education & Prevention
Form can be found here: http://www.caresclinic.org/1-support-cares/volunteer.html
Founders
See also other local services & organizations.
Comments
This report was written for Cynthia Linville’s English 20 class at CSU Sacramento Fall 2011.
