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HIV/AIDS

Engagement, Encouragement, and Empowerment

The HIV/AIDS Division provides a seamless continuum of care through a "one-stop-shopping" model of integrated HIV services. It is a client-centered organizational system built upon work teams consisting of multicultural and cross-trained HIV service providers. The Division's Early Linkage Component provides immediate access to all Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center HIV Prevention and Care Services at any point of client entry: prevention, medical, or social service. The operating principles which govern services to our clients are Engagement, Encouragement, and Empowerment.

Primary Medical Services

The Director of the HIV/AIDS Division, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and the HIV Clinical Director, an Infectious Disease Specialist (ID MD) co-lead the HIV interdisciplinary team of Primary Care Physicians and Medical Case Managers in providing HAART regimes and best practice standards in the bio-psycho-social treatment of HIV across the disease spectrum. CS-HHC provides a holistic and comprehensive approach to HIV treatment. Persons living with (PLW) HIV/AIDS may access dental, nutritional, OB/GYN and laboratory services, as well as podiatry, ophthalmology, pharmacy, neurology, dermatology and linked behavioral health service through our continuum of care.

Prevention Case Management/Risk Reduction Services

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HIV Clinical Nursing

The HIV Clinical Nursing team acts as the connection for patients to gain access to all primary and specialized medical services necessary in the treatment of HIV disease. The highly successful Medical Management Project offers intense and individualized patient education to support adherence to the complex medication regimes. Offering specialized nursing services, the clinical nurse acts as both encourager and caregiver to the HIV positive patient. This vital partnership has proven to enhance patient engagement and adherence with medical care, thus producing improved treatment outcomes.

HIV Prevention and Outreach Services

HIV Prevention specialists provide specialized outreach and engagement services to high-risk substance abusers, women, and adolescences from greater New Haven's communities of color. Services are designed to link consumers to collateral services, which reduce risks of HIV transmission and improve their quality of life, including: primary medical care, behavioral health, social services, etc. A special youth initiative has served hundreds of youths in a peer empowerment project initiated in 1993. All Prevention specialists possess Connecticut Department of Public Health HIV Prevention Certificates.

Services are offered with respect to client's culture and lifestyle.

HIV Counseling, Testing and Comprehensive Risk Counseling Services (CRCS)

Connecticut Department of Public Health Certified HIV Prevention Counselors provide state of the art HIV Counseling and Testing Services. All consumers receive an individualized Client Risk Assessment to motivate and maintain behavioral changes that block their risk for HIV infection. Counselors link consumers through CRCS (Comprehensive Risk Counseling Services) to all services that support a positive, healthy lifestyle.

HIV Behavioral Health Services

HIV mental health, substance abuse specialists and Drug Treatment Advocates provide comprehensive assessment, planning and referral services that integrate recovery from addictions and mental health challenges. They also provide Motivational Enhancement Therapy, psycho-education, psycho-social support and self-empowerment to maximize consumers' quality of life. Services are culturally and life-style sensitive with regard to each of the CS-HHC's PLW HIV/AIDS issues. Staff members hold appropriate Connecticut licenses and credentials in the behavioral health field.

Medical Case Management Services

Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center Ryan White Medical Case Managers serve as patient care managers providing individualized Service Plans to support persons living with HIV/AIDS across the disease spectrum. Medical Case Managers facilitate psycho-social assessment, planning and linkage to vital Ryan White A and Ryan White C primary medical care, AIDS Drug Assistance, RW A and C Emergency funds, behavioral health related services, and referral for housing, transportation and legal assistance. CS-HHC Medical Case Managers help clients to navigate and manage the complex system of entitlements to ensure maximum health and financial coverage.