The CDC NPIN Featured Partner resource offers HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention-focused organizations a platform to showcase their services, programs, and materials. Our goal is to highlight the work of CDC's prevention partners and encourage partners to connect with each other to share information and strategies. Organizations are nominated by CDC or their peers, or are self-nominated. Those selected are featured on the NPIN Web site for the month.
Center for AIDS Research, Education & Services Overview
CARES table at Festival de La Familia
The Center for AIDS Research, Education & Services (CARES) has been transforming lives through care, research, and community awareness since 1989. As a leading HIV/AIDS care provider in the Sacramento, California, region, CARES works to educate at-risk populations, provide access to testing, and improve the lives of those infected with the disease.
With the equivalent of four full-time doctors on staff and a team of highly qualified nurse practitioners, patients receive the care they need to lead active lives. CARES believes successful HIV/AIDS education and treatment should be a holistic approach and offers 20 different services related to HIV and sexually transmitted infections, including
HIV specialty care, including primary care
Nursing care
Gynecology
Dental care
Outpatient pharmacy
Adherence counseling
Nutritional counseling
Psychiatry and mental health counseling
Substance abuse treatment
Medical case management
Eligibility and resource assistance
Health education
HIV and STI testing
Risk reduction counseling
Partner counseling and referral services
Outreach for those out of care
Support groups
Community education
Program Highlight
CARES has had an active HIV prevention and testing program in the Latino community for 3 years. Activities include
CARES' Ana Ramirez speaks at Bi-National Health Week to a group of Latinos waiting for services
Testing at migrant camps and collaborating with Migrant Education offices in Courtland, California. Ten camps have been visited and provided with education and prevention materials.
Participating at Hispanic heath fairs in the greater Sacramento area to offer testing, education, and prevention materials in both Spanish and English.
Partnering with the Mexican Consulate during Bi-National Health Week to provide HIV/AIDS prevention and education materials in English and Spanish. CARES has also collaborated with its new “Ventanilla de Salud” health program and provided HIV testing, education, and materials twice a month for the past 2 years.
Training youth peer educators who are bilingual to go into communities, schools, and churches and provide HIV testing and prevention education.
Providing in-clinic HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing and counseling Monday–Friday in Spanish for clients who do not speak English.
Creating a Hispanic support group for both newly diagnosed and those living with HIV to assist in alleviating isolation, fears, and stigma. The group meets two Wednesdays a month and includes members from many different countries.
Starting a Hispanic Client Advisory Panel conducted in Spanish for clients to address how services at CARES are working. The panel meets monthly with senior management (with lunch provided) and annually with the CARES Board of Directors.
Initiating a Community Hispanic Advisory Board consisting of 12 organizations who serve the Latino community to assist and advise CARES on HIV/AIDS prevention including the planning of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day this year.
