Columbia CARES

Columbia CARES offers the 12 South Central counties of Middle Tennessee a variety of HIV/AIDS services. The three core services are; 1.) social services for individuals/families impacted by HIV/AIDS, 2.) HIV prevention education, 3.) Rapid HIV Testing. The HIV/AIDS social service component focuses on the services of a case manager that follows the... client, family and caregiver throughout the course of the disease. Through case management, the client will have access to transportation services, nutrition services, support groups, emergency financial assistance for housing, utilities & other basic living needs as well as referrals to other agency's able to provide additional assistance. The Columbia CARES HIV prevention initiative offers age appropriate programs to schools, churches and other organizations regarding basic understanding of HIV disease transmission & prevention and social awareness & responsibility. All instructors are American Red Cross HIV Instructor Certified and follow the Tennessee Department of Education Guidelines for HIV education. To further connect and enhance our prevention and care services, CARES will begin Rapid HIV Testing in 2007. This opportunity will allow us to offer HIV testing to high risk individuals that might not seek traditional testing services at a health department or physician's office. Reactive or non-reactive test results are available within 20 minutes as opposed to a several days to two week wait with traditional testing. Testing will allow the ability to reinforce the prevention message for those testing non-reactive or quickly link the individual to care for those who test reactive. Columbia CARES commemorates its 15 year anniversary in 2007 and is committed to providing the highest quality of education and care services possible.Read More