Evergreen Wellness Advocates

Programs: Case management & regional consortium - 648 hiv+ clients, 62 hiv affected; 22,130 service encounters, in whatcom, skagit, island, & snohomish counties. Most of these services centered on medical case management, assisting individuals in maintaining their access to medical care. Whenever possible we linked clients to health and support services that would assure continuity of their care. It is a community effort centered on facilitating the notion of "living forward" with hiv disease. Educational and psychosocial support: 85 clients received 130 services such as workshops, support groups, and social events. Emergency assistance: 21 clients received 49 services to help with medical, dental, insurance co-pays or translation assistance. Transportation: 166 clients received 1,132 services for transportation to and from medical appointments. Individual and group counseling: 38 clients received 161 services focused on behavioral health. Emergency food: 137 clients received 431 services to assist them with nutritional health and food security. Housing: 37 clients received 49 services to help retain stable housing. Peer advocacy: 130 clients received 324 services facilitated by hiv positive peers.

outreach & prevention prevention staff conducted 694 hiv tests; 631 high priority, highly targeted population-based counseling and testing sessions, primarily in non-traditional settings (gay and bi-sexual men concentration) and through the whatcom health department needle exchange clinic (idu concentration). 3 case findings: 1 newly diagnosed. Hiv clia-waived point-of-care methodologies included public health laboratory processed oral fluid collection speciments; venipuncture whole blood draws; and staff interpreted rapid oral mucosal transudate and fingerstick collection specimens. Close work with local health jurisdiction and the partner services/surveillance departments at the wa department of health to engage case findings in partner counseling and referral services (primarily elicitation and facilitation of testing as appropriate)engagement in local condom distribution programs. Limited hcv testing. 342 health-related referrals to: adult viral hepatitis screening and immunizations (a,b,c) stis and other care/social services as necessary. Peers present real-world solutions for enhancing health care outcomes by bridging the gap between providers and clients through: a) hiv/aids/sti education, b) health care navigation, c) treatment adherence and participation in care plans and d) psychosocial workshops and events. 2012: 324 unduplicated, office-related service encounters. Peer advocates serve as liaisons (consumer advisory group: cag) between evergreen aids foundation and interfaith community health center's ryan white part c clinic. The cag develops protocols, provides input and measures outcomes related to improving patient/client service delivery, knowledge and experiences. Comprehensive risk counseling are client-centered, individual level interventions(ili) aimed at developing personalized prevention service plans. Sessions assist in initiating or maintaining behavior change, as they relate to hiv/sti transmission. Certified counselors facilitate referrals and linkage to medical and psychological care. Counselors establish routine access to condoms, lubricants and educational materials. Participation is voluntary.

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