HIV PREVENTION & SERVICES/ HEPATITIS C PROGRAM

Cambridge Health Alliance is committed to reducing the number of HIV infections in our communities, as well as providing medical care and social services to those who are HIV positive. We accomplish these goals through outreach efforts that includes distributing language-appropriate materials, HIV counseling and testing, and by providing primary care. In all services, strict confidentiality is maintained.

The HIV Prevention & Services consists of six components. These include:

• HIV Counseling & Testing
• Hepatitis C program
• Haitian Health Outreach Program
• Portuguese Speakers Prevention and Education Program
• Case Management
• HIV Primary Care

HIV Counseling and Testing
HIV Counseling & Testing provides confidential HIV-testing and counseling services for people who are at high risk for HIV, regardless of one's ability to pay. These services are available in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, French, and Cape Verdean Creole at several sites across Cambridge and Somerville. Interpreters of other languages are also available.

Hepatitis C Program
This program provides testing for Hepatitis C and counseling about Hepatitis C transmission, prevention, and referrals for treatment. Counseling sessions are available on an individual or group basis. Staff members speak English and Spanish, and provide written material about Hepatitis C in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole. Also, arrangements for interpreters of languages other than Spanish to attend these sessions can also be made.

Please note, CHA also has a Hepatitis Clinic in Somerville to provide treatment to people with Hepatitis B and C.

Haitian Health Outreach Program
The Haitian Health Outreach Program raises awareness about HIV/AIDS and STD prevention/education in a way that is consistent with the Haitian cultural values and linguistically appropriate for the different segments of the Haitian population. Services include interventions and meetings with community agencies and Haitian providers, and workshops for Haitian men, Haitian women and Haitians living with AIDS. The workshops are designed to allow participants to learn about HIV/AIDS and STD prevention and to discuss their concerns.

Portuguese Speakers Prevention and Education Program
The Portuguese Speakers Prevention and Education Program is designed to provide HIV prevention information to Portuguese-speaking individuals in a culturally sensitive manner. This is achieved through Men’s, Women’s and Volunteers’ support/education groups for the Portuguese speaking population. Staff members speak English and Portuguese.

HIV Case Management
Cambridge Health Alliance offers a case management program for HIV-positive clients. The case managers link clients with emotional and social support, financial assistance (rental start-up and utilities assistance), legal referrals, housing and family matters. Staff members speak English, Portuguese and Haitian Creole, with other languages available through our excellent multilingual interpreters.

HIV Primary Care
The Alliance offers two forms of HIV care:

A dedicated HIV clinic, The Zinberg Clinic located in the Cambridge Hospital campus, uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide primary care, specialty care, mental health and social services, acupuncture and massage therapy, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.

Specialized care done in conjunction with primary care through Somerville Primary Care. In this model, an HIV nurse and case managers visit Alliance health centers for HIV related education, medication initiation and adherence issues. The HIV nurse and case manager support both patient and primary care providers. Additionally, the case manager connects patients to HIV related services, such as dental programs, mental health care, health insurance, and drug reimbursement. Patients in need of specialized consultation are referred to an HIV provider. This form of care enables patients to receive HIV care while maintaining their relationship with their primary care provider.