Funding Will Enhance Southwest Center’s Integrated Healthcare Model and Allow for the Continuation and Expansion of Aunt Rita’s Foundation’s HIV At-Home Testing Kit Program for The Next Five Years
Phoenix, AZ (August, 2, 2024) - Southwest Center, a leading provider of integrated healthcare services, in partnership with Aunt Rita’s Foundation, has been awarded the “Support and Scale-Up of HIV Prevention Services in Sexual Health Clinics” CDC grant to expand HIV prevention services. The grant will provide approximately $600,000 per year for up to five years, contingent on federal funding, to improve the infrastructure of sexual health clinics in support of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative.
“Our recent funding from the CDC will be a game-changer for our integrated healthcare model,” said Casey Simon, Senior Director of Healthcare Operations. “This support enables us to enhance our comprehensive approach to healthcare, ensuring that we provide more coordinated, effective, and accessible services to our community. (…) We are profoundly grateful for this opportunity and are committed to leveraging this support to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we care for.”
The goal of the organization is to enhance the integrated healthcare model to better address each patient’s unique needs, reduce delays in care, promote adherence to medication like PrEP, and ultimately lower rates of STI transmission and improve health outcomes.
The funds will be used to:
Enhance support for patients with chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and HIV.
Improve existing programs to offer screening, treatment, and preventive care for prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Chlamydia, and HIV.
Offer point-of-care tests that provide faster results and reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Launch a new Lab Support Program to address the high cost of treatment and lab expenses.
Support the Patient Experience and Navigation Program to aid in patient retention and assist the patient in navigating insurance coverage.
Michael Greathouse, Senior Manager of Clinical Programs further explained, “This support enables us to create new positions and programs to ensure everyone has equitable access to healthcare and receives gold-standard, compassionate care (…) We can reach more underserved populations, provide more personalized care within an integrated healthcare model, and collaborate with local organizations to create lasting, positive change.”
Additionally, this grant strengthens the partnership between Southwest Center and Aunt Rita's Foundation to expand HIV prevention services. Aunt Rita’s Foundation was included as a subrecipient of the grant to receive funding for distribution of at-home HIV testing kits, further supporting the EHE initiative.
"Aunt Rita's Foundation is proud to announce the continuation and expansion of our HIV at-home testing kit program, in partnership with Southwest Center,” said Stacey Jay Cavaliere, Executive Director of Aunt Rita’s Foundation. “This collaborative initiative underscores our continued commitment to making HIV testing more accessible and convenient for the community, ultimately striving to reduce the spread of HIV and promote early diagnosis and treatment. The HIV at-home testing kit program offers a confidential and convenient way for individuals to test for HIV in the privacy of their own homes throughout the state of Arizona and surrounding tribal communities. By removing barriers such as stigma, transportation, and scheduling difficulties, this program empowers more individuals to take control of their health."
The Southwest Center’s new program and its benefits will be available to patients by January 2025. Individuals in Arizona will be able to request at-home test kits online through Aunt Rita’s Foundation beginning October 1, 2024 at www.gettestedaz.gov
About Southwest Center: Southwest Center is Arizona’s home for affordable, affirming, and inclusive health and wellness services. We administer quality care, mental health care, gender-affirming care, comprehensive reproductive health care, testing, treatment, and education - both in our clinic and in our community. When clients experience our care, they are affirmed, safe, and supported on their journey to wellness. Visit swcenter.org or follow us on Facebook, and Instagram for more information.
About Aunt Rita’s Foundation: Aunt Rita's Foundation, founded in 1988, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of HIV and AIDS through prevention, education, and awareness. The foundation collaborates with various community partners to provide funding, resources, support, and services to those affected by HIV/AIDS. www.auntritas.org
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Press Contact:
Iris Avila, Director of Marketing and Community Engagement
Southwest Center
Direct: 602.595.8123