Program areas at PCAF
In client services, we provide medical case management and care coordination for people living with hiv in Pierce, thurston, lewis, and mason counties. 1073 clients were served in 2022, and cumulatively, we have served 3637 clients. Care provided is inclusive of: assisting clients in accessing medical and dental treatment and staying on hiv medications; in-house screening for mental health; psychiatric medication management; housing placement and assistance; supplemental meal assistance in collaboration with the emergency food network; provision of essential needs items such as toiletries and cleaning supplies; transportation assistance to access services; and hiv support groups. We don't report on how many of our clients identify as gay or bisexual as we don't track self-identification but rather behaviors.
Pierce County Aids Foundation's prevention department provides services to those populations most at risk for hiv acquisition in Pierce and thurston County. The services provided are based on harm reduction and empowerment models. These services include hiv educational activities, hiv rapid testing, peer to peer support, and hiv safer sex materials distribution. In 2022, the prevention department provided 158 hiv tests, 107,628 safer sex materials, made over 7,000 community contacts through our social media and group peer to peer programming, and provided 47 community educational activities.
Oasis youth center transforms the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth ages 11-24 by creating a safe place to learn, connect, and thrive. Oasis offers 31 hours of programming time per week during after school and evening hours. Oasis programming includes a weekly peer support check-in; hiv prevention, healthy relationship, wellness, and health promotion activities and services; violence prevention and crime victim advocacy services; and youth leadership development. Oasis served 229 youth in 2022.