The Access Network

HIV Case Management: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Aquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) for which there is no cure. HIV has been impacting families in the Lowcountry since the early 1980s. ACCESS was created as a result of a grassroots effort by the area's first AIDS patients, their families, friends and care partners, health care workers, and concerned citizens. As anti-retroviral medications became available in the mid-1990s the number of client deaths dropped dramatically, and our caseload grew exponentially. ACCESS strives to build clients' capacity to live successfully with HIV disease by providing HIV case management, targeting core services: medical and oral health, prescriptions, substance abuse, mental illness and housing. Client success is defined in two ways: first by clients remaining healthy and not developing opportunistic infections that categorize AIDS, and second by preventing the transmission of HIV to others. According to the December 2013 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) HIV-STD Surveillance Report, Beaufort County's HIV+ persons account for 53% (383 persons) of the total cases in the region; Colleton County 19% (143), Hampton County 15% (110) and Jasper County 13% (93 persons) of the total cases in the religion. Of those, 51% (373 persons) have developed AIDS, and of those, 356 persons have died. With the continuing stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS and the feelings of depression, shame and isolation that accompany persons living with the disease, many do not even seek treatment until the onset of symptoms. An HIV positive person and his/her family are faced with the additional economic impact of dealing with a catastrophic illness. Although the advances in science and treatment have brought us close to the end of the AIDS epidemic, reducing viral load and the risk of transmission, the cost of treatment remains high and a heavy economic impact burden for both individuals and systems of delivery. This does not account for prescriptions to prevent and/or treat opportunistic infections which can befall an HIV-positive person any time. A priority of HIV case management is to ensure clients have access to medical care and treatment and increase positive health outcomes. Efforts are being made to enroll all uninsured clients in insurance programs so that care and treatment options are available. ACCESS is a member of the SC HIV Task Force, created to mobilize a statewide advocacy and education effort bringing attention to the South Carolina legislature and media concerning the enormous economic impact HIV/AIDS has on the state resources.

Homelessness Management Services: ACCESS housing programs address the problem of homelessness among the disabled and chronic homelessness in the Low Country counties of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper. The lack of adequate living wages and affordable housing contribute tremendously to the growing instances of homelessness in our service area. Three HUD funded projects provide housing to nearly 45 households and provide coordinated strengths-based case management for persons/families who find themselves without habitable housing. The program provides scattered site housing within the four service counties for eligible clients. The client and case manager formulate and develop a housing service plan, meet regularly, and with community resources and support from other providers provide an opportunity for increased self-sufficiency and self-management.

HIV and STD Prevention: According to the December 31, 2013 SC Department of Health & Environmental Services (SCDHEC) surveillance report, HIV Cases and Annual Rates per 100,000 population, by county, there are 729 reported cases of HIV in the four (4) county service region known as the Low Country Health District #8. Collectively, Beaufort and Colleton counties account for 72% of all reported HIV infections in the Low Country. The high incident ranking of neighboring counties is worth noting, (i.e., Charleston 1,811). Beaufort, Colleton, and Jasper counties are all readily accessible from the I-95 corridor and typically result in persons moving to and from for employment, leisure and other activities. The priority populations that are served by our HIV Prevention Programs as defined by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are: HIV Positive Persons and African American men who have sex with men and African American Heterosexual women between the ages of 25-44. It is estimated that for every known HIV infection there could be an additional unknown. The service region could have as many as 700+ persons living with HIV in the service region, hence the need for community based counseling and testing. Another targeted population are those persons who know they are HIV+ but are not now or have fallen out of care (not seen by a medical provider within the past 6 months). ACCESS provides targeted Community Based Counseling & Testing, Individual and Group Level Interventions and Health Communication/Public Information Interventions. To date ACCESS has served more than 650 HIV positive persons and tested more than 2,000 persons in the past five years. Of those, 275 are considered active clients receiving access to care & treatment and supportive services. "Our People Perish" is a faith-based initiative focusing on building capacity within faith-based organizations to incorporate reproductive health and wellness education, communication skills, stigma, condom negotiation and risk behaviors. "Shear Devotion and "Condom Trails" are community initiatives targeting the business community and providing technical assistance to business owners (i.e., barber & beauty salons), to provide HIV/STD prevention education at their businesses. The Hampton County Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (HAPPI) plans, organizes, and delivers Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention interventions to targeted at-risk populations in Hampton County to impact the reduction of adolescent pregnancies.