About Us
Mission Statement
AIDS Outreach Center of Greater Tarrant County is the leading organization in Tarrant and seven surrounding rural counties serving men, women and children with HIV and their families, educating the public about HIV prevention and advocating for sound HIV public policy.
Agency History
AIDS Outreach Center (AOC) is a 501(c)(3) community-based organization founded in 1986 as the Fort Worth Counseling Center. The agency was founded by Tarrant County's gay and lesbian community to help provide mental health and legal support for those suffering from HIV/AIDS. For the first two years, the agency was staffed solely by volunteers with no funding. In 1988, the agency received its first grant from the Texas Department of Health (TDH) for the provision of HIV/AIDS services, which enabled the agency to hire its first two staff members.
Since its inception, AOC's budget, staff and client base have grown substantially to a budget of over $4.25 million with almost $700,000 raised through private resources and special events. The 42 member staff, along with hundreds of dedicated volunteers, is responsible for providing a wide range of social services, outreach activities, testing and counseling, prevention education programs and public policy advocacy. AOC serves men, women and children living with HIV, and their families, in Tarrant and seven surrounding rural counties.
Due to its long-standing history of quality and comprehensive support services, AOC has become the most highly utilized non-medical referral destination for more than 1,900 persons per year living with HIV/AIDS in Tarrant County and the surrounding areas. Current services include: mental health counseling, support groups, the Sandy Lanier Nutrition Center and nutritional counseling, the Geisel-Morris Dental Clinic, youth services, minority outreach, case management, legal assistance, transportation, housing, emergency assistance, insurance continuation program, information line, community education and prevention services, including confidential and anonymous testing for HIV and Syphilis, HIV negative and HIV positive prevention programs.
Along with traditional services, AOC continues to adapt and meet the emerging needs of the community. AOC maintains an office in Arlington as well as in Fort Worth. Individuals with HIV are living longer due to advances in both medical treatment and drug therapy. Many individuals are returning to work, and as a result, greater advocacy for these individuals is needed in the workplace and in housing sectors. As such, our legal advocacy services have grown. In addition, due to medical advances AOC provides clinical trials with medical institutions and/or major pharmaceutical companies to offer our clients the newest medications. The face of HIV/AIDS has shifted, affecting minorities in greater numbers. AOC is successfully intervening in our communities of color with targeted outreach, prevention and educational programs along with client social services.
On September 1, 2009, AOC experienced another milestone in its history with the acquisition of Tarrant County AIDS Interfaith Network (TCAIN) and relocated its offices to 400 North Beach Street in Fort Worth, located in one of the county's highest HIV infection rates.
LEADERSHIP
“It is a remarkable milestone for these agencies to join forces in combating the affects of this tragic disease,” states Michael E. Cinatl, President, AOC Board of Directors. “In an economic climate where non-profits are feeling the real effects of budget shortages and decreased giving, it makes sense to create a collaborative business model that will sustain our efforts for many years to come.” Larry R. Totty, President, TCAIN Board of Directors, concurs, adding, “TCAIN and AOC’s ability to develop a cutting-edge 'one-stop-shop' blueprint for other AIDS service organizations around the country to mimic, will greatly impact the way we do business. It is a critical step in the continued success of our mission in the greater Tarrant County area.”
COMBINING FORCES
Both AOC and TCAIN’s professional teams of board members, management, staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to promote the maintenance of optimum physical, emotional and spiritual health for all persons impacted by HIV. Both teams have dedicated their energy, resources, and funding to provide assistance to more than 1,900 clients and their families. Combined services and support include: medical case management; oral health (via the Geisel-Morris Dental Clinic), mental health services (including counseling, support groups such as El Sol and Sista-to-Sista, and peer advocacy); physician lecture series for health care providers; nutritional support (through the Sandy Lanier Nutrition Center and nutrition counseling); prevention and community education; minority outreach, emergency financial, legal, and insurance assistance; information and referral services; transportation; youth services, confidential, anonymous testing; “Xpress Med” services and above all compassion.
2008-2009 Program/Agency Accomplishments
AIDS Outreach Center stands alone as the lead HIV/AIDS agency and the major point of outreach, testing, and education in the eight county areas of North Central Texas we serve. Our goal is to aggressively educate the general population about behavioral “risks” associated with HIV infection, identify target populations already “at-risk” for HIV infection, and to bring those already infected with HIV into our medical care and treatment services program to assure their access to quality of life and medical care services.
Over all, the 2008-2009 fiscal year was very successful despite the downturn in the local, state, and national economies. While funding appeals to communities of faith, fraternal/social/community organizations, local business and national corporations have seen increases of as much as 800% over the last fiscal year, annual giving from individuals and foundations has dropped. Special events both cause and destination related, have continued to draw dedicated and enthusiastic crowds, outperforming anticipated growth projections.
All direct service programs continue to perform with outstanding results. Medical Case Management and Mental Health Counseling programs have both seen major accomplishments achieved in addressing clients access to vital medical care and treatment. Prevention and HIV Testing programs have out preformed last year's results by as much as 300% in select "at-risk" communities. Results were achieved, in part, to a highly successful "free testing" coupon program targeting "at-risk" areas within the city of Fort Worth. A long-term community leader and advocate generously underwrote this program. With the addition of a full-time licensed dietician/nutritional counselor, AOC has been able to expand its Nutrition Center Counseling program to help clients better manage their health through nutritional planning.
AOC has begun to research, study, attend technical training and business planning seminars, and seek out legal counsel to explore and potentially launch entrepreneurial ventures or “social enterprises” to create self-supporting revenue streams by building business enterprises along side its social service programs. Essentially, there exists a number of opportunities to implement business entities that return revenue in support of the existing services provided to clients. AIDS Outreach Center is currently looking at its current and future board and advisory committee recruitment and appointments with these goals in mind.
2008-2009 Annual Report and Agency Financials
2008 Annual Report: Cover, Pg1, Pg2-3, Pg4-5, Pg6-7, P8-9, Pg10-11, Pg12-13, Pg 14-15, Pg16, Back Cover.
2008 IRS Form 990
2008 Audit Report
2008 Board of Directors:
OFFICERS:
President
Michael Cinatl
Tarrant County College, Southeast Campus
Vice-President
Keanan Matthews-Hall, JD
Cotton Schmidt, LLP
Treasurer
Larry Lode
Community Volunteer
Secretary
Anthony Powell
Advanced Neuromodulation Systems
Past President
Denise Ho
Purchasing Solutions International, Inc.
MEMBERS:
Victor Andersson
Calvary Lutheran Church
Stanley X. Cal, M.D.
JPS Health Network
Maida Cornelius
Roche Pharmaceutical
Rev. Ken Ehrke
Agape Metropolitan Church
Paul Geisel
Tarrant County Transportation Authority
Professor Southern Methodist University
Gail Granek
Community Volunteer
The Honorable Kathleen Hicks
Fort Worth City Council District 8 Representative
Johnny Lewis
Community Volunteer
Michael Matthews
Tarrant County College - Northwest Campus
Cheryl McDonald, M.D.
Tarrant County Infectious Disease Clinic
Vera Parker
GlaxoSmithKline, HIV Division
Mike Reynolds
Workers of America
Damon A. Schranz, D.O.
UNT Health Science Center
Kelly Smith
Tommy’s Hamburger Grill
Larry Totty, CPA
Tax Analyst
Rev. Carol West
Celebration Community Church
J. Michael Williams
Purchasing Solutions International, Inc.
DIRECTORS:
Allan Gould Jr.
Executive Director
Shannon Hilgart
Associate Executive Director
Michelle Barefield
Director of Prevention & Outreach
Jim Downing
Director of Development / Marketing
Rosie Guel
Manager, Geisel-Morris Dental Clinic
Shawna Stewart
Director of Mental Health Services
Boone Taylor
Director of Medical Care and Treatment Management
Tom Berwanger
Director of Nutritional Services
