FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The combined Boards of Directors for AIDS Outreach Center (AOC) and AIDS Healthcare Foundation has entered into a letter of intent in the planning and development of a Community Healthcare Clinic in Fort Worth .  The Community Healthcare Clinic is designed specifically to provide health care to individuals living with HIV/AIDS.  Based in Los Angeles , the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation’s largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care.  It offers cutting-edge medicine and advocacy, regardless of ability to pay to more than 27,000 people in the , Africa, Central America and Asia .  Domestically, AHF operates 14 healthcare centers and 11 pharmacies throughout California, Washington D.C., and Florida .  It is estimated that more than 400 individuals will initially gain access to the clinic once it is developed. Allan Gould Jr., Executive Director of AIDS Outreach Center stated...  “Today AOC stands at a very important and strategic threshold which will define our agency and the continuum of care we provide to those with HIV for decades to come. It has been our dream form the very beginning of our founding that AOC would be “THE” place for those with HIV/AIDS to turn for an all encompassing program approach to meet their needs and concerns. To that end, AIDS Outreach Center has in the last month received a letter of intent from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to partner in the development and running of a state of the art healthcare clinic addressing the needs of the HIV/ADS community in Fort Worth . The location of which will be incorporated into AOCs existing 21,000 sq. ft facility at 400 North Beach Street or as a stand alone in close proximity to underscore AOCs mission of being the “one stop shop” addressing the HIV clients vital medical, emotional, and social service needs. This dramatic push to complete the AOC vision of what is essential to meet the needs of our clients is facilitated, in part, by the recent events illustrated above which have impacted adversely the lives of so many without the means to cope with the ever changing dynamics associated with the HIV epidemic. Future plans are already being discussed to implement a mobile healthcare van serving the needs of those stigmatized due to living in the rural parts of our service area. Not only with this much need and long over due healthcare component address issue of HIV and STDs in rural counties but will also act as a screening tool for early diagnosis of other health issues – mammograms, high cholesterol and blood pressure, heart disease, and other basic but sometime neglected healthcare concerns for those living in areas with less than adequate healthcare facilities. We feel this is the right time in our history to make this leap of faith and see it as only the beginning in becoming universally more “in tune” to the needs of many diverse populations in our community that are “at risk” for not only HIV but other dangerous and life treating heath care conditions. And in doing so, will position AIDS Outreach Center to meet the on-going challenges and changes associated with HIV and other healthcare concerns not adequately being addressed by the established medical community.”  AIDS Outreach Center ’s long-standing history of quality and comprehensive community education programs, outreach/prevention services and support of targeted social services has made it the most highly utilized non-medical referral destination in the greater Tarrant County area for those living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS.   AIDS Outreach Center is the only 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization in Fort Worth serving Tarrant and seven surrounding rural counties with essential prevention, education and outreach programs, comprehensive and vital direct HIV care and support services to the men, women and children and their families living with HIV/AIDS and advocates for a strong HIV public policy.  Please visit our website at www.aoc.org or find us on facebook!