Client Advocacy Program
Newly diagnosed and or clients having difficulties are matched with HIV+ individuals to provide mentoring, support and guidance and information and referrals to appropriate services. These peer advocates are individuals who a reliving life to the fullest and will serve as a role model for someone who is struggling with HIV.

Mental Health Counseling
Most people experience shock and anxiety when they find out they have HIV. Counseling can help reduce these feelings as well as provide support and guidance as you deal with your illness. AOC provides a full range of outpatient mental health and substance abuse services, including individual, family, relationship and group sessions with licensed clinicians or graduate interns. Our trained counseling personnel assist clients in adjusting to a life with HIV/AIDS and in taking steps towards proper medical treatment.

Medical Case Management
AOC clients are evaluated to find out what their needs are and how best to meet those needs. Medical Case Managers act as the coordinator for the care of their clients. They link clients with medical services and provide general support and referrals. AOC case managers also assist with housing assistance, establishing medical treatment and medication acquisition, adheres, transportation assistance, mental health and addiction services.

Sandy Lanier Nutrition Center
AOC’s Sandy Lanier Nutrition Center has been serving clients through our Fort Worth office since 1986. This "grocery store" emphasizes the link between good nutrition and living with HIV/AIDS. Any qualified person with HIV/AIDS is eligible for Nutrition services. Each client must be in medical care, adhere to prescribed medical treatments and demonstrate financial need.

Nutrition Center hours are Tuesday and Wednesday, noon – 6:00 pm.

Housing Assistance
Through funding from HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS), eligible clients with emergency housing needs can be assisted with short-term rent and mortgage payments. Ryan White emergency financial short-term assistance is available for medical and utility assistance.

Insurance Assistance Program
This program pays insurance premiums and COBRA premiums for those not working in order to keep them and their families enrolled in the current private insurance program. Prescription medicine co-payments may also be paid to ensure clients get needed medication and maintain continuous medical treatment. This program prevents a lapse in care, allowing clients to continue treatment through their private physician and avoid any disruption in medical adherence.

Legal Assistance
Legal services assist clients in remaining employed, remaining stable in housing, retaining access to provide medical benefits, and accessing private medical care. Volunteer attorney’s and paralegals accept legal referrals in specialized areas when needed.

Information Hot-Line
A trained staff person or agency volunteer is available during regular business hours to accept calls. Callers are often seeking general information about HIV/AIDS, where testing is available or how to access medical and social services.

Testing and Prevention and Outreach
Testing and Prevention and Outreach involve individual counsel and risk reduction planning for AOC clients. Small groups meet to discuss prevention skills and do broad community outreach in at risk locations including bars, clubs, homeless, shelters and other areas. Outreach workers link with medical service providers in order to reach those who have dropped out of medical and/or social services and assist them with in re-establishing treatment. Free testing is available in the main office and Arlington office. See below for times and dates.

Professional Education
AOC offers workshops and training related to HIV that is open to the professional community. CEU credits are often available. Workshop topics vary throughout the year.

Special Community Awareness Events
AOC receives requests from many groups to participate in awareness events by setting up a booth or table to distribute information and answer questions about HIV/AIDS. Sometimes we schedule our own events, like for National HIV Testing Day, National Black AIDS Awareness Day or work within a specific area of the community to heighten awareness. We also provide free testing at some of these events.

Workplace Education
AOC receives calls from organizations for someone to come and talk to their employees about HIV and AIDS. We accommodate as many requests as we can. A trained staff member provides education and information in an education class setting. The class includes basic information, how to protect against HIV infection and treatments that are available while at the same time to dispel the myths surrounding HIV/AIDS.

Geisel-Morris Dental Clinic
Good oral health and dental care is extremely important to anyone with HIV. Oftentimes, through a dental exam a dentist can find infections or other conditions that can lead to an AIDS diagnosis. Referral to the client’s Medical Case Manager or physician is made to treat the client to appropriate address the problem.

Call (214) 335-1994 for an appointment, hours vary.

Transportation Assistance
AOC offers transportation for clients through various local transportation authorities such as MIT, FW Star, Honduran and Mission Arlington.

Youth Services
Youth Services provides a wide variety of activities for children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. The activities including Kids Corner and Camp Firelight.

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AOC SUPPORT GROUPS
The following support groups are available to

Sista to Sista
1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Tuesday of each month 11:30 am
Contact: Betty Peterson, 817-335-1994 ext. 204

El Futuro Unidos
1st Monday of each month 6:30 PM
Contact: Bea Lampka, 817-335-1994 ext. 225

Positive Recovery (Substance Abuse) Auricular Acupuncture
Every Tuesday at 1:00 pm
Every Wednesday at 11:00 am & 1 pm
Contact: Darlene Carter, 817-229-4621

Support Group for HIV+ Teens
Contact: Betty Peterson, 817-335-1994 x204

Positively Straight
Every Wednesday 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Contact: Brenda Hrovat, 817-335-1994 x 217

Stop Smoking Group
Psycho-educational Group
Tuesday 2:00 pm to 3 pm
Contact: Brenda Hrovat, 817-335-1994 x 217

Self Esteem Group
Every Monday 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Contact: Darlene Carter, 817-229-4621

El Sol
Every Wednesday 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Contact: Stephanie Brown, 817-335-1994 ext. 209

Exploring God Group (EGG)
Every Monday noon - 1 pm
Contact: Elvia Acevedo 817-335-1994 ext. 221

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COMMUNITY SERVICES

HIV Testing

AIDS Outreach Center offers venipuncture (blood-draw) testing of HIV and syphilis. All testing is done free of charge. Blood-spot (finger poke blood test) is available only if blood can not be drawn. Results are back within 7 days at the Fort Worth office. In Arlington, results are back in 10-14 days. Call for your test today!

Testing Schedules
Main office: 400 North Beach Street, Fort Worth, TX 76111
817-335-1994

Monday: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm walk-in, no appointment necessary
Tuesday-Wednesday: 9:00 – noon, walk-in and 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Thursday: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm by appointments only
Friday: 9:00 am – 11 am Walk-in, no appointment necessary

Arlington Office: 401 West Sanford, Suite 1100, Arlington, Texas 76011
817-275-3311
By Appointment Only!


HIV/AIDS Resource Library – Arlington Office

AIDS Outreach Center opened its HIV/AIDS Resource Library in January 2006. The Library currently has over 300 published works in the collection. Establishing an HIV/AIDS related library was made possible through a generous gift from the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The AOC HIV/AIDS Library is housed at the Arlington office.

Anyone can access the HIV/AIDS Library and books may be checked out by visiting the Library during regular business hours. Please call ahead to be certain there is a staff member or volunteer on site and available for help.

If you would like to make a donation to the Library, call 817.275.3311. Donations of books are accepted as long as the items are in good condition.


PUBLIC AWARENESS

Advocacy
When Texas Legislature started to expand the state’s mandatory testing law to include new groups of people, AOC intervened quickly. After convincing several key legislatures that the idea was a bone one, the proposed legislation was quietly dropped.

Voter Registration
While waiting for her counseling appointment in AOC’s Arlington office, Jenny was asked by the receptionist if she was registered to vote. The receptionist gave her a voter registration card and a list of polling locations. "Now I have a voice in what happens to me!", Jenny said.