HIV-AIDS Alliance for Region Two Inc

Medical Services - In 2015, HAART was designated through the Bureau of Primary Health Care as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), under Section 330(e) of the U.S. Public Health Act, Community Health Centers. The designation comes with annual grant funding in order to ensure access to primary care,oral health and behavioral health services to low-income and uninsured and under insured persons and families residing in the Baton Rouge and Denham Springs area. This FQHC is operated under the name Open Health Clinic and is a replacement for the former Caring Clinic of Louisiana.Ryan White Part A funding enables primary care services through the Open Health Clinic for uninsured HIV positive persons and Early Intervention Services for those who are newly diagnosed or returning to care. As a federally qualified health center Open Health is required to provide care to all comers, not just those with HIV disease, from birth to death regardless of ability to pay. The organization isrequired to provide primary care for adults and children, dental services and behavioral health care services.

Prevention and Education Services - HAART provides HIV Counseling, Testing and Referral (CTR) services, prevention materials availability and evidence-based interventions with funding from CDC received through the state health department. State funds also support a Wellness Center targeting persons needing testing and treatment for sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and Pre- and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) to prevent contracting HIV disease.

Housing and Supportive Services - HAART receives two types of grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). They are 1) Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA), funded through the CityParish of East Baton Rouge, and 2) Supportive Housing Program (SHP), funded directly by HUD and coordinated through the Louisiana Housing Corporation. The HOPWA grant funds are used to prevent homelessness among persons with AIDS and are used for Project-based and Tenant-based housing assistance, Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Supportive Services. SHP funds are used to assist homeless persons including special populations and the chronically homeless. HAART has two SHP grants which are used for permanent housing assistance and supportive services to help ensure clients remain housed in order to thrive.HAART has used HOPWA and Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds for the acquisition of land and buildings, reflected on the balance sheet net of depreciation, consisting of eight single family homes and a ten-unit apartment complex.HAART also receives Ryan White Part A funding which is used to provide non-medical case management, pharmaceutical assistance, medical transportation, and other services. This program is administered in the nine-parish Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) by the City-Parish of East Baton Rouges Department of Human and Developmental Services.