As part of a major fundraising campaign to preserve services for some of San Diego’s most vulnerable residents – those who are living with HIV/AIDS – Being Alive is reaching out to the medical community which often refers people for peer advocacy and other critical needs to its doors.
With government funding for HIV/AIDS support services and education all but eliminated Being Alive know the challenges the medical community face every day trying to educate and care for mutual patients and the extremely limited amount of time they are given to do so. Being Alive is urging the medical community to “ make a commitment today to partner with Being Alive and make sure all San Diegans living with HIV/AIDS have access to a support system that keep them connected to care, to society and to life.”
Each year, Being Alive San Diego has more than 8,000 HIV/AIDS patients walk through their doors and more than 10,000 call each year seeking treatment information and support. Approximately 90 percent of the people Being Alive serve are not only dealing with HIV/AIDS, they are living at or below the federal poverty level.
The programs at Being Alive are designed to keep this often fragile population connected to medical care and treatment. Each day Being Alive aspires to make their lives more manageable, to bring them out of isolation and despair and connected to care. Being Alive does this by providing a variety of wellness programs that are not provided anywhere else:
Holistic AIDS Response Program: Provides massage, chiropractic care, reiki, reflexology, acupuncture and other complimentary therapies to combat the side effects from taking HIV meds over time.
Daniel’s Pantry & Farmers Market: Provides food for every member of the household. Ensuring proper nutrition for their clients depends on Being Alive’s ability to augment “government surplus food” with fresh produce, meats and dairy items.
Recreation Program: Provides more than 7,000 tickets annually to low-income clients who would otherwise be house-bound socially – this is the only way they are able to attend a play, visit a museum or see a sporting event.
New Beginnings: This 14-week educational series is designed for the newly diagnosed HIV+ patient. It covers everything from HIV 101 to employment, when and how to disclose your status, medical coverage, selecting a physician, nutrition and much, much more.
Peer Advocacy: San Diego’s original peer advocacy program is still going strong! This is the “heart” of Being Alive. Peer volunteers are required to complete an extensive education and training program as well as a 6 month internship with an established peer counselor.
Helping Hands Moving Services: Provides free moving services to clients facing eviction. Being Alive assists them in finding affordable housing, signing up for rental subsidies and providing all the supplies necessary to complete the move prior to becoming homeless and disrupting medical care.
Animeals: This unique partnership between Being Alive San Diego and the Helen Woodward Animal Center ensures low-income clients with companion animals receive complete and proper nutrition for their pets. This program ensures the most vulnerable population does not have to give up their faithful companion.
Support Groups: Whether newly diagnosed or a long-time survivor, Being Alive have a variety of on-going support groups to meet the needs of every client.
Other services include: Adherence and medication support, AIDS drug assistance program enrollment, medical coverage plan enrollment, medication update forums, court and non-court ordered HIV 101 classes, complimentary haircuts and resource library.
Visit beingalive.org for more information and to help the “Medical Community Fund” and the thousands of clients who are counting on Being Alive and the entire medical community.
