Early intervention services for persons with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C: a community health center perspective

Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey has been involved in care for patients with HIV/AIDS since 1991. In that year, the organization received funding as the lead agency for a Title II grant to establish an HIV/AIDS Consortium consisting of over 20 organizations, including other home care agencies, hospitals, county boards of social service, and other community providers. The Consortium collaborated to establish a thorough network of services: housing, transportation, medical treatment, medication access, support, resource identification, and education for both the infected and affected. As the linkages became stronger, the quantity and quality of services increased so that patients were receiving state-of-the-art health care while wrapped in a blanket of comprehensive supportive services.