New affiliation between AID Atlanta and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) seeks to expand services and improve delivery of HIV health care and services throughout Metro Atlanta, the #3 City in the U.S. for new HIV infections
ATLANTA (TBD) AID Atlanta and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) are joining forces to expand the Agency’s capacity and provide critical lifesaving services to those affected by HIV/AIDS throughout the 27 county Metro Atlanta area it serves. The organization will continue to operate as AID Atlanta and plans to continue current programs and primary care services at both locations with no anticipated disruption of services to patients. No jobs are expected to be cut as a result of the affiliation. The organization will continue to provide holistic healthcare for patients including primary care, case management and ancillary services.
Both organizations have similar missions and serve HIV-positive patients with a wide variety of services. The leadership of both organizations anticipate being able to test more and get more positive people into care no matter where in Atlanta they live. “We want to focus on the areas that have been neglected and where the epidemic is at its height. AID Atlanta approached AHF because it’s a fight we want to win.” says James Hughey, Interim CEO of AID Atlanta.
HIV/AIDS in Atlanta and Georgia
Atlanta is the #3 city in the nation for the highest rates of new syphilis and HIV infections. Georgia ranks #5 in the United States for new HIV infections. AID Atlanta provides programs and services to underserved/under insured men and women who need a resource to help them address issues related to HIV and STDs. Although the agency serves over 5,000 patients yearly, it only engages about 10% of the HIV positive community in Metro Atlanta
Chip Newton, Chair of the Board of AID Atlanta, stated, “The Board’s transformational strategy has always included partnerships that further our mission and allows us to expand our capabilities in the Region. This affiliation will enable AID Atlanta to continue to be a sustainable organization and continue its mission to provide urgently needed services and programs that help to provide holistic healthcare for people living with HIV.”
“HIV is not over in Atlanta or Georgia,” said Hughey. “This relationship allows us to expand our delivery of services to more people; services like case management, health education and prevention to our patients. We are thrilled to affiliate with AHF in this exciting new collaboration that we believe will transform HIV healthcare in Metro Atlanta.”
“Both AHF and AID Atlanta share a common mission to stop the spread of HIV and improve the lives of all people living with HIV/AIDS and other disenfranchised populations. Individuals impacted by HIV and affected by mental illness, substance use, incarceration and poverty should be treated compassionately, fairly and without judgment,” said Michael Kahane, Bureau Chief, Southern Region for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Each organization has a long history of providing such services and we want to build on that history to better serve Atlanta and Georgia. This new partnership allows both organizations to continue to leverage our respective strengths to better serve the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS throughout Metro Atlanta.”
“AHF recognizes the critical nature of supporting patients and clients with local grassroots community-based agencies and services that are crucial to ensuring better health care outcomes,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Nowhere is this more evident than in supporting individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Metro Atlanta, which has been hard hit by the epidemic. With this new affiliation, we hope we can impact the epidemic in a meaningful way throughout the Region.”
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About AID Atlanta
AID Atlanta, the largest non-profit HIV healthcare organization in the Southeast transforms lives with a continuum of care that provides access, linkage, and retention to HIV care. The Agency serves over 5,000 patients yearly. AID Atlanta’s major fundraiser – AIDS Walk Atlanta 5K & Run – now in its 25th year draws nearly 10 thousand and raises about $1 million annually With an annual budget of $7.6 million and two locations in Midtown Atlanta and Newnan, GA, AID Atlanta provides services to over 50,000 individuals per year. Both locations provide services to newly diagnosed individuals who are then linked to primary health care and a comprehensive suite of programs that improve their health outcomes, provide basic needs and address mental health issues. AID Atlanta programs have been proven effective at improving health outcomes as measured by reduced viral loads and higher CD4 counts, the two key indicators of health for those who are HIV-positive. For more information, visit www.aidatlanta.org, or Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/AID-Atlanta-The-Official-Page
