Let's be honest, the last 14 months have been challenging for everyone. As our agency adapted protocols to keep both our staff and clients healthy and safe, we continued our mission to help Alabamians living with, or affected by HIV, live healthy, independent lives. AIDS Alabama's staff rose to the challenges that COVID-19 presented by being creative problem solvers in order to meet the needs of our clients.

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One of the biggest challenges of our Living Well Outpatient Center (LWOC), which provides mental health assistance, was making sure basic needs were met for people in crisis who had difficulty accessing usual resources. Our MISSION team went out in the field to make sure clients had food, shelter, and access to their medical and mental health treatment and medications. The LWOC team has utilized telehealth services to reach clients and if lack of technology was an issue, our therapists volunteered for in-home sessions. Peer Specialists visited clients to assist them with medical and mental health appointments who were not able to access virtual medical or mental health appointments on their own. 

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Our main office social worker team saw a 100% increase in non-medical case management services for our clients between 2019 and 2020 due to the increased need for financial assistance! While processing the increase of non-medical case management services and the majority of the agency's special COVID-19 financial assistance funds, they also managed all of the incoming messages to our main office for over six months. During all of this, new social work staff was hired and trained.

AIDS Alabama launched a new employment services program during the pandemic with a focus on providing employment support to individuals living with HIV and those referred to us through the agency's homelessness prevention program. This program works with clients on resume preparation, job seeking, SSI/SSDI applications, and developing a professional clothes closet. Last month 5 clients were assisted in gaining employment through this program! 

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Our Living in Balance Chemical Addiction Program (LIBCAP) staff rose to challenge by finding activities for their residents when off-campus groups were canceled and making store runs for residents during Alabama's Stay at Home order. The LIBCAP staff also made changes to their schedules when needed without complaint and trained a new case manager.   
 

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