AIDS SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF PINELLAS INC

EPIC'S BRIGHTER SEASONS FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM: THE PROGRAM IS A GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN STARTED OVER 20 YEARS AGO BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN INFECTED AND AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS LIVING IN PINELLAS COUNTY. EPIC CURRENTLY SERVES 48 FAMILIES, WHICH INCLUDE 83 CHILDREN. EACH YEAR, BRIGHTER SEASONS PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH HOLIDAY FOOD PACKAGES AT THANKSGIVING, A CHRISTMAS GIFT DISTRIBUTION, AND BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACKS THAT ARE FULLY LOADED WITH NEEDED SCHOOL SUPPLIES. OUR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS CLIENTS WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL INCOME PAY FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, MEDICATIONS, LAB WORK, RENT, MORTGAGE, UTILITIES AND OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE EXPENSES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING AND ADHERENCE TO MEDICATIONS. IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, A CLIENT MUST BE HIV POSITIVE, BE A CLIENT OF EPIC AND RESIDE IN A PROGRAM SERVICE AREA OF HILLSBOROUGH, PASCO, OR PINELLAS COUNTY AND MEET CERTAIN POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR ASSISTANCE AMOUNTS. EPIC PROVIDES FREE HIV TESTING FOR ANYONE AGE 13 AND UP, AS WELL AS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR ACQUIRING HIV. EPIC PROVIDES SERVICES THAT COVER HIV POSITIVE NEWBORN BABIES OR BABIES WITH AN HIV POSITIVE PARENT. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE FOR ALL PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. MANY EPIC CLIENTS ARE SENIOR ADULTS. EPIC OFFERS HIV EDUCATION, PREVENTION SERVICES, TESTING, CASE MANAGEMENT, FOOD AND PERSONAL NEEDS PANTRY, A CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND MANY OTHER OPTIONS. CASE MANAGERS HELP THEIR EPIC CLIENTS FIND AVENUES OF CARE AND OTHER RESOURCES TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL SITUATIONS. TESTING IS PROVIDED BY CERTIFIED TESTERS AND STAFF EDUCATORS PROVIDE VITAL INFORMATION ON PREVENTION AND OTHER TOPICS. EPIC PROVIDES SUPPORT GROUPS AND COUNSELING FOR THOSE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AND COLLABORATES WITH OTHER AIDS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS. EPIC OFFERS A HOST OF PERMANENT AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS IN HILLSBOROUGH, PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, SERVING OVER 198 FAMILIES ANNUALLY. EPIC'S HOME 3050 AND 340(B) PROGRAMS MEET ALL OF AN HIV CLIENT'S HEALTH CARE NEEDS IN ONE PLACE, A TRUE ONE-STOP SHOP, SERVING OVER 2,900 CLIENTS ANNUALLY. TREATMENTS INCLUDE MEDICAL CARE, MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING SERVICES, CARE COORDINATION, AND PHARMACEUTICAL CONSULTS. THROUGH ITS 340(B) PROGRAM, 100% OF ALL PROCEEDS, REALIZED THROUGH EPIC'S PARTNERED PHARMACY, ARE ALLOCATED BACK TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND EPIC'S SERVICES TO THE HIV COMMUNITY.

THE RYAN WHITE PART A PROGRAM INCLUDES MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING. THE PROGRAM LINKS EPIC CLIENTS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE IMPROVED HEALTH AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE. CLIENTS ENROLLED IN THIS PROGRAM MUST PARTICIPATE IN PRIMARY CARE AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT. EPIC CLIENTS ACHIEVED A 98 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH RESULTED IN SLOWING DISEASE PROGRESSION AND ACCOUNTS FOR LOWER CHANCE OF OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS, WHICH ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THOSE WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. FURTHER, IT MEANS FEWER VISITS TO EMERGENCY ROOMS, LOWER GENERAL MEDICAL CARE COSTS (INCLUDING PRESCRIPTIONS), AND REDUCED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, RESULTING IN BETTER OVERALL WELLNESS. RYAN WHITE PART A MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT SERVED 1,335 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND PART A MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVED 54 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR.