AIDS WALK CHARLOTTE 2021

BENEFICIARY

RAIN empowers persons living with HIV and those at risk to be healthy and stigma free.

RAIN is one of the largest HIV nonprofits in the Carolinas providing direct client services and is widely recognized for its unique model and expertise in working with persons living with HIV and AIDS. RAIN has received a number of national and state awards for accomplishments and innovative practices. RAIN integrates the wisdom and voices of those infected with HIV in the planning and delivery of services. As a result of their work, they inspire and empower more people to live, open more minds, and help break stigma of HIV.

Medical Case Management*: Assisting adults living with HIV (ages 25 and older) in obtaining community resources necessary for maintaining good health and eliminating barriers to effective treatment.

Empowering Positive Youth (EPY)*: Providing compassionate care to youth living with HIV (ages 13 to 24) with peer counseling, referrals to support services, medical case management, education on HIV/STI prevention and support in learning to live with HIV.

Early Intervention Services (EIS)*: Linking individuals who have fallen out of care or newly diagnosed and face the most barriers to effective treatment, adherence and viral suppression.

Health Insurance Assistance*: Assisting eligible individuals in successfully navigating the health insurance options to meet their unique medical needs. Also providing financial assistance for premiums and other out of pocket costs for those living with HIV.

Counseling Services*: Providing virtual and on-site mental health support to clients as they work through issues related to a HIV diagnosis, anxiety, depression, trauma and substance abuse.

PrEP Program (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)*: Connecting HIV negative people to a prescribing physician to obtain medication and implementing risk reduction techniques to reduce the risk of exposure to HIV.

CREW (Community Resources for Empowerment & Wellness): Helping individuals decide if they are ready for treatment through a holistic program that focuses on harm reduction based one-on-one counseling, group support and substance use treatment.

HIV/STI Testing*: Offering free and confidential testing through community events, by appointment and Wednesday evenings in our Uptown office (5 to 7 PM) in partnership with the Health Department.

Support Groups: Offering support groups for adults (open group) and youth (closed group) living with HIV.

Awareness & Prevention Education*: Providing free programs to educate the community on HIV/STI prevention and promote the end of HIV stigma including community presentations, classes and information booths.

Research Studies: Studying HIV ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy) usage and adherence, viral load, maintenance, mental health and wellness, substance use, sexual health, stigma, disclosure, HIV wellness and the use of PrEP.

RAIN educates and advocates for all people with HIV and to work for a greater understanding of HIV and how it affects everyone regardless of race, gender, and sexual orientation. They enable HIV positive people to live their lives to the fullest potential. To learn more and become involved please visit www.carolinarain.org.

RAIN envisions ending HIV in our community.

* indicates service is also provided in Spanish