Traditionally, case management services have been delivered separate from prevention services. In January 2001, one of the largest AIDS service organizations began an unprecedented collaborative between case management services and prevention services by setting up an integrative model of delivering prevention services to HIV-infected persons. This integrative model was developed to provide highly individualized and intensive case management support and prevention counseling to people living with HIV disease. The goal was to promote the adoption and maintenance of HIV risk-reduction behaviors by clients with multiple, complex problems and risk-reduction needs in order prevent further spread of the virus, delay the onset of symptomatic HIV disease, and improve the client’s health status.
As a result of the formal collaboration with Case Management Services, the Prevention Department was able to create a social service model that HRSA had originally envisioned for case management services. Case management targeting HIV-infected individuals unintentionally developed into a narrow definition of social services by leaving out the prevention component, mainly because prevention services had traditionally been focused on HIV-negative individuals. This integrative model provided an opportunity for the creation of a cohesive service model for people living with HIV by addressing the fragmentation of services and serving as a conduit to an integrative service delivery. As a result, the collaboration also served as a bridge between various client services departments by synthesizing prevention services throughout the agency. For example, agency-wide assessments of clients' sexual and drug risk profiles have been implemented as a result of the collaboration.
Learning Objectives: Objectives: 1) Discuss opportunities of integrating two traditionally separate departments to promote HIV prevention; 2) Identify challenges of integrating two traditionally separate departments to promote HIV prevention; 3) Assess the possible benefits of integrating case management and prevention services in their own agencies.
Keywords: Service Integration, Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: AIDS Project Los Angeles
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.