HIV Services
Connecting Individuals Living With HIV With Essential Resources
While the international HIV epidemic may garner the majority of media attention, the fact remains that more than 1.2 million people in our own country are living with HIV, HIV.org reports. In 2021, Duval Count ranks sixth in Florida for new HIV cases.
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That’s why Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida established the Advocacy, Care & Education Program, formerly the AIDS Care and Education (ACE) Program, in 1992.
ACE connects those living with HIV with the resources to thrive in the community. The ACE Program is one of the few initiatives in Northeast Florida that provides wraparound services to people living with HIV.
LSSNEFL partners with CAN Community Health (CAN) to create the only comprehensive care facility in the Southside Jacksonville area.
Sarasota-based CAN has 25+ years of experience serving those affected by HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted diseases. The Jacksonville office, located at the LSSNEFL campus, operates a full-service medical clinic.
Through this partnership, we can make the challenges our clients face a little easier with a full scope of quality services all under one roof, including:
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Medical Case Management
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Quality Medical Care
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Lifesaving Medications
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Therapeutic Interventions
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Peer-led and Clinician-based Support Groups
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Psychiatric Services
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Financial Management & Housing Assistance
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Assistance Applying for Available Benefits
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Life-Coping Strategies & Skills
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Community Food Pantry
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HIV & STD Testing
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On-Site Lab Work
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Physician Appointments
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Full-Service Pharmacy
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Peer Support
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PrEP Services
ACE Program Details
The ACE Program works in conjunction with federal programs such as Ryan White and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).
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For a listing of HIV testing sites in Jacksonville, please click here.
For more information, contact Alane Ertel at alane.ertel@lssjax.org.
Client Testimonials
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the unwavering support and services you have provided me since I first walked into LSS on the morning of June 23, 2019.
At that time, I was unsure of where my next meal was coming from. But your team, with its dedication and compassion, went above and beyond to help me. Your efforts have significantly improved my life, and I am now in a much better place than I was when I first came to you.
Anonymous, ACE Program client
I was shocked when my doctor sat me down and told me I was HIV-positive. When the initial shock wore off, I felt stunned… and angry. I had to pick myself up by my bootstraps and get it together, not for myself but for my daughters. The team at the ACE Program helped me understand my treatment and encouraged me to join a support group to gain extra encouragement. I’m not just a case number to them. I have a name, a family, a passion for life, and everyone I work with at the ACE Program knows me for who I am as a person.