Family and Individual Case Management  

At the center of African Services' HIV care services is our case management program.

Since 1994, we have provided intensive case management to thousands of HIV-positive immigrants and their family members. Through this program, our multilingual staff of licensed social workers, serve as personal advocate and ally for each client to maximize health outcomes and prevent onward transmission.

Case managers provide rapid referral to care; assist with application for health insurance, such as ADAP and Medicaid; provide hospital escort and interpretation and HIV/AIDS treatment education and adherence support. They also play a critical role assisting clients considering disclosure of HIV status to their partners and families. Clients are in turn referred to African Services' HIV/AIDS housing program, Independent Living Skill Program, support groups, and to our Food Pantry and ESL classes.

A critical part of our case management program is dedicated to supporting immigrant parents coping with HIV and raising children in a new environment. Family case managers provide intensive support, escort, interpretation and advocacy on behalf of parents helping them receive entitlements for their U.S. born children, as well as connecting them with supportive resources and opportunities for enrichment in their communities. 

• Ensuring that appropriate care and custody plans are in place for dependent children
• Counseling clients on issues such as disclosure and bereavement
• Discussing the preparation of Advanced Directives, such as Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Standby Guardianships
• Providing referrals to ASC’s legal department

African Services has provided technical assistance to African communities around the world seeking to replicate this case management program.

Providing Access to Care

Nearly all of the Health & Hospitals Corporation facilities in New York City rely on African Services for culturally-competent case management for their African HIV patients. Referring hospitals include St. Vincent's, Bellevue, Bronx Lebanon, Lincoln, Harlem, New York Presbyterian, North General, Metropolitan, and St. Luke's. African Services and our linked primary care facilities work together to provide comprehensive medical and supportive services for HIV, TB and STIs to immigrant patients regardless of insurance coverage, language, literacy, age, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.