ACCESS SUPPORT NETWORK
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Mission Statement
The Access Support Network of San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties (ASN) works to embody its mission: The ASN saves and enhances the lives of people in our community impacted by HIV and Hep C. We provide access to comprehensive critical services that empower our clients.
About This Cause
The ASN serves the San Luis Obispo County and Monterey County communities, assisting our neighbors, friends, and family living with either HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C (HCV). With the help of dedicated staff and volunteers, the ASN works diligently to stabilize clients’ health – financially, emotionally, and physically; and all at no cost. Working towards a healthy community, the ASN also offers prevention / education opportunities and syringe exchange services through the ASN’s Syringe Services Program. For us, ensuring that everyone understands that these are preventable diseases is paramount. The ASN was born in 1984 out of grassroots community action when a group of concerned citizens, including those living with HIV, met to discuss ways to confront the looming epidemic. The Hep C Project began much the same way in 1999 when the community took notice of the HCV epidemic. ASN developed a successful program that has been proven effective and sustainable for over three decades. As a client-centered and client-driven organization, the agency has grown, adapted, and responded to the unique needs of the communities it serves. Current Programs & Activities: The ASN provides a comprehensive and cost-effective approach to addressing the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS or Hep C by connecting them to existing assistance programs and access to affordable health care and medications, as well as providing social services support that enhances the effectiveness and capacity of the existing medical continuum of care. ASN currently provides the following services for its clients living with HIV or HCV: • Nutrition Services – including the ASN Food Pantry: Clients are provided access to nutritionally and culturally appropriate food products that do not interfere with medications and are suitable for certain physical conditions, such as liver disease. • HIV and HCV Testing: HIV and HCV rapid testing opportunities are provided throughout MC. Early detection allows individuals with a positive result to obtain immediate linkages to essential medical care and other supportive services. • Benefits Counseling: ASN case managers are highly knowledgeable about the complexities of the healthcare system, and advocate for clients in establishing eligibility, securing insurance, and breaking down other barriers to care. For example, the ASN is the only agency in MC with access to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). ADAP not only connects PLWHs with life-sustaining medications, it also includes the Health Insurance Premium Payment Assistance program ensuring that PLWHs are provided with stable access to health care. • Financial Assistance: Assistance is available for several vital needs, including but not limited to transportation, utilities, rent, co-insurance/copays, etc. • Housing Assistance: ASN case managers help clients locate affordable housing opportunities, and, in some cases, subsidize housing costs. Case managers also assist clients to enroll in housing-specific assistance programs such as the Housing Choice Voucher program. • Volunteer Services: Volunteers provide practical assistance for clients, including meal delivery and preparation, and other practical assistance on an as-needed basis. Many ASN clients participate in volunteer opportunities with their peers.