AIDS Foundation of Chicago

The mission of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is to lead the fight against HIV/AIDS and improve the lives of people affected by the epidemic.

Founded in 1985 by community activists and physicians, the AFC is a local and national leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We collaborate with community organizations to develop and improve HIV/AIDS services; fund and coordinate prevention, care, and advocacy projects; and champion effective, compassionate HIV/AIDS policy.

Advocacy

AFC works in Chicago, Springfield, and Washington, DC to improve services for, and protect the rights of, those living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS. AFC pursues its policy and advocacy work in partnership with people living with HIV/AIDS, local service providers, statewide partners, and members of our Policy/Advocacy Committee.

Case Management

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago oversees the case management system for the Chicago Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA), which includes Chicago, Suburban Cook County and Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Dekalb and Kendall Counties. In this section, you will find information on case management- what it is, how to find a case manager, how different types of case management can benefit individuals living with HIV, and how the Chicago case management system differs from systems in other EMAs.

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) was established in 1985 to coordinate the local response to the AIDS epidemic in the Chicago area. In 1989, AFC was awarded a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) demonstration grant to establish a coordinated system of case management services for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), which became known as the Northeastern Illinois HIV/AIDS Case Management Cooperative. With full participation of case management agencies in establishing common expectations and policies and procedures for case management services, the Northeastern Illinois HIV/AIDS Case Management Cooperative now consists of nearly 160 case managers at 55 agencies, and is funded primarily through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act (Ryan White) Parts A and B and through the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). The philosophy of the Cooperative is to provide comprehensive case management services to empower people living with HIV/AIDS to live healthy and independent lives.

Case Management:assists clients in applying for benefits; facilitates access to emergency funds; identifies medical and social service needs; facilitates appropriate referrals to meet service needs; and acts as a broker between clients and services. Currently, AFC has the only coordinated case management system in the United States. This means that each client has only one case manager and that their case manager assists the client in accessing resources to meet their needs. Through a coordinated system, AFC ensures: seamless and continuous care throughout a client’s periods of health and illness; non-duplication of services; standardized policies and procedures across all sites; consistent quality throughout all regions of the EMA through standardized training and technical assistance; and direct data entry of client-level reporting, allowing for consistent and timely data collection.

Housing

AFC is taking a leadership role in promoting strategies to improve the availability of safe and affordable housing for low-income people with HIV. AFC's work in housing includes: promoting public and private efforts to increase the stock of affordable housing for people with disabilities, including those living with HIV; convening AIDS housing advocates and organizing efforts to assess and improve the housing continuum; providing research on the state of Chicago-area housing environment; and managing a network of regional AIDS housing advocates and coordinating the delivery of AIDS rental subsidies among other housing programs for low-income people with AIDS.

Grantmaking

Since 1988, AFC has awarded nearly $13 million in grants to more than 100 agencies across the region, helping to start dozens of new programs and build the capacity of community-based providers, especially in under-served communities of color. Since 1996, AFC's grantmaking program has also provided significant resources for program evaluation, and through model collaborations, has helped community-based organizations improve their ability to design, implement, and evaluate HIV prevention and care programs.

Events

Every year AFC hosts special events and educational conferences that raise both critical funds and needed awareness in the fight against AIDS. From black-tie affairs to grassroots outreach events to Service Providers Council forums, AFC's events are as diverse and exciting as the communities served by AFC. Every year AFC hosts events like AIDS Run & Walk Chicago, World of Chocolate,and Make a Statement to raise money for the cause. Please visit the AFC website for information about all the fundraising, advocay, and special events that happen throughout the year.

Team to End AIDS

TEAM TO END AIDS (T2) endurance training program began at AFC in 2009, training people to complete a marathon, half marathon, triathlon, or a 100-mile bike event. Whether you are an experienced athlete or you've never trained for an endurance event before, T2 will prepare you to go the distance and raise money in support of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

T2 will train you to complete one or more of the following events in 2011: Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Honolulu Marathon, Chicago Half Marathon, Chicago Triathlon, Wrigley Field Road Tour, and the Steelhead Half Ironman Triathlon. With T2, you TRAIN without intimidation and TRIUMPH with elation, and they welcome and accept all levels of experience.

Prevention

Until there is a vaccine and a cure, comprehensive HIV prevention services remain our best weapon in the fight against HIV/AIDS. AFC is committed to working with policymakers and service providers to increase funding for prevention services and programs that work.

Leadership

Appointed President/CEO in November 2010, David Ernesto Munar brings to his work more than two decades of accomplishments fighting HIV/AIDS.

• Official website