The HIV/AIDS Care Coordination Program is an approach to service delivery which strives to ensure that clients with complex needs receive timely coordinated services and that resources are utilized in order to maintain an individual's ability to function independently in a community of their choice for as long as practical.

Care Coordination involves the active participation of the client or the client's designated representative in all aspects of the case management process.

What is Case Management?

Case management is a range of client centered services that link clients with health care, psychosocial and other services to ensure:

• Timely, coordinated access to medically appropriate levels of health and support services.
• A continuum of quality care that promotes the efficient use of resources while containing cost.
• Ongoing assessment of the client's and other family members' needs and personal support system.

What is the role of the Case Manager?

The primary role of the case manager is coordination or arrangement of services (formal or informal) across a variety of service settings.  In addition to the primary role of service coordination, case managers also assume a variety of secondary roles that are complimentary to coordination.

Care Coordinators provide formal and systematic methods to access client needs and access needed services through:

• Intervention and evaluation
• Negotiation and advocacy for the development and delivery of needed services
• Assisting clients with access to needed medical, mental health and psychosocial services in the least restrictive environment possible
• Education to and consultation with consumers and professionals concerning HIV disease and the Care Coordination Program
• Psychosocial support for affected individuals and family members
• Education for clients and the client's social network
• Assist and support the client in spousal/partner notification of HIV status

Who is eligible?

Care Coordination is available to any Missouri resident who is HIV infected.  Participation in the Care Coordination Program is voluntary.  Individuals may be admitted to the program at any time during their disease process.  Some services are based on income eligibility.

Individuals giving their permission may be referred by physicians, friends, volunteer organizations, local health departments or they may self-refer their entry into the care coordination system.

The following counties are served; Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Ripley and Wayne

Philosophy of Case Management

Case management reflects a philosophy of service delivery which affirms a client's right to:

• A quality of life
• Privacy
• Confidentiality
• Self-determination
• Nondiscrimination
• Compassionate and nonjudgemental care
• Dignity and respect
• Quality case management services