New Organization Taking Over UCHRA HIV Services

HIV services for Upper Cumberland residents will be transitioning to a new provider as UCHRA discontinues its program.

UCHRA’s Ryan White Community AIDS Partnership provides medical care and support for people with the virus. Community Services Director LaNelle Godsey said starting April 1st, the agency will no longer offer the services.

“We choose not to reapply for this program for the upcoming grant cycle, because there is a new organization,” Godsey said. “This is an organization out of East Tennessee that had begin making a footprint into the Upper Cumberland.”

Godsey said the agency will work with clients to introduce Positively Living & Choice Health Network. The organization is based out of Knoxville and has an office at 1100 England Drive in Cookeville.

“We’ve been keeping in touch with all of our clients,” Godsey said. “We will reach out to all the clients. If we haven’t spoken with them by phone this month, we typically stay in contact with our clients at least monthly. So, we are also following up and giving them resources of where they will be located.”

Godsey said Positively Living took over the housing aspect for AIDS patients last fiscal year, so it made sense to combine the services under one organization. About 40 to 50 people take advantage of UCHRA’s HIV services.

‘We felt that an agency who their primary focus is serving HIV and AIDS clients would be a better fit,” Godsey said. “Because traditionally, UCHRA we have looked at what services are out in the community, and if there hasn’t been a service, we have tried to fill in the gap with services. Back when we were approached a number of years ago about working with the Ryan White Program, there were no other providers in the Upper Cumberland with that focus.”