Social Work Services and Community Resources Social Work Services are available to help you and your family deal with the numerous challenges that often accompany an HIV/AIDS diagnosis. Our Social Workers can help you deal with emotions and stress, or find practical solutions to problems such as transportation, insurance questions and financial concerns that can interfere with your efforts at staying healthy. Included here are general resource guides and listings for your reference. For information on a specific concern, or if you need advice, please contact one of our Social Workers.
Organizations
These organizations can provide additional information and resources to patients and their families:
Office of Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health: For more information about the Office and its activities, write to the Information Center, Office of Alternative Medicine/NIH, 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20852, or all 301-402-2466, or fax 301-402-4741.
CDC National Prevention Information Network: The CDC National Prevention Information Network is a reference, referral, and publications distribution service for people working in the field of HIV and AIDS. In addition, the clearinghouse provides information on clinical trials for persons with HIV and AIDS; bibliographic information on over 13,000 educational materials; and online access to up-to-date scientific information and news. To contact the clearinghouse, call 800-458-5231 (toll free); 800-243-7012 (deaf access/TDD); or write to CDC National Prevention Information Network, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003.
Buyers Clubs: According to U.S. regulations, individuals in this country may import drugs approved in other countries. People with HIV/AIDS have joined together in buyers clubs to facilitate these purchases. Many clubs also provide vitamins, food supplements, and herbal treatments. Some provide written information or have a nutritionist on staff to help with questions. Call the CDC National Prevention Information Network (see above) to locate buyers clubs.
Direct AIDS Alternative Information Resources (DAAIR): DAAIR is a nonprofit organization that provides information on access to low-cost nutritional and botanical therapies for HIV/AIDS. They distribute a free information packet and run a buyers club. Call 212-689-8140, or write to them at 31 E. 30th St., #2A, New York, NY 10016.
Project Inform: A community-based organization established to provide information about treatment options to people with HIV/AIDS. Project Inform runs a national telephone hotline staffed by volunteers to answer questions about HIV/AIDS treatments and publishes a quarterly treatment newsletter called P.I. Perspective. To contact Project Inform, call 800-822-7422; local or international, 415-558-9051.
ACT UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power): ACT UP is a national organization of AIDS activists. Several local chapters have subcommittees focusing on education and advocacy on alternative medicine issues. Check with your local chapter. Call the CDC National Prevention Information Network for local phone numbers.
ACT UP/New York: Call 212-564-2437 to speak with a member of the Treatment and Data Committee.
Printed Materials
Newsletters often contain the most up-to-date information on alternative HIV/AIDS treatments.
Treatment Issues: Gay Men's Health Crisis, Department of Medical Information, 129 W. 20th Street, New York, NY 10011. 212-337-1950.
AIDS Treatment News: ATN, P.O. Box 411256, San Francisco, CA 94141. 800-873-2812.
AIDS Patient Care: A journal for health care professionals, frequently has articles on alternative therapies. AIDS Patient Care, Liebert Enterprises, Inc., 1651 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10128-3649. 212-289-2300.
