HIV Care at CrossOver

CrossOver Sunday Snapshot

Jeremiah 33:6

Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security

CrossOver’s Treatment Intervention Prevention Services(TIPS) Program has been serving HIV-positive individuals in the Richmond area since 1999.

Over the past year, the program provided services to more than 150 HIV-positive patients within the Metro area. The TIPS Program at CrossOver is unique in that it offers patients more than one service, including medical, mental health, case management, and dental services.

TIPS is made possible by funding from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program administered by the Virginia Department of Health. Named in honor of one of the most recognizable faces of the AIDS crisis, this program was created to provide medication and treatment services to low-income, uninsured, HIV-positive individuals.

With the remarkable advancements in treatment in recent years, HIV-positive patients that are engaged in care are able to lead normal lives. The TIPS team strives to ensure all patients are actively involved in their care.

One way this is accomplished is through the TIPS Consumer Advisory Board. The board brings staff and patients together monthly allowing patients to share stories, analyze services, and provide feedback to the TIPS team. Recently, the Consumer Advisory Board has been focused on patients telling their stories through their own paintings or drawings.

Thanks to Ryan White and the Virginia Department of Health, we are able to assist hundreds of patients like Alejandro in the Richmond area.

Alejandro's Journey

Alejandro was forced to flee his home country in Central America after experiencing gang violence and mental and physical abuse. He came to CrossOver just one month after arriving in the United States.

Alejandro had been living with HIV for 28 years, and had limited care before coming to CrossOver. This had taken a toll on his health both mental, and physical. Thankfully, with the collaboration of the TIPS nurse, case manager, and doctor, Alejandro was able to get back on track.

Alejandro is a member of the Consumer Advisory Board, and he presented his artwork to the TIPS team to be hung in their office space. Each part of the painting represents a different piece of Alejandro’s story.

The person in the painting is Alejandro, and the butterflies represent the negative thoughts and experiences leaving his mind. Alejandro used the palm tree to represent his resilience, “like a palm tree after a hurricane I will not let my past knock me down.” The birds represent his family members with whom he hopes to reunite one day. The horizon is calm which represents the stability he has been able to find since coming to CrossO ver.

Visit our website to learn more about the many programs CrossOver makes available to our patients.

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CrossOver Healthcare Ministry is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Charitable ID #: 54-1371067