Brief History
DC Care was founded as the District of Columbia Comprehensive AIDS Resource and Education Consortium (DCCC) on June 19, 1991 to fulfill the Consortium requirements of what was then Title II of the Ryan White CARE Act. As a Title II Consortium, DCCC was responsible for planning and coordinating a range of medical and support services for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the District of Columbia based on needs identified through a formal needs assessment process and a comprehensive plan.
By the end of its first decade, DCCC had a membership of 65 health care providers and community-based organizations. In addition to planning and coordinating a continuum of medical and support services, DCCC has provided consumer advocacy, training programs for providers and consumers, as well as information and recruitment for clinical trials.
More recently, since the end of the Consortium requirement for Ryan White Part B funding, DC Care has focused on supportive services for the HIV service system. At present, DC Care administers four emergency assistance programs to reduce the barriers consumers face in accessing and adhering to treatment. In calendar year 2010, DC care provided assistance related to food and shelter to more than 1800 clients and medical transportation services to more than 16,000 clients. In addition, we provided health insurance premium assistance to 75 clients to ensure continued access to prescription drug coverage. Our financial assistance programs are described below:
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Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA)
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Short-Term Rental, Utility, and Mortgage Assistance (STRMU)
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Bridges Program
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Insurance Premium Assistance Project (IPAP)
In addition, DC Care will launch a provider and consumer training series in September 2011. Check back for details.