HIV/AIDS Resource Guide for Sonoma County
HIV/AIDS Services: Miscellaneous HIV/AIDS Related Services
HIV Partner Counseling and Referral Services (PCRS) Program
707-565-4627 - Eric Acuna
email: eacuna@sonoma-county.org
Most HIV-positive persons make the decision to disclose or to not disclose to their partners on their own. However, HIV-positive persons may want support telling their partners about HIV, whether through encouragement for self-disclosure or through having someone who is well-trained and will carefully and confidentially notify a partner for them.
PCRS is an array of voluntary and confidential services available to persons living with HIV and their exposed sex and/or needle-sharing partner(s). Often, PCRS has been mistaken as simply provider disclosure, but there are three forms of assistance:
Self Disclosure: The client chooses to notify a partner him/herself. The disclosure assistance counselor guides and prepares the client before disclosure.
Dual Disclosure: The client chooses to notify a partner in the presence of a provider. The provider supports the client during disclosure and acts as a resource for the partner.
Provider Disclosure (Anonymous Third Party): The client prefers a professional to notify a partner, and gives the provider identifying and locating information for partner(s). The providers give this information to Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) who then locate and notify the named partners, keeping the source client identity strictly confidential.
In California it is against the law (SB 705) to knowingly infect someone with HIV. That means that if you know you have HIV and you do not either use protection or disclose you could be the subject of a criminal investigation for committing this crime. There have also been cases of people with HIV being held civilly liable (and therefore required to pay money) to people they infected in addition to jail time. For more information on HIV-related laws, contact the AIDS Legal Referral Panel at 1663 Mission Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, (415) 701-1100. Services are also available to immigrants and migrants. (Hablan Español)
La Luz Bilingual Center
707-938-5131
(FAX) 707-996-1287
17560 Gregor Street
Boyes Hot Springs, CA 95476
www.laluzcenter.org
Translation services, referrals, assistance in locating housing, employment, etc. for the non-English speaking community of Sonoma Valley.
Pets are Loving Support (PALS)
707-887-2729 (Answering machine) to request an application
www.sonic.net/~pals
Offers some assistance to Sonoma County residents with AIDS and their animal companions (i.e. food, litter, Advantage, and Heart Guard), also offers assistance with pet care, foster care, and adoption, if needed. 2 pets per household limit (as of 2008). Must have an AIDS diagnosis and proof of low income. Pet food delivery once a month. You must already own the pet or go to humane society for adopting.
Sonoma County AIDS Emergency Fund and Housing Assistance Fund (HAF)
To apply: Contact Face to Face: 707-544-1581
Provides short-term emergency financial assistance for housing, utilities, telephone bills, and firewood for qualified clients.
Disclaimer: The Sonoma County Department of Health Services makes no assumption of quality and makes no warranties regarding providers appearing in this resource guide. This resource guide simply a public listing provided for consumer convenience, and is not a recommendation or endorsement by the Department.
For more information about The Center, please contact:
The Center for HIV Prevention and Care
499 Humboldt Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: 707-565-7400
Fax: 707-565-7627