Risk Reduction

ABOUT HIV

About HIV

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) harms the body’s immune system. It can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, if not treated. Currently, there are an estimated 45,000 people living with HIV and AIDS in Illinois; about 1,300 people get the news that they are living with HIV every year in our state.

No cure for HIV currently exists, but with proper medical care, people can live healthy lives. In fact, we now know that Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) — people living with HIV on successful antiretroviral treatment (meaning their viral load is undetectable for at least six months) cannot transmit HIV sexually to their HIV-negative partners.

Have questions about HIV or other STDs? Call the State of Illinois AIDS/HIV & STD Hotline at 1-800-AID-AIDS (1-800-243-2437).

 

 

HIV Services and Support Programs

For more than 35 years UFC has been proud to provide comprehensive HIV services and support programs to Chicago’s most underserved communities.  UFC has grown its services and programming as the needs have evolved in our communities. In fact, through an established Consumer Advisory Board and a patient advocate on staff, UFC has actively engaged our patients to better inform, assist and evaluate UFC’ program offerings over time. Today, UFC is proud to offer the following services and resources:

  • HIV testing, counseling and referrals

  • Community outreach and linkage to care

  • Prevention services and education for high-risk groups

  • Primary care for HIV positive patients following Public Health Service protocols

  • Early intervention services including medical case management, treatment adherence, mental health, nutritional counseling, and infectious disease specialty care

  • Treatment for co-morbidities such as mental health diagnoses and Hepatitis C

  • Screening for and enrollment into public benefit programs, such as ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program)

  • Prevention education for HIV positive patients

  • Prevention education for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis)​

Referrals for PrEP

PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a once daily pill that lowers the risk for a person without HIV from getting the virus from sex or injection drug use.

PrEP can be prescribed only by a health care provider, so talk to yours to find out if PrEP is the right HIV prevention strategy for you. If you are concerned about your ability to pay, there various financial assistance programs our ACCESS PrEP navigators can help you with.

 

Group Support and Education

We offer group-based programming to help patients live their best lives possible. Sessions vary by location and include topics such as gender pride, healthy relationships, stress management and coping strategies, STI transmission and HIV re-infection​. Find out more about the offerings available at Universal Family Connection.