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Guiding you on your path to treatment, care, and cure
Tulsa CARES offers client-centered care coordination and linkage to high-quality medical care for persons living with Hepatitis C (HCV). The program uses hands on care coordination, customized action plans and referrals, and direct support to assist individuals on their treatment journey.
We are here to meet you where you are and are committed to helping you achieve your personal and health goals.
## Education & Intake
We believe in personal empowerment through education and peer support. Therefore, the first step in the program is an educational session to ensure that clients better understand the virus as well as treatment. At intake, care coordination staff assist linkage to medical care and your treatment plan, including referrals and access to certain Tulsa CARES programs.
## Benefits Application and Enrollment
Care coordination staff assist clients with completing necessary paperwork for Medicaid, Medicare, and the Tobacco Tax Program as well as screening and enrollment of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
## Testing & Linkage to Care
After intake, clients are sent to a local lab partner for testing which helps our providers prescribe the best individualized medication regimen. Thanks to medical advancements, treatment has a 98% cure rate.
## HCV Drug Assistance
Tulsa CARES staff and/or partners will work with clients to complete a patient assistance application to cover HCV medication when no other pay source is available. Tulsa CARES also maintains agreements with local pharmacies and offers co-pay assistance to eligible clients.
## Food & Nutrition
Tulsa CARES offers a robust food and nutrition program. HCV clients are eligible to participate in bi-monthly meals and Farmers’ Market at no cost. 
## Transportation Assistance
Clients who experience transportation barriers may be eligible for transportation assistance, which includes gas cards and Tulsa Transit passes (bus and The Lift).
###### Tulsa CARES Hepatitis C Program is supported with funding from Ascension St. John.
# Eligibility
If you’re living with Hepatitis C, we’re here to help you access treatment, care, and cure. Regardless of where you are on your journey, we are committed to helping you achieve your personal and health goals. To learn more about client eligibility, .
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2020 - 2025
Tulsa CARES
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Establishing safe, stable, and affordable options for living
Housing is health care. Managing health issues is undoubtedly easier with somewhere safe and stable to live. The Tulsa CARES housing program addresses unstable housing and serves as a gateway into care, thus improving the effectiveness of other programs and empowering clients to better focus on their health.
Although you may face a variety of barriers to stable housing, the Tulsa CARES housing team is here to help you navigate the complicated world of housing assistance.
## Rent and Utility Assistance
Tulsa CARES offers financial assistance to qualified clients and their families, including long-term planning, mortgage, rent, utility, and deposit assistance. Client participation requires case management and the development of a housing plan of action to address barriers to stable housing.
## Housing Information Services
For individuals simply in need of housing information regarding subsidized/Section 8 housing, landlord-tenant laws, and affordable housing options, the housing team is available for assistance. This support is provided to any person living with HIV and Hepatitis C in Northeastern Oklahoma and does not require care coordination services.
The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program provides Federal assistance to local communities for the benefit of eligible persons living with HIV. The housing program is funded by HOPWA and administered by the City of Tulsa and the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency.
To receive financial housing assistance, you must be referred by a primary care coordination site. You will be further screened on eligibility guidelines, and any client receiving financial assistance must complete a comprehensive housing needs assessment and care plan.
Supporting you on your personal journey to
 well-being
Many people living with a chronic health condition can benefit from talking with someone who is familiar with the unique stressors that can be caused by the illness. Clients often come to us feeling helpless, sad, or anxious, and these emotions can affect so many aspects of one’s life.
Mental health services at Tulsa CARES are provided by licensed professionals who specialize in issues common to people living with HIV as well as a range of other issues including trauma, addiction, or other diagnosed disorders.
## Therapy
Therapy includes individual, couples, or family counseling, and our mental health therapists specialize in everything from trauma to anxiety to addiction.
## Support Groups
View our calendar to sign up for support groups and view meeting times.
## Specialties
For smokers wishing to quit, Tulsa CARES offers support for smoking cessation. Other alternative therapies include sand tray and art therapy. The mental health program also includes access to secondary prevention therapies like sexual health and harm reduction.
Once a therapist receives a mental health referral, every effort will be made to contact the client in order to schedule a mental health session as soon as possible. A required component of initial client assessment is the mental health orientation and assessment interview. Clients are reassessed on an ongoing basis during mental health sessions.
When necessary, a therapist may refer a client to other mental health service providers that may better meet the needs of the client or provide additional support and services.
Clients do not need to receive care coordination to participate in the mental health program; however, they generally must meet the same guidelines for 
Advocating for the end of stigma through community awareness and education
Tulsa CARES is committed to client empowerment and self-worth and supports a range of interventions aimed at reducing risk or threats to health. We offer primary prevention to help prevent the transmission of HIV and HCV; secondary prevention to help treat and reduce the impact of living with HIV and HCV; and tertiary prevention to help clients manage long-term, complex health conditions.
## Testing
Tulsa CARES offers free, quick, and confidential HIV and HCV testing, and walk-ins are welcome during regular agency hours. The HIV rapid test is a simple finger prick blood test (no needles involved). The HCV antibody test is a simple swab of the inside of your mouth/cheek. If results are negative, your testing counselor will talk with you about your risk factors and may recommend that you return for another test. If your results are positive, your counselor will discuss your recommended next steps. Learning your status can be overwhelming, but we are here to help through every step of your journey.
## PrEP
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is when people at risk for HIV take daily medicine to prevent HIV. When taken daily, studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. Tulsa CARES offers a PrEP program that can connect you to a local provider who can prescribe PrEP as well as an LGBT-friendly pharmacy partner with local delivery. Tulsa CARES can further help reduce your out of pocket expenses associated with medical co-pays and lab work. For more information, click .
## Rx Health Prescription Drug Program
For privately-insured individuals who may not qualify for federal drug assistance programs but may face barriers to treatment, Tulsa CARES can help reduce out of pocket expenses associated with HIV or HCV treatment as well as PrEP. Additionally, we can provide free health care navigation and linkage to our LGBT+ friendly pharmacy partner with local delivery. For more information, click .
## Safer Sex
Correctly using male condoms and female condoms, every time, can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and viral Hepatitis. To request free condoms or lubrication fill out  and we will mail these items to you.
## Community Education
Our staff enjoy presenting to the community, partnering with schools, participating in health fairs, etc. We can cover topics specific to our programs, like mental health or nutrition for people living with chronic health conditions, or speak generally about HIV and HCV prevention. To connect with staff or request an agency tour, click here.
## Local Prevention Resources
 offers prevention education, risk reduction, safe sex supplies, and HIV/STD testing.
 works to increase health awareness and education for minority and other vulnerable populations, including outreach, HIV/STD testing, and a wellness program.
 seeks equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals and families through intersectional advocacy, education, programs, and alliances.