AARC serves as an advocate and training center for health care professionals serving those most in need, and hopes to enhance educational programs to demonstrate how the involvement of young professionals can change the health care landscape of the San Antonio community.

Cultural Sensitivity: Cultural competency is at the core of the AARC service delivery model. AARC offers staff cultural competence training annually to build knowledge, skills, and increase capacity to improve working relationships with historically marginalized populations. AARC is committed to providing health-affirming care to our diverse client population. AARC staff not only reflects the community that we serve but also offers specific cultural sensitivity training with each population, including LGBT, gender non-binary/non-conforming, people of color, people with disabilities, and others.

LGBT Fellowship: AARC is pleased to announce fellowships to three university students per semester to work on-site at the clinic alongside skilled professionals. These fellowships will be awarded to students pursuing degrees in the field of nursing, medicine, and social work.

AARC is one of the largest and most experienced providers of LGBT health and mental health care, supported by a culturally sensitive team working to advance the care and treatment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people.

Primary Care: AARC’s Health Equity Clinic (HEC) provides a safe space for licensed medical staff to conduct intakes and medical assessments while offering treatment services for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community in San Antonio, which historically one of the most medically underserved populations in South Texas. AARC contracts with LGBT and LGBT-friendly physicians and clinicians who are culturally sensitive and representative of the communities served. In addition to primary medical care, AARC Health Equity Clinic staff offer comprehensive information, referral, PrEP, HIV care and patient navigation services for LGBT patients and consumers.

AARC will utilize its LGBT clinic for health services outreach and education to LGBT organizations and the community throughout San Antonio. AARC Health Equity Clinic services are offered with respect and compassion for the diverse community we represent and serve.

HIV Specialty Care: AARC’S Health Equity Clinic offers people living with HIV a wide range of support services, including leading-edge medical care. AARC’s wrap-around care model practices a holistic approach to treatment, helping clients manage all aspects of living with HIV, through counseling, nutritional advice, and transportation support.

Nutritional Services: AARC provides home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) to individuals who are on home hospice, home health or who have been recently released from the hospital as well as on-site meals for those with multiple medical and social service appointments. All nutritional services are coordinated through AARC’s registered dietitian.

Pharmacy services include:

• Private consultations with staff members who can answer your questions about medications, especially HIV-drug regimens and side effects
• Free, confidential delivery in San Antonio (some restrictions apply)
• Prescription refill assistance program
• On-site assistance in English and Spanish

If you’re a client of our health center, pharmacy staff will work closely with your physician, nurse, nutritionist, case manager, and/or mental health provider to help you achieve your health care goals. (Pharmacy hours and phone: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM, 210.231.0383)

Behavioral Health: Mental Health Services are provided to individuals and families who are dealing with various life stressors. These services are conducted in a group or individual setting, and provided by Licensed Professional Counselors. All behavioral health programs are overseen by Howard Rogers, M.A., AARC’s Executive Director, also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and by Dr. Robert Jimenez, AARC’s Medical Director, a psychiatrist with a history of working with individuals living with HIV.

• Spanish and bilingual services are available.
• The prescribing and monitoring of psychotropic medications to individuals with a diagnosed mental disorder and are provided by a licensed physician.
• The provision of prevention and treatment to address substance abuse problems (including alcohol, legal and illicit drugs) in an outpatient setting. Substance Abuse groups revolve around an evidence based approach to treating substance abuse and involve both group as well as individual support.

We accept:

• Ambetter
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Humana
• United Health Care
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Superior

If you are uninsured, we can help determine your eligibility for medical and drug assistance programs.

Social Services provided by AARC include:

• Case Management: Medical and Non-medical case management help individuals living with HIV/AIDS become self–sufficient and virally suppressed. Case managers utilize assessments, care coordination, advocacy for options and services to meet client’s comprehensive health needs.
  • Referrals to community resources
  • Medication and medical adherence
  • Linkage to medical care
  • Assist with obtaining HIV medication
  • Assist with applications for medical benefits
  • Client-centered services
• Health Insurance: The Health Insurance Premium–Aids Pharmaceutical Assistance (HIPCSA) program is intended to help HIV positive individuals continue medical care without gaps in health insurance coverage or disruption of treatment. This includes premium payments, office visit/lab co-payments, deductibles and medication co-pays. Funds are NOT available for co-payments associated with hospitalization and/or emergency room care.
• Housing Services: Alamo Area Resource Center maintains an affordable housing data base and provides housing referral and placement services. AARC also provides HOPWA Short Term Rental, Mortgage, Utility assistance (STRMU), Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) and housing case management for those who qualify.
• Patient Navigation: Patient navigation is a process by which an individual—a patient navigator—guides patients with HIV through and around barriers in the complex care system to help ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.
• Outreach Services: Outreach Services is the identification of people with unknown HIV disease, as well as those who know their status but are out-of-care. For help receiving or returning to care contact 210-204-5964.
• Thrive Early Intervention: Assists individuals recently diagnosed with HIV or those with HIV who have not yet established a regimen of regular medical care.
• Transportation: AARC transportation offers a shared-ride service for consumers that because of their disability are unable to access the public transit system. The purpose is to transport our clients to and from their medical appointments. If an AARC shuttle van is not available, we may transport you in a contracted vehicle, such as a taxi. Hours and direct line: Mon-Fri: 8am–4:30pm; 210-625-7222
• Support Groups: Alamo Area Resource Center (AARC) offers and provides space for a variety of different types of discussion, harm reduction, therapy, support and Healthy Relationship groups. Some are presented by AARC, while others are peer-led, organized, and presented by groups or entities not affiliated with AARC. Groups are free to attend and RSVP is not necessary unless stated otherwise. For information about each group and/or to learn about attendance guidelines, restrictions or requirements, contact our Behavioral Health Department at 210-591-0216

During your first visit with us, you will be meeting with our Intake Specialist who will collect all the eligibility documents as well as our agency documents in order to be eligible for services. You can expect to spend about 30-50 minutes with the Intake Specialist.

Be prepared to bring:

• Proof of positivity
• Proof of income
• Proof of residency
• Picture ID

The Pride Community Clinic serves self-identified LGBTQ patients recruited through marketing and outreach to Greater San Antonio.

PCC patients will be welcome regardless of sex, race, religion, national origin, socioeconomic status, insurance coverage, funding ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

In addition, a special focus of the Pride Community Clinic will be to serve homeless LGBTQ populations and the local transgender community, two of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in the city of San Antonio.

As it delivers primary care, the clinic will provide sexually transmitted infection testing, hormone replacement therapy for transgender patients, and connection to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

Patients must be 18 years of age or older.

Patients must make an appointment over the phone to secure one of the limited time slots.

LGBTQ patients can be assured that all volunteers within the clinic are trained to be sensitive to LGBTQ issues.

HIV-STI testing:

• HIV testing is confidential with results in 60 seconds
• HEP C testing results in 20 minutes
• Syphilis testing is a finger prick with results in 15 minutes.
• Gonorrhea and Chlamydia testing are swabs with results in 5-7 business days.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP):

PrEP is a medication that can help prevent HIV infection. It involves taking a pill called Truvada which, if taken daily over a period of time, can prevent HIV from infecting healthy cells.

Meet with one of our doctors or another PrEP Navigator to learn whether PrEP is right for you. If it is, we can write and fill a prescription for it.

Click here to learn more.

Health Education Risk Reduction (H.E.R.R.)

AARC’s HERR program provides support and Health education and Risk Reduction through client individual and group education sessions.

Clients are provided information on HIV and HIV-Health-related issues that demonstrates the importance of medication adherence and disease management.

Condom Distribution

We provide free condoms to individuals and businesses. We also offer condom education.

We offer free delivery or shipping for all condoms and lube orders in San Antonio. Click here or call (210)589-2958 to schedule your order.

Questions about which condom is best for you? Click the Connect with a Sexual Health Specialist by clicking the Chat button at the bottom of this page Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Call or text 210-589-2958 to schedule your free HIV/STI TEST, PREP, NPEP, or condom delivery, and someone will contact you within 24 hrs.