Services
Momentum provides client services designed to address the complex social and health needs of PLWHA at all its program sites. All clients have access to these services:
Communal Meals and Grocery Bags: Momentum serves nutritionally balanced, high nutrient hot meals required by people with HIV/AIDS. Meals are prepared with the freshest ingredients and according to strict food safety standards. All menus are designed to meet and satisfy the ethnic/cultural taste of our clients. We also provide grocery bags filled with seasonal fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains to supplement the dietary needs of people with HIV/AIDS.
Nutrition: Licensed nutritionists help clients learn the importance that balanced nutrient-rich meals play in maintaining and improving their health status. They stress dietary requirements often associated with taking HIV medications and promote treatment adherence. Dietary requirements related to the management of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular problems are also addressed.
Nursing/ Health Education: Licensed professional nurses help clients learn how to take their HIV medication, improve their adherence to HIV medication, manage diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular problems, and drug-drug interaction, including over the counter (OTC) medications. Nurses connect clients to primary care and ensure follow-up.
Treatment Adherence Support Program: These services are provided by The VillageCare Treatment Adherence staff. Licensed Nurses and Treatment Adherence Educators work with PLWHA to prepare for an HIV medication regimen and improve adherence to the regimen. This program includes the managing patients side effects, supporting their maintenance in primary medical care, and improving their communication with their primary health care provider.
Supportive Counseling: Counseling staff offer one on one and supportive group counseling services to program clients. Issues related to social isolation, HIV disclosure, domestic violence, relationship/interpersonal issues are common of our clients. Clients needing referrals to mental health providers, intensive case management services, legal assistance and other specialized services are linked to these needed services.
Relapse Prevention & Harm Reduction Services: Counseling staff experienced in the treatment of substance abuse offer individual relapse prevention and harm reduction services. They also provide referrals to detoxification & rehabilitation services, AA/NA groups, needle exchange programs, methadone maintenance clinics and inpatient or outpatient treatment for clients requesting these services.
Intensive Supportive Services: Individuals experiencing depression, anxiety or mental illness and currently using substances or at risk for relapse can access these services. This is a peer driven modal that coordinates the mental health and substance abuse treatment needs of PLWHA. Peers offer escort, advocacy, home visits & outreach to help stabilize clients in their communities. Staff provide individual and group counseling and education around the benefits of psychiatric/ pharmacological interventions. Staff refers triply diagnosed clients to appropriate treatment settings.
Assistance with Benefits & Life Skills Services: Clients receive assistance with accessing HASA, SSI/ SSA and other benefits and entitlements that people with HIV/AIDS maybe eligible for. People with HIV/AIDS are also offered Life Skills groups and individual services intended to improve their independent functioning in their community. This includes budget management, eviction prevention and landlord .
Housing Advocacy: Homeless clients receive assistance with identifying and securing housing in the community. Clients in need of supportive housing get referred to housing providers in the community of their choice. Staff also advocates for clients at risk of losing housing.
Pastoral Care Counseling: Momentum offers non-denominational spiritual and grief counseling services to PLWHA. Pastoral Care services focus on building and fortifying PLWHA internal resources and strength enabling them to make positive changes in their lives, improve their health, disclose their HIV status or reduce risky behaviors. Services are provided both individually and in spirituality groups.