Aids Foundation of Chicago

About

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) was established in 1985 to coordinate the local response to the AIDS epidemic in the Chicago area. 

In 1989, AFC was awarded a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) demonstration grant to establish a coordinated system of care including case management services for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). This coordinated system’s mission is to provide comprehensive case management services and empower PLWHA to live healthy and independent lives.

AFC works with subcontracted agencies to provide core and supportive services to PLWHA throughout the Chicago Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) and is dedicated to maintaining high-quality services that foster a continuum of HIV care that improves the health outcomes of clients. 

Through a centralized and coordinated system built after detailed assessment and service planning, case managers help PLWHA obtain eligible Ryan White services and foster client empowerment, responsibility, accountability and independence, taking client needs and strengths into account in the development and attainment of goals.

AFC supports the “HIV Treatment Cascade,” a continuous care paradigm that outlines the stages of HIV medical care from initial diagnosis to achieving viral suppression while tracking individuals at each stage. Cascade stages are defined as: diagnosis of HIV infection, linkage to care, retention in care, receipt of antiretroviral treatment and viral suppression.

Our Vision

People living with HIV or chronic conditions will thrive, and there will be no new HIV cases.

Our Mission

AFC mobilizes communities to create equity and justice for people living with and vulnerable to HIV or chronic conditions.

Our Values

People First • Compassion • Accountability • Meaningful Engagement • Justice in Action • Innovation

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) leads a comprehensive campaign to test more than 8,000 individuals each year for HIV, link HIV-positive individuals to care, provide state-of-the-art HIV prevention barriers to those who need it most and advocate for statewide and international support for groundbreaking, new prevention methods.