AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) has been growing its behavioral health services, covering everything from harm reduction to treatment navigation to crisis intervention. Starting ten years ago, the program began offering in-home services, making reduction and recovery that much more accessible—and possible.
“From my perspective, behavioral health is, ultimately, having support through some of the most difficult moments of your life,” said Behavioral Health Specialist Jasmine Wilson, M.S. “Behavioral health is a human right that we all deserve to have access to.” (Note: Wilson has departed from AFC since this interview was conducted, and we wish her all the best!)
That being said, Wilson added, “I have seen that some of the systems in place, when it comes to mental health services, are...behind certain barriers—so having access to proper mental-health support through difficult times is key. Ultimately, it’s support as we navigate some of the challenges of being human beings on this Earth.”
As the behavioral health specialist for the in-home mental-health program, Wilson “provides [those] services to clients in their homes,” she said, adding that she visits clients on a weekly basis. “I go into their homes and we talk about the hard stuff,” she said. “We treat anxiety, depression, PTSD—[all sorts of] stressors. We really support clients as they navigate those and build coping skills and develop support systems. Whatever they choose to work with and whatever they identify their goals as, I walk with them on those journeys. Clients have ranged from having just one encounter to the full totality of my time here, which has been two years.”
That accessibility of service is, to Wilson, the most important benefit. “That is the key benefit because, with our population, we see so many challenges when it comes to transportation, affording those services and scheduling,” she said. “It doesn’t get much simpler than that.” As for the biggest challenges, Wilson said, “A lot of our population [consists] of older adults; many times, they have experienced homelessness, they have received their HIV diagnoses, they’ve experienced childhood trauma—just difficult situation after difficult situation, often with very little support. So I help them figure out where to start and what to do. Also, because most clients are in their 60s, we figure out life paths and what’s next. And, if I’m very transparent with you, each road is very different with each client—so that’s a challenge as well. I wish we could put a special Band-Aid on each situation. But it’s an individualized approach.”
Long-term AIDS survivor David R. (who was diagnosed in 1992) is an AFC in-home behavioral health client. David’s life has been one of constant adversity. When he was diagnosed with HIV, “I didn’t know anyone with AIDS,” he said. “I had no risk factors, and I even changed my behavior. When I was diagnosed, my T-cell count was 54.” For context, a normal count is between 500 to 1,200 for helper T cells, while 150-1,000 is considered normal for cytotoxic T cells.
David continued, “After a successful career of 10 years, all of a sudden, I’m sick. … I had to come to grips that it was like [the song “1999”] says— ‘Party’s over/Oops, out of time.’” However, because of several factors—including a supportive family and medical advances—he was able to navigate through life, eventually working with the Red Cross, and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (formerly the Museum of Science and Industry).
But, later on, he had to deal with problems in other areas of his life, including housing. David said that he lost his home in Wheaton 15 years ago because of flooding. “FEMA and insurance didn’t cover it, and this was during the housing crunch,” he said. “Plus, the neighborhood was transitioning into mega-mansions, so people wanted my property. It was a painful thing.” He added that he then “had a condo in Barrington but it got to be too expensive—and that’s when I had to go on disability.” At that time, David was dealing with several health issues, including AIDS. He joked, though, that “I felt like Gulliver [from the downsizing].”
He then received a surprise call from Catholic Charities, who reminded David that he applied for rental assistance the previous year and now qualified; he was able “to get a nice one-bedroom for about 10 years.” But then, the tide turned. “Just this spring, the landlord became like Cruella [de Vil].” David said. “She wanted to raise our rent $400-500 more a month.” But then David said that he applied for HUD assistance but didn’t initially receive it because his case manager never applied for it. Eventually, he was approved and was able to get another apartment.
Despite this series of unstable housing situations, David’ life has been one of success, overcoming those obstacles thanks in large part, he said, to AFC’s in-home behavioral services program. During that turbulent time of housing transition, David’s housing agency could no longer provide his mental health care, and he had to seek mental health support elsewhere.
“So I had worked with AIDS Foundation [Chicago] in the past, I found out that they had a plan and I contacted Shawna Mitchell. [She] was instrumental in getting me linked up, and Jasmine [Wilson] has been an awesome help to me. She’s a licensed clinical social worker and she has some great ideas. She’s been like a mentor to me; she keeps me guided and focused,” he said.
And David pointed out another benefit of the program. “My [HIV] drugs are mainline and expensive, and insurance doesn’t cover it,” he stated. “There’s a VA pharmacy, but you have to have a link to an organization, which has a code. There was nothing in the suburbs, so I reached out to AIDS Foundation Chicago—so I’ve never had to pay for medication, which is a blessing in itself. And that was about the same time case management connected me to Shawna, so it was like a double win.
“I get an instant response for any assistance that I need. As a matter of fact, I needed some legal help because the landlord wanted to put me on a month-to-month rent. But they gave me some guidance, and I didn’t have to fight [the landlord] tooth and nail.”
Having the support of AIDS Foundation Chicago and its Behavioral Health program has been transformative for hundreds of clients like David. He said, “[I]t’s great to have someone say, ‘You don’t have to go through this alone.’ I felt like I had a champion in my corner. It’s been a blessing to work with the program.”
AIDS Foundation Chicago Communications work is not supported by federal funds.
