New Fresno Program Hopes to Aid ‘At-Risk’ Women
Women most at risk for HIV infection -- those in the criminal justice system, sex-industry workers, the homeless and drug abusers -- have a new resource to turn to in Fresno, the Fresno Bee reports. The "Women in Transition" program at The Living Room, a Fresno not-for-profit HIV care agency, will match at-risk women with case managers who will aid them in finding employment, health insurance and other social services. Established with a $408,595 grant from the California Endowment, the program serves about 150 women, all referred by the health department, substance abuse and domestic abuse counselors and by organizations such as Planned Parenthood affiliates and Centerforce, a group that works with women recently released from prison. The program's goal is to "keep the women HIV-negative," Living Room Director Julio Mastro said. But Mastro said he hopes also to "have women out there who are healthy who have high self-esteem and who are productive." Future plans call for the addition of a women's clinic and on-site child care for program participants, which is an "overriding need" for participants, according to Mastro (Anderson, Fresno Bee, 3/16).
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