HIV Services

The Harris County Hospital District (HCHD) is the nation’s fifth largest public metropolitan health system according to the American Hospital Association. The HCHD consists of three hospitals, eleven community health centers, five school-based clinics, and three specialty centers including Thomas Street Health Center (TSHC).  Since passage of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act by Congress in 1990, the HCHD has received funding under Titles I, III, and IV.  Today, programs are spread throughout the community to provide a broad range of services for people living with HIV/AIDS.  In 2004, the HCHD provided primary HIV care services to more than 3,800 patients at two sites: TSHC and Northwest Health Center.

Ryan White Title I
Title I funds have been awarded to the HCHD since their initial appropriation in 1991.  The HCHD uses Title I funds to provide primary and specialty care, which is delivered primarily at TSHC.  The Administrative Agency for Ryan White CARE Act Title I funds in the Houston area is the HIV Services Section of the Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services Department.

Ryan White Title III
The HCHD is the grantee for Title III services in Harris County. Funds initially were used exclusively at the Northwest Health Center to fund an Early Intervention Program. As HIV disease and treatment have evolved, utilization of these funds has expanded, with increased emphasis on HIV counseling and testing, as well as outreach to patients of other HCHD clinics and emergency centers.

Ryan White Title IV
Under Title IV, the HCHD provides case management for women and families and primary care for adolescents.  In both cases, Title I funds are utilized alongside Title IV funds to ensure a full range of services is available.  The Administrative Agency for Ryan White CARE Act Title IV funds in the Houston area is the Houston Regional HIV/AIDS Resource Group.

HIV Services Timeline

May 1989 – Thomas Street Health Center (then known as Thomas Street Clinic) opened as the nation’s first freestanding HIV outpatient clinic and has served as a model for other HIV outpatient clinics nationally.

September 1991 – As the HIV pandemic evolved, HIV Services at the HCHD adapted to meet the needs of our clients establishing an Early Intervention Program at the Northwest Health Center.

March 2000 – The Women's Program was established to meet the specialized needs of the HIV-positive female population.

January 2001 – An HIV counseling and testing program was implemented at TSHC which has since expanded to all community health centers within the HCHD.  The program currently performs more than 250 OraSure® HIV tests per month.

September 2001 – Positive Vibe, an inter-agency collaboration, was established to provide primary care and social services to the emerging HIV-positive adolescent population.

Community
Harris County, the nation’s third largest county (pop. 3,557,055), encompasses Houston, the fourth largest city (pop. 2,009,834).  As of March 31, 2005, 16,012 persons are reported living with HIV/AIDS in Houston/Harris County.  Since HIV reporting by name became Texas law in 1999, 55% of new HIV reports have been among African Americans and 19% have been among Hispanics¹.  From 2001 to 2003, there were 3,678 new diagnoses of HIV in Harris County, and of those, 2,758 (75%) were among minority populations¹, a trend that continues to escalate.  Ninety percent (90%) of the area’s PLWH/A make less than $20,000 per year; 73% make less than $10,000 per year, and 37% have no health insurance².

¹Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Epidemiology, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program
²Ryan White Planning Council 2002 Needs Assessment