HIV/AIDS Services

New Connections is at the center of the system of care for people living with HIV or AIDS in Contra Costa County. We focus on support for people who are the most vulnerable and underserved - especially those who also have co-occurring behavioral healthcare problems.

New Connections is the largest provider of psychosocial case management services in Contra Costa, and we are the only provider in all three regions of the county. We are also the primary provider of these services for monolingual Spanish speakers.

New Connections is the only provider of substance abuse recovery services for people living with HIV/AIDS in Contra Costa. Familias Unidas, the provider of mental health services, is also located at our counseling center in Concord.

We provide services which are developmentally and culturally appropriate to each client. Our staff members include gay and straight people, people who are African-American, Latino, Asian, white and of mixed race, people in recovery, and people living with AIDS.

We are also committed to providing successful, outcome-oriented services for our clients. During 2002-2003, the Contra Costa County Health Services Department conducted client outcome and client satisfaction evaluations of New Connections' services. The results included:

• 96% of case management clients reported improved quality of life, 100% were better able to take care of themselves, and 100% were helped by their case managers to receive needed services, such as benefits, legal services, food, or transportation.
• 78% of clients stopped using alcohol or drugs, and 11% reduced their alcohol and drug use after working with their substance abuse recovery counselor.
• 99% of clients were very satisfied or satisfied with the courtesy, cultural sensitivity, ability to obtain needed financial support, and the overall assistance received from their case managers or substance abuse counselors.

Our HIV/AIDS services are provided free of charge to our clients. They are supported by donations, grants and government contracts.

New Connections also provides a variety of other counseling, case management and recovery services for youth and adults in Contra Costa County. We have received widespread recognition for our innovative, successful services. Some of the agency's honors include:

• Program of Excellence Award from Association of California School Administrators.
• Honor Roll "Best Practices" Award from Children and Families Policy Forum.
• Superior Achievement in Prevention Award from California Department of Alcohol & Drug Programs.

New Connections was also named as one of the top 20 programs in the United States by the National Association of State Alcohol & Drug Abuse Directors and the National Prevention Network.

For more information about New Connections HIV/AIDS services, please call 925.363.5000, extension 5.