Phoenix Project

Phoenix Project Clinic:

Provides medical and primary care services to clients living with HIV/AIDS.

2007 Totals:

153 Users 2,257 Encounters

Nutritional Services:

Provides nutritional supplements, education and teaching by a licensed dietitian.

2007 Total

102 Users 117 Encounters

Dental

Provides oral health services to clients living with HIV/AIDS, including exams, x-rays, cleaning, extractions, and restorations.

Housing and Case-Management Services

            TIP (Tenant Independent Program

-         assists clients with subsidized housing within the community.

2007 Total

19 Housed

Phoenix House

-         a ten bed co-ed shelter for homeless clients living with HIV/AIDS.

2007 Total

32 Housed

Daniel-Flagg Villas

-         a family oriented subsidized housing program that assists clients and their families to transition back into the community.

2007 Total

17 Housed

Resource Coordination

-         Bus tickets

-         Food Vouchers

-         Rental/Utility assistance

Substance Abuse/Mental Health Counseling

-         Counseling services for clients living with HIV/AIDS

2007 Totals

            71 Users 612 Individual SA Counseling Sessions

            127 Users 442 Individual MH Counseling Sessions 

            142 Encounters SA/MH Group Sessions

Transportation Services

-         Assistance to and from medical services

2007 Total

1,109 Units of Service

HIV Pre & Post Test Counseling by trained counselors.

I’ve Been Changed

            “I wouldn’t wish this disease on my worst enemy!”  Joseph whispered as his eyes filled with tears when he recalled the beginning of his fight for a better quality of life.  Joseph Stokes was diagnosed with HIV disease in February of 2006 after being transported to the hospital when fainting on the roof of a building where he performed his duties of a construction worker.  He further stated, “I used to enjoy doing construction work, but now I can’t do it anymore, it’s really painful to come to this realization about something you love.  I’ve even tried to commit suicide, but when I failed I knew that God has something better for me to do.”

            Joseph was placed on an IV and monitored for 24 hours when he was admitted to Memorial for emergency services.  Joseph’s health began to deteriorate after he was released from the hospital in a state of homelessness.  Joseph recalled his mother praying for him and telling him not to give up.  She gave him the name of a childhood friend who was battling the same disease and told him to contact him.  His friend referred him to the case management services of the organization, “My Brothaz Home” who assisted him in attaining treatment services in a fifteen day program sponsored by the “Men’s Residential” program.  After successfully completing this program, Joseph was referred to Union Mission's Grace House program whose case management providers realized that Joseph’s health was rapidly declining.  The Grace House staff quickly referred Stokes to the J.C. Lewis Health Center’s respite care unit for medical treatment.  Here, Joseph was assessed for services and referred to SABHC for substance abuse as well as mental health treatment.  He recalls the attentiveness of the strangers that were fighting for his life, which he says helps to sustain him from returning to a life of using.  “You never know when you’re going to go to sleep and not wake up,” Joseph stated, “I’m scared that if I go back to that type of lifestyle, it will end my life, and I ain’t goin' out like that,” Joseph shouted with determination!  He was then placed on the waiting list for the Phoenix Project residential treatment center where he continues to live one day at a time.  Joseph stated, “This place cared about me when I didn’t care about myself.  I know now that I want to live and those around me continue to help me do this by providing the love and support that I never thought I would get once I was diagnosed with this terminal illness.”

Contact Information

Stephanie Dixon, MEd, NCC

HIV Services Coordinator

Phone# 912-231-1971 Ext. 110

Fax# 912-232-7423

Email: sdixon@unionmission.org

Aretha R. Jones, MPH, MA 

Vice President of Primary Health Services

Office: 912-231-0123

Fax: 912-232-7423

Email: ajones@unionmission.org

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