Columbia CARES and COVID-19 

We are doing everything possible to keep our clients and staff healthy during the challenge of COVID-19.  Throughout the month of May/2020, CARES staff will either be working from home or alternating shifts to address issues which must be handled in the office, receive mail, etc....  What can you expect from Columbia CARES? Clients should contact your case manager with any needs like you always have.  If you need HIV testing we recommend folks contact a health department in their county of residence or request a free at home HIV test from CARES.  We will reintroduce services such as in house HIV testing, client transport, and other off-site services as supported by CDC and Tennessee Department of Health guidance.  If you used to be a client of CARES or want to become a client we encourage you to contact us, we are still able to enroll/re-enroll. Dial 800.961.5332 and listen to the message for the appropriate prompt. 

PrEP at Columbia CARES

In 2020, Columbia CARES began an exciting venture for our region, PrEP navigation.  Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is when people at risk for HIV take daily medicine to prevent HIV.  PrEP is for men and women.  PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body. When taken daily, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV from sex or injection drug use.  Studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken daily. Among people who inject drugs, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV by at least 74% when taken daily.  We can help you get PrEP.  Click on the Columbia CARES PrEP logo or visit www.ccprepnow.org to learn more and how to contact a Columbia CARES PrEP Navigator.  

Finding Peace in the Midst of a Storm.  

There are many challenges in life that cause us stress.  It can be health related, a strained or negative relationship, it can be work or home, and all of us have experienced a lot of stress related to COVID-19.  How do you find peace in the midst of a storm?  Here are some ways that may help. 

1.  Find a calming ritual.  Prayer, meditation, a quiet walk, something that is just for you.

2.  Be grateful.  Make a list each day of things for which you are grateful.  Look for the little things.  If you are grateful for someone, let them know.    

3.  Single-task.  Do one task at a time, pause, and give yourself acknowledgement for completing that task and then go to the next.  

4.  Reduce noise.  Our lives are filled with all kinds of noise-visual, news, social media, clutter.  Especially now with COVID-19.  If just for an hour a day, reduce all that "noise": don't watch or read the news, don't check email or social media, de-clutter a counter-top or desk.