Tulsa CARES

The outcomes of Tulsa CARES programs include reduced unmet needs for basic necessities (e.g., food, shelter) and medical care, improved mental health, linkage and engagement in HIV and Hepatitis C treatment, and suppressed HIV viral load to delay the progression of HIV and to reduce the risk for transmission. Through the achievement of these outcomes, the organization aims to impact the health and quality of life for the population receiving services. By providing clients with a foundation for meeting basic living and medical needs, clients can better provide for their families, develop healthy social relationships, and plan for the future.

Tulsa CARES Direct Service programs include care coordination, mental health, housing, and nutrition. These programs work collaboratively to support each client in achieving overlapping health outcomes. Research shows that low-income people living with HIV and Hepatitis C are more likely to develop costly health complications and to pass the virus onto others when they fall out of medical care. When people are supported with basic needs including healthy food, stable housing, emotional support, and access to health care, they are more likely to enter care and to remain engaged in treatment. Tulsa CARES is the only comprehensive social services provider for the people living with HIV and Hepatitis C in Northeastern Oklahoma. Our Direct Service programs have worked to collectively reduce health disparities in an underserved, high-risk population.

Tulsa CARES staff has over 100 years in combined experience delivering social services to our target population. Our highly-trained staff are dedicated to improving the quality of life for low-income Oklahomans living with HIV and Hepatitis C through the delivery of evidence-based services and programs. Our work has been supported and sustained by the commitment of our Board of Directors, the generosity of Oklahoma's philanthropic community, and our ability to earn competitive funding from state-awarded federal sources. Our recent accreditation by the Council on Accreditation and certification as a Oklahoma Medicaid provider will allow us to proactively respond to changes in the healthcare landscape, including insurance and care reform.

We've done a remarkable job impacting the lives of over 1,100 clients annually with our current resources. We know there are significant unmet needs for members within our community, in particular for stable housing, food, and social support. Operations moved to a new state of the art facility in 2016, which has transformed the caliber of care provided.