3 O.C. Agencies Pool Resources to Care for Residents With HIV

SANTA ANA — Three Orange County agencies that assist HIV-positive residents will pool their efforts with a $817,700 grant for a three-year research project designed to improve services.

The grant from the California Endowment will enable the Delhi Center and Latino Psychological and Social Services, both of Santa Ana, to team with Laguna Shanti in Laguna Beach to form the HIV Wellness Collaborative, participants said Wednesday.

The project will attempt to measure the effect that additional and coordinated programs have on people living with the early and middle stages of HIV infection, said Sarah Kasman, executive director of Laguna Shanti. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

The programs will address patients’ medical, educational, social and emotional needs, Kasman said. They will be offered through the Delhi Center and Laguna Shanti and will be identical, linking services in both north and south Orange County. In addition, Kasman said, researchers will be able to compare the results of two distinct populations of residents with HIV: gay males of south Orange County and Latinos in the Santa Ana area, Kasman said.

Latino Psychological Services will supply mental health staff to the Delhi Center, and Laguna Shanti will help sponsor workshops, forums and retreats, she said.

The Orange County Grand Jury issued a report in June urging the county to better coordinate services to people with HIV.

The California Endowment was established in 1996 when Blue Cross of California converted from a nonprofit to for-profit corporation. It awards grants to community agencies and projects that stress collaboration and innovation in the delivery of health care, according to the organization.