Welcome to the Arlene Cooper Community Health Center!
The Arlene Cooper Community Health Center inside The Center empowers the people within our LGBTQIA+ community as well as surrounding neighborhoods with an awareness of their healthcare by enabling them to take control of their wellness. We offer the following services:
HIV & STD/STI Testing
We offer free rapid HIV testing and counseling as well as testing for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. For anyone testing positive for STD/STI, we provide treatment on-site.
We help to inform clients of preventative options for protection when sexually active. Both in-center and online options are available to get started on PrEP/PEP.
If you are sexually active, getting tested for STIs/STDs is one of the most im-portant things you can do to protect your health. This is important because a person can have a sexually transmitted disease without knowing it. In many cases, there aren't any signs or symptoms. In fact, that's why many experts prefer the term sexually transmitted infections (STIs), because you can have an infection without disease symptoms.
Photo ID, military or student ID is required. An out of state ID can be accept-ed with proof of Nevada residency such as a lease agreement, utility/tax bill, recent paystub, or Southern Nevada Health Department health card. These items must be in your name. (Bank or credit card statements, cell phone bills do not count towards Nevada residency.)
This is a rapid response clinic that includes same day PrEP/PEP and Rapid stART initiation for those testing positive for HIV.
Please Note: Due to COVID procedures clinic wait times can be longer than usual. A mask is required when entering The Wellness clinic and must be worn at all times, NO EXCEPTIONS. We can provide a mask if you do not have one. No children are allowed in the clinic.
Hours
Monday
1PM - 6PM
Tuesday
1PM - 6PM
Wednesday
1PM - 6PM
Thursday
1PM - 6PM
Friday
9AM - 2PM
Saturday
9AM - 2PM
Sunday
Closed
HIV Services, Prevention & Care
HIV Basics
HIV is the virus that causes HIV infection. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
HIV is spread through contact with the blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, or breast milk of a person with HIV. In the United States, HIV is spread mainly by having anal or vaginal sex or sharing drug injection equipment with a person who has HIV.
You can't get HIV by shaking hands or hugging a person who has HIV. You also can't get HIV from contact with objects such as dishes, toilet seats, or doorknobs used by a person with HIV. HIV is not spread through the air or in water or by mosquitoes, ticks, or other blood-sucking insects.
HIV Treatment
What is the treatment for HIV? The treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART involves taking a combination of HIV medicines (called an HIV treatment regimen) every day. ART is recommended for everyone who has HIV. ART can't cure HIV, but HIV medicines help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. ART also reduces the risk of HIV transmission.
How do HIV medicines work? HIV medicines prevent HIV from multiplying (making copies of itself), which reduces the amount of HIV in the body (called the viral load). Having less HIV in the body gives the immune system a chance to recover and produce more CD4 cells. By reducing the amount of HIV in the body, HIV medicines also reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a prescription medication for HIV-negative individuals that lowers the chances of HIV infection when taken daily. The Center encourages HIV-negative individuals regardless of gender to consider PrEP as another tool in reducing the risk of HIV infection.
The Center provides both in-person and online options to explore if PrEP is right for you as well as low and no-cost options to begin treatment. We have partnered with heymistr.com to provide an online option in the comfort and privacy of your own home to navigate and access PrEP.
Support for LGBTQIA+ persons living a POSITIVE life.
All positive individuals are welcome to attend regardless of age, gender, or history of your diagnosis. If you're newly diag-nosed or a longer-term survivor, we are here to help.
There is support for people living with HIV and we are here to help you navigate the various types of programs that are available to you.
The Ryan White Care Act provides care and treatment to people living with HIV. The Act's objective is to provide medical care, medication, co-pay assistance, and supportive services. This program supports all people needing assistance whether uninsured, under-insured, and has no employment or residency requirements.
The Center's HIV Services Team can get you connected to the help you need. No one should face a positive diagnosis alone, we are here to help you every step of the way.
Support for LGBTQIA+ persons living a POSITIVE life.
All positive individuals are welcome to attend regardless of age, gender, or history of your diagnosis. If you’re newly diag-nosed or a longer-term survivor, we are here to help.
Nobody should face a positive diagnosis alone.
This program is also available in Spanish - Abraza A La Vida