2025 Grantees: Summary of Accomplishments

Since the CARES Foundation has been granting funds over the last 14 years, it has awarded over $17M through 124 grants to 19 Grantees.  In 2025, 9 agencies were granted over $1.4M to provide HIV prevention, treatment and support services to a variety of vulnerable and underserved populations throughout the Sacramento Region.  A summary of each program’s accomplishments and populations of focus follows.  For cumulative outcomes across 2025 grants, please contact Lili Carbone Joy, who provides grants management support to the Foundation at lcjcs@sbcglobal.net.

Community Against Sexual Harm (CASH) – Healthy Women

Populations of Focus: Women who are commercially sexually exploited or sex trafficked

• Expanded the Women’s Medical Safe Haven Clinic in collaboration with Dignity Health including health screenings, acute care, reproductive health, gynecological and prenatal services
• HIV/STI/HCV testing, street outreach, risk reduction education and distribution of prevention supplies
• Peer mentoring program, personal empowerment and negotiation skills trainings
• Client navigation for women living with HIV to secure access to HIV medical treatment, dental, mental health, housing, and other support services
• PrEP, PEP and HPV vaccination education, referrals and follow-up

Golden Rule Services – HIV Health Equity and Linkage (HHEAL)

Populations of Focus: People of color; men who have sex with men; transgender men and women, PLWH

• Street and online outreach and education for HIV/STI/HCV testing, PrEP/PEP, and risk reduction supply distribution
• Linkage to medical care and ongoing support services for positive clients
• PrEP/PEP Navigation Services for HIV negative clients, including support services to improve access

Harm Reduction Services (HRS) – Project Reach

Populations of Focus: People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and people who are unhoused

• On-Site risk reduction education with sterile syringes and biohazard sharps container distribution
• Collection of used syringes through disposal at HRS, outreach and community clean ups
• Overdose prevention training and naloxone kit distribution
• Street outreach with HIV/STI/HCV testing, risk reduction education and supply distribution
• Street Medicine Clinic in coordination with UC Davis medical students

One Community Health (OCH) – Bridging Health and Housing

Populations of Focus: Black and Latinx young men and transgender women

• Outreach to unhoused population to re-engage in HIV medical care
• Housing navigation services and intensive case management for PLWH to secure permanent or temporary and achieve viral suppression
• HIV/STI testing (in clinic and field-based) with education and linkage to medical care
• Sacramento Prevention Coalition operating under shared leadership of HIV prevention and treatment agencies in the region 

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte (PPMM) – HIV/STI Prevention Education

Populations of Focus: Youth and young adults

• Sex Ed digital curriculum provided to regional partners, including schools, to educate youth and young adults in Sacramento, Placer and Yolo Counties
• HIV/STI outreach events and social media education about HIV prevention, testing sites, treatment options, PrEP/PEP
• Distribution of PPMM Sex Ed Outreach Kits, including risk reduction information and condoms
• Linking Families and Teen (LifT) Youth/Parent/Caregiver in-person workshops to provide sexual health prevention education and foster healthy communication skills

Sacramento LGBT Center – Health Services Program

Populations of Focus: LGBTQIA community, people of color, youth and young adults

• HIV/STI testing, referral and linkage to medical care and case management
• Post-test counseling including risk reduction education, PrEP and PEP referrals and follow up to ensure ongoing medication management
• Distribution of sexual health risk reduction supplies
• Support group for PLWH to discuss HIV issues, challenges and community resources
• PrEP, PEP educational sessions with health professionals to increase prescriptions

Sacramento Native American Health Center (SNAHC) – HIV Testing Capacity Building

• HIV testing, risk reduction educational and community resource material distribution
• Community outreach and testing events conducted with partner organizations
• Referral to Substance Use Disorder treatment

Safer Alternatives thru Networking and Exchange (SANE) – Community Engagement, Testing and Harm Reduction

Populations of Focus: People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and People Experiencing Homelessness

• Street outreach and on-site HIV/HCV testing, prevention education, risk reduction supply distribution
• Collection and disposal of used syringes through on-site collection and scheduled mobile pick-ups
• Client referrals for medical, mental health, legal, social services, housing, medication assisted treatment (MAT), PrEP/PEP and support services

Sierra Foothill AIDS Foundation – HIV/STI Testing Clinic, Outreach and Education

Populations of Focus: People living with or at risk for HIV/HCV/STIs in rural counties of Sacramento Region

• HIV/STI testing and linkage to care, prevention education, and risk reduction supply distribution 
• Community events with HIV testing and prevention education
• HIV/STI testing and prevention education, including PrEP and PEP, for rural healthcare providers
• HIV/STI testing clinic area established with physician oversight and CLIA waiver secured

Sunburst Projects – HIV/STI Prevention and Education

Populations of Focus: Low-income adults, children and families living with or at high risk of HIV

• Established expanded HIV/STI testing clinic with CLIA waiver and licensure requirements met
• HIV/STI testing and linkage to care including prevention education and risk reduction supply distribution 
• PrEP/PEP education, provision of PrEP starter pack and referrals for continuation of PrEP services
• Community events, outreach and client engagement for HIV/STI testing and prevention education
• Referral partnerships developed with additional service providers