Our Merger with Cambridge Cares About AIDS

Effective July 1, 2010, AIDS Action Committee, New England's largest AIDS service organization, and Cambridge Cares About AIDS, one of the region's other major AIDS service providers, have merged into a new agency operating under the AIDS Action Committee name. The organizations joined together after nearly two years of strategic planning and stakeholder-led development. The motivation? To transform the way AIDS services are delivered in the Greater Boston area.

The first year of operations will be focused on providing a seamless service delivery model to clients and stabilizing the delivery of programs even given the difficult financial times. But the long-term vision for the new organization is to create more collaboration among providers and social justice organizations serving people with HIV/AIDS to ensure better health outcomes for clients and to reduce the spread of new infections.

For more information, check out our FAQ. Read the press release here.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.  What will happen to the programs and services currently being offered by both agencies?

All services previously available at Cambridge Cares About AIDS and AIDS Action Committee, Inc. will continue uninterrupted on July 1, 2010. Clients can continue to go to any location for services and can continue their relationships with current staff.

2.  What about the various locations where programs are offered, like Youth on Fire and the MALE Center?

At present all programming sites will continue to operate, including the main Boston and Cambridge offices, the MALE Center at 571 Columbus Avenue in Boston, Youth on Fire at 1555 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, and the Cambridge Cares office at the Cambridge YMCA.

3.  What are the main benefits of merging these organizations?

The Organization: Utilizing Efficiences, Working Smarter, Expanding Services

The merged agency will operate more efficiently than the two stand-alone entities; for instance, several hundred clients currently receive services at both agencies. Ending that overlap will save money and resources.

During the first year after the merger, our goal is to strengthen and make more efficient the delivery of AIDS services, as well as outreach and prevention efforts, in the Greater Boston area. Our long-term vision is to create more collaboration within the broader health care system.

The Future: Transforming the Way We Do Business

Moving forward we will accomplish our mission by targeting our services to the individual and by addressing the root causes of the epidemic.

Individual: Our services will be designed to meet people where they are and give them what they need to live healthy and productive lives. Whether it’s education and outreach, HIV testing, help with medication and treatment regimens, help with substance abuse, help with housing, help with navigating the health care system – help with restoring dignity – our services will be tailored to the individual.

Root Causes: Equally important will be the need to work on the root causes of the epidemic.  With our strengthened commitment to social justice, we will address how HIV and AIDS resides squarely at the intersection of homophobia, racism, poverty, and all that comes with it: homelessness, substance abuse, weakened communal supports.

4.  Who can I talk to about this merger?

Media inquiries can be directed to Paul Twitchell, Director of Marketing and Communications, at ptwitchell@aac.org or at 617.450.1215. Clients can speak to their client advocate and other staff they are familiar with at each organization. Donors to either agency can contact James Poulos, Director of Development, at jpoulos@aac.org or 617.450.1506. All other questions can be directed to our main line at 617.437.6200.