Sowda Ahmed, MD

Resources and Links

Multicultural AIDS Coalition: 9 Palmer St, Roxbury, MA 02119

New England AIDS Education & Training Center Program: 529 Main St Suite 301, Boston, MA 02129

Care That Fits You: A program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Bedsider: Family Planning resources

ABCD Family Planning Program

CDC: PrEP | HIV Basics | HIV/AIDS

Multicultural AIDS Coalition, Inc.

Programs:
Africans For Improved Access
CONNECTED Boston
Women Connecting Affecting Change

Contact: MAC, Inc.  |  (617) 442-1622  |  contact@mac-boston.org
Facebook: Multicultural AIDS Coalition  |  Instagram: macinboston, connectedboston

Locations and Hours:

9 Palmer St, Roxbury, MA 02119 – MAC Headquarters

• -HIV/STI Screening: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm
• -PrEP/PEP Navigation: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm
• -COVID-19 Vaccination: Tuesday & Thursday 10 am – 3 pm
• -Substance use screening and referral: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm

157 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA  – WCAC (Women Connecting Affecting Change)

• -HIV/STI Screening: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm
• -PrEP/PEP Navigation: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm
• -COVID-19 Testing: Monday & Wednesday 11 am – 3 pm
• -Substance Use Screening and Referral: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm

Services offered: MAC offers testing for HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted infections at no cost to clients. We provide prevention counseling and education, navigation to medical care if needed, and access to PrEP.  A wide range of services for People Living with HIV are available, including peer support, case management, and access to pharmacy delivery or pick-up.

• -HIV/STI screening
• -HIV/HCV Nonmedical Case Management
• -HIV Health Education/Risk Reduction
• -COVID-19 PCR Testing
• -COVID-19 Vaccination
• -Health System Navigation

Insurance: Services provided at no cost to clients. Most insurances accepted patients without insurance can still be seen.

Loving our Trans Kids

Are you the parent of a Trans child?

This support group aims to provide parental support. We’ll tackle questions about gender development, navigating the transition process, developing healthy and respectful communication, and advocating for your child.

Who: Parents of Trans, non-binary, and gender-questioning individuals

Where: Online via Zoom (Call or email for the Zoom link)

When: Mondays, 6 pm – 7 pm. March 14 – June 16

Contact: melissa.dagher@codman.org, 617-822-8185

TransFormations (18-29)

A Trans & Non-binary Peer Group

Who: Trans, non-binary, and gender-questioning individuals, ages 18-29

Where: Online via Zoom (Email or call for the Zoom link)

When: Fridays, 12:30-2 pm. March 18 – June 3

How: Have your parent or guardian call to sign you up and get the Zoom link

Contact: hayley.bohn@codman.org, 617-822-8745

TransFormations (12-17)

A Trans & Non-binary Youth Hangout

Who: Trans, non-binary, and gender-questioning individuals, ages 12-17

Where: Online via Zoom

When: Tuesdays, 5 – 6:30 pm. March 22 – June 7

How: Have your parent or guardian call to sign you up and get the Zoom link

Contact: jordan.brooks@codman.org, 617-822-8484

Looking for a Safe Space?

Are you part of the LGBTQ+ community? Are you a community ally? Are you age 14 – 19?

Codman Square Health Center’s LGBTQ+ support group offers youth a safe space where you can express your feelings and thoughts, and create ideas and projects that you feel passionate about.

Where: Codman Square Health Center (637 Washington St., Dorchester), 3rd Floor Multi-purpose Room.

When: Mondays, 5 pm – 6 pm. Beginning March 28.

Contact: cherish.lamar-smith@codman.org, william.graves@codman.org

East Boston Neighborhood Health Center

Program: Project SHINE: HIV/STI Testing & Treatment Coordination, PrEP Navigation, Community-based Prevention, HIV Medical Care Coordination, Linkage and Retention, Medical Case Management, Behavioral Health

Contact:
Project SHINE main line: 617-568-4490
PrEP services: 617-970-6443
Email: orellane@ebnhc.org

Location: 79 Paris St., East Boston, MA 02128

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm. Testing by appointment only on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Services offered: Project SHINE offers confidential HIV/STI testing and treatment. Prescribe PrEP and provide navigation. Provide HIV medical care, medical case management, linkage to care, peer support and behavioral health to patients who test positive for HIV.

Insurance: HIV/STI testing is free for all patients with or without insurance. The person does not need to be a patient of EBNHC for HIV/STI testing at Project SHINE. Uninsured patients who want to take PrEP or test positive for HIV will be helped in accessing Masshealth/Healthconnector. Uninsured patients that test positive for a bacterial STI can be linked to BMC or MGH for treatment. EBNHC accepts several insurances. Patients interested in PrEP at EBNHC/Project SHINE and have primary care elsewhere are encouraged to check with their insurance provider if EBNHC/Project SHINE is in network and if the patient will need a referral from their PCP (for those with HMOs).

Mattapan Community Health Center

Contact:
Zariah Williamson (She/Her) –  PrEP /STD Treatment Coordinator
617-898-9159  |  Williamsonz@matchc.org

Testing Clinic Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9:30 am – 5 pm
Wednesday: Virtual appointments only.

Please note that times for the clinic are subject to change.
Walk-in appointments are accepted and will be seen the next available time slot that the center can offer.

Type of appointments: Virtual, Walk-in, Scheduled appointments

Testing Services:
PrEP
PEP
Hep C/Hep B
HIV
STD
Plan B

Additional Services:
Safety planning
Sexual Health Education
Transgender Health Care Safety Planning
Peer Groups
Free condoms, lube, and sexual health supplies
HIV Case Management

Future Services:
Mobile Testing
Outreach
Home Testing Kits
Sexual Health Chat with Zariah (teens and young adults)
Living with HIV Peer Connect
Harm Reduction
Canned Food Bags/Pantry
HIV Wellness Group

Insurance:
We accept most health insurance, including the following:

Aetna
BMC Health Net
BMC-BACO -Community Alliance
MassHealth limited/basic and Standard
Harvard Pilgrim
Health Safety Net
Tufts
Tufts Together
United Health Plan
Medicare
Cigna
BlueCross BlueShield
Unicare
AARP
Senior Whole Health
Health Plans
Children Medical Security Plan
Allways-NHP

Please contact us if you have insurance that is not listed above.

DotHouse Health

1353 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02122
We Keep You Well

Name of program: DotHouse Health HIV Services

Testing: Patients can receive HIV testing during routine visits to their primary care provider. You can also be tested on a walk-in basis in our Urgent Care Department which is open 7 days a week. You should receive your results within 30-45 minutes.

HIV testing is billed to your insurance. If you are uninsured, our financial counselors will help you apply for insurance or explore other options.

HIV PrEP: We offer education, counseling, and medication management to prevent HIV infection to those at risk. DotHouse primary care patients can speak with their primary care provider if they’re interested in PrEP. Urgent care patients who do not have a primary care provider can speak to their attending provider, who will help them determine options, including establishing care with us.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI): DHH provides comprehensive care for patients at risk or diagnosed with STIs. Care can be accessed in primary care or at our urgent care center.

HIV treatment and supportive services: People living with HIV can access comprehensive HIV treatment and services with the DotHouse infectious disease team. Services include case management assistance with insurance, treatment adherence, risk reduction, income and food support, housing, legal issues, and referrals to psychosocial services.

Contact:

To schedule an appointment, please call the Appointments Line at 617-740-2320.

For information on testing services, please call 617-288-3230 and ask to be connected to the Urgent Care Reception Desk.

For information about treatment and case management for people living with HIV, please call 617-740-2584.

Codman Square Health Center

Program: X-Clinic at Codman Square Health Center

Contact: Call 617-822-8350 or visit www.codman.org/xclinic to set up an appointment for HIV/STI testing and PrEP. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Location: 637 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124

Hours:
Monday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 am – 7 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Express only)
Thursday: 8:30 am – 4 pm; 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Friday: 1 -5 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 1 pm

Services offered: The X-Clinic offers patients counseling, testing, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Patients can access services through telehealth or in-person (walk-in or appointment). We are LGBTQ+ friendly, and have the newest and fastest testing equipment. We are proud to be a safe space, culturally competent, and have multi-lingual staff. The X-Clinic can get you your STI test results on your phone in as little as a few hours, though some results can take up to a couple of days. The X-Clinic offers: Same-day PrEP, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), Emergency Contraception/Plan B, testing for teenagers (visits and results are completely confidential), testing and treatment regardless of citizenship status, on-site or at-home HIV tests.

Insurance: The X-Clinic accepts all insurances. If you do not have insurance, Codman can help you apply for health insurance for you and your family. Visit our website or call 617-822-8162.

Harbor Health

Name of programs:
Recovery services
THRIVE Clinic
PrEP Navigation
PrEP/PEP for primary care patients
HIV treatment, care, and support

Contact information:
HIV Services website
Recovery services: 617-282-3200
THRIVE Clinic: 617-533-2228
PrEP Navigation: 617-533-2319
HIV treatment, care, support: 617-533-2318

Hours and locations:
Please visit our website or call for up-to-date hours.

Daniel Driscoll – Neponset Health Center
398 Neponset Avenue, Dorchester, MA

Geiger Gibson Community Health Center
250 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA

Services offered: At Harbor Health, we offer HIV prevention, treatment, and support services to make sure everyone can get the care they need. Our THRIVE clinic offers free and confidential rapid testing, risk counseling and prevention education, and free safer sex supplies. Our PrEP Navigation services are free and open to anyone who needs assistance connecting to PrEP. We also offer care, treatment, and support services to help people living with HIV lead a healthy life.

Insurance: Harbor Health serves everyone, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. You do not have to have insurance to receive care and support services. Our HIV Rapid Testing and PrEP Navigation Services are offered free of charge and no insurance is required. For medical services, we accept most insurances including MassHealth and Health Safety Net. We can help you apply for insurance and programs to help with the cost of a prescription. We also offer a sliding fee scale for services and discounts based on income and family size.

New England AIDS Education & Training Center Program

The New England AIDS Education and Training Center (NEAETC) provides HIV/AIDS education, consultation, technical assistance, and resource materials to health care professionals. The MA Regional Partner (MARP) is a member of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Steering Committee, working with stakeholders in Suffolk County to support workforce capacity development and provide technical assistance. The MARP has also been awarded additional funding to increase screening, prescribing, and management of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Non-Occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (nPEP) among, but not limited to, People Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) and Trans/Non-Binary individuals, as well as overall expansion of same-day PrEP/nPEP access in Suffolk County.

Website: New England AIDS Education and Training Center: Home (neaetc.org)

NEAETC MARP Clinical Director: Debra Winters dwinters@crine.org

NEAETC MARP EHE Program Manager: Kristin Moccia kmoccia@crine.org

Care That Fits You

Care that Fits You is an education and awareness initiative of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (MDPH) Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS). The initiative is designed to inform gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men about the most effective HIV prevention options as well as related health topics and services. This website features current information about gay men’s health and includes links to medical and community resources. Learn more about MDPH.

JRI Health | Justice Resource Institute | Boston GLASS

Program: Boston GLASS

Contact: Text or call 978-604-6937 to set up an appointment for HIV/STI testing and PrEP. Find us on Instragram @boston_glass

Location: 555 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02135

Hours: Appointments available Monday-Friday 10 am – 6 pm

Services offered: Boston GLASS is a program of JRI Health offering a dynamic, welcoming drop-in center for LGBTQ+ Youth of Color ages 13-29 to receive supportive social and clinical services that cultivate a sense of belonging. The program serves LGBTQ+ Youth of Color who are at risk for HIV/STIs, substance use, homelessness, violence, commercial sexual exploitation, family disruption and lack of access to healthcare.

Insurance: Insurance accepted, but not required (all testing and PrEP services are free)