Working for and within populations adversely affected by stigma, poor access to care, discrimination, and poverty, AIDS Care Group is dedicated to using its resources to provide comprehensive and compassionate clinical care and social services to persons living with leading public health conditions including, but not limited to, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, mental illness, and opioid use disorders.
AIDS Care Group was incorporated in 1998 in order to serve the needs of an underserved population of people living in Chester, PA who were unable to access care and social services for their HIV disease. In approaching HIV medicine, the agency staff took the view that the underlying conditions of poverty, low educational attainment, poor housing, high crime rate, lack of adequate transportation, food insecurities, and disenfranchisement all had to be addressed as a basic prescription for the care of each of their patients. It is from this philosophy that the AIDS Care Group established food, housing, and transportation programs as essential services required to achieve success with its basic HIV medical and dental care protocols.
ACG abides by the Ryan White sliding fee scale which insures that all patients are treated fairly regarding their fiscal responsibilities. We are also a state funded STD provider through Pennsylvania Department of Health grants.
The agency utilizes its grant funding and earned income generated through its 340B program to aggressively develop and expand an extensive network of social service enhancements including transportation assistance, food assistance, clothing assistance, housing, and other client-centered psychosocial services.
Dr. Strauss received his DMD degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1973, completed a general practice residency at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, and embarked on a joint career in education and private dental practice. In the late 1980s he left private practice to return to school, studying under Michael Glick, DMD; and working as a faculty member in two new HIV+ dental treatment centers for patients at Temple University School of Dentistry and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Strauss has been working with HIV clients ever since.
Assigned to a Section 330 Community Health Center in Chester, PA in 1993 he helped to establish a comprehensive center for HIV care, uniting the primary care clinical disciplines with the social service programs. He remained at the University of Pennsylvania and the Community Health Center until January 1998, when he established, with his public health colleagues, AIDS Care Group. Currently serving as the groups executive director, dentist, and grant writer, AIDS Care Group is now twenty years old and is staffed by 105 experienced full and part-time providers. A dentist for over 45 years, Dr. Strauss has found his greatest personal and professional satisfaction in utilizing extensive social services and outreach programs to help improve access to and retention in care for poor and disadvantaged groups living with HIV disease. Dr. Strauss is the recipient of the Russell E. Brady Award for Innovative Models in Healthcare Delivery (Washington, DC Ryan White Meeting August 2010). He credits the success of AIDS Care Group to his staff and the responsiveness of the community which they serve.
Ann Ferguson, MSN, RN is a nurse who has been working with HIV/AIDS patients in Delaware County since 1989. She is a founding member of the AIDS Care Group and has worked as a nurse, case manager, grant writer and project coordinator, and served as a trainer on HIV/AIDS throughout the State of Pennsylvania for the Department of Health. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer of the agency.