AIDS Care Ocean State history

1988: FACTS and Rhode Island Hospital work to establish a pediatric AIDS clinic under the direction of Doctor Peter Smith.

1989: FACTS House opens its doors to three babies in its nursery and two families in the apartments.

1991: FACTS moves its offices to a larger building on Parkis Avenue and continue to expand case management and staffing.

1994: ACOS begins the ENCORE (Education, Needle Exchange, Counseling, Outreach and Referral) Program to provide clean needles to intravenous drug users to prevent HIV transmission from used syringes.

1996: In June, a fire at FACTS closes the nursery and the children are welcomed at St Joseph’s Hospital until damage can be repaired.

1997: Adam’s Clinic opens – collaboration between AIDS Care Ocean State and Miriam Hospital to expand testing, treatment and counseling for teens.

1998: FACTS nursery and Sunrise House officially merge to form AIDS Care Ocean State - making us the largest provider of services to persons living with HIV/AIDS in the state.

1999: FACTS nursery moves to an upgraded and generously donated new building on Tanner Street.

2001: First annual ACOS Artist Calendar which features work by Rhode Island artists and designers is released.

2002: In June, ACOS unveils a billboard on interstate 95 North with a controversial message to spark renewed debate and action on the issue of HIV.

2003: ACOS launches a transitional housing program called New Transitions, for HIV positive Rhode Islanders who are at risk of losing their housing.

2004: ACOS runs the summer program – Camp Stepping Stones, a camp for children infected or affected by HIV. Twenty children between ages 5 and 14 spend a week camping with fun day trips.

2005: Peter Medoff New England Award presented to ACOS Founder and CEO Paul Fitzgerald.

2006: ACOS opens a Prevention Center to provide rapid HIV testing, safe sex materials, and counseling.

2007: A 10-unit apartment complex is attached to Austin Place in Pawtucket and is officially dedicated to Reverend Raymond B. Malm: The Malm Manor.

2008: ACOS constructs 6 multi-family housing units for persons living with HIV and their families, in addition to Malm Manor, Sunrise House, Austin Place and New Transitions.

2009: ACOS revitalized the Drag Bingo event which becomes the largest fundraising event for the agency, attracting crowds up to 900 people.

2010: ACOS celebrates 20 years of service to the community

2012: Due to the success of Pediatric AIDS clinical trials, Rhode Island children are no longer being born infected with HIV. In February, the last client moves out of FACTS House and FACTS officially closes.

2014: ACOS Prevention incorporates PreExposure Prophylaxis (PReP) into testing and prevention services.

2015: ACOS opens the East Long Pond Apartments, an additional 10 units to its Housing Program.

2016: AIDS Care Ocean State begins the CoExist program, providing independent sober living opportunities to people who are HIV positive.

2017: AIDS Care Ocean State receives the At-Large Project Award from the Providence Preservation Society for converting historic homes into 10-unit structures for people who are HIV positive.

2018: AIDS Care is invited to present an abstract on the CoExist model of independent sober living for the 2018 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care & Treatment.