Updated 2.21.2024 Columbia CARES requests any visitors who experience Covid or Covid-like symptoms to refrain from visiting the agency. If you are a client with Covid or Covid-like symptoms your case manager will be happy to assist you via telephone/email/text. Masks are not required but respected if you choose to wear one. If you would like a mask but don't have one handy feel free to ask and a mask will be provided.
Updated 10.25.2021 Columbia CARES preferred means of providing client services is by tele-health. If a client does not have tele-health access an appointment will be made available. Onsite HIV testing is by appointment only. Columbia CARES staff continues to work hybrid schedules, you may contact any CARES representative who if unable to assist will direct you to the person best equipped to work with you.
Updated 8.30.2021 Columbia CARES is providing services by tele-health practices only. Onsite appointments will not be scheduled. Onsite HIV testing will not be scheduled. Contact a Columbia CARES staff person to assist with your needs.
Updated 4.1.2021 Columbia CARES is providing onsite services by appointment only.
Updated 7.17.2020
Columbia CARES is not providing onsite services at this time. We are open during our regular business hours – M-F/8:30-4:30 but not seeing clients or providing testing onsite.
RWPB/HOPWA Clients
Staff will be working onsite and remotely, alternating days they are in the office so that at minimum one RWPB or HOPWA case manager will be present to address any client issues which might be less effective than if they were provided remotely. Our goal, as it was in the beginning of COVID-19 processes, is that client services are not interrupted during this time.
PrEP
We are collaborating with Music City PrEP Clinic and all of those services have been telemed for the past several months, therefore PrEP services should continue as “normal”. Contact a PrEP Navigator for more info.
HIV/HCV testing
We will not be providing onsite or offsite HIV/HCV testing. We will be offering Home HIV Test Kits. Contact Tim for more info.
Updated 6.15.2020
Effective July 1, 2020
Columbia CARES will re-open our doors for in-person and onsite services on 7.1.2020. We will encourage personal distancing. We continue to request clients and other guests to contact a staff person with any needs to schedule an appointment before arriving at the agency.
Your temperature will be taken upon entering Columbia CARES.
PPE is not required but face masks are available upon request.
For the health and safety of the people we serve and Columbia CARES staff, you will not be permitted to remain onsite if:
You have a temperature,
You have experienced flu-like symptoms in the past 14 days, or
You have been within 6 feet of someone with confirmed COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
Updated 6.1.2020
COVID-19 Plan Columbia CARES is doing our best to protect those we serve and follow Tennessee Department of Health/CDC guidance.
If you are in need of Columbia CARES services, we encourage you to contact us to ensure the best and safest way we can assist.
Columbia CARES remains closed to the public, however, there will be staff to accept/process mail and deliveries. Offsite and onsite HIV/HCV testing will resume on June 15, 2020. We plan to phase-in onsite case management services in July.
The Columbia CARES support group for June will resume. Clients should contact their case manager for more information. If you are a participant in this group or a client who needs to talk with someone, we encourage you to contact your case manager. Case managers will be available either at their desk or mobile phones during regular business hours.
Columbia CARES is not instituting an agency mandate requiring staff to work remotely, we support any staff member who chooses to do so. Case managers will have access to email, check phone messages, and their work mobile device to continue services in the best way possible.
Updated 10.25.2021 Columbia CARES preferred means of providing client services is by tele-health. If a client does not have tele-health access an appointment will be made available. Onsite HIV testing is by appointment only. Columbia CARES staff continues to work hybrid schedules, you may contact any CARES representative who if unable to assist will direct you to the person best equipped to work with you.
Updated 8.30.2021 Columbia CARES is providing services by tele-health practices only. Onsite appointments will not be scheduled. Onsite HIV testing will not be scheduled. Contact a Columbia CARES staff person to assist with your needs.
Updated 4.1.2021 Columbia CARES is providing onsite services by appointment only.
Updated 7.17.2020
Columbia CARES is not providing onsite services at this time. We are open during our regular business hours – M-F/8:30-4:30 but not seeing clients or providing testing onsite.
RWPB/HOPWA Clients
Staff will be working onsite and remotely, alternating days they are in the office so that at minimum one RWPB or HOPWA case manager will be present to address any client issues which might be less effective than if they were provided remotely. Our goal, as it was in the beginning of COVID-19 processes, is that client services are not interrupted during this time.
PrEP
We are collaborating with Music City PrEP Clinic and all of those services have been telemed for the past several months, therefore PrEP services should continue as “normal”. Contact a PrEP Navigator for more info.
HIV/HCV testing
We will not be providing onsite or offsite HIV/HCV testing. We will be offering Home HIV Test Kits. Contact Tim for more info.
Updated 6.15.2020
Effective July 1, 2020
Columbia CARES will re-open our doors for in-person and onsite services on 7.1.2020. We will encourage personal distancing. We continue to request clients and other guests to contact a staff person with any needs to schedule an appointment before arriving at the agency.
Your temperature will be taken upon entering Columbia CARES.
PPE is not required but face masks are available upon request.
For the health and safety of the people we serve and Columbia CARES staff, you will not be permitted to remain onsite if:
You have a temperature,
You have experienced flu-like symptoms in the past 14 days, or
You have been within 6 feet of someone with confirmed COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
Updated 6.1.2020
COVID-19 Plan Columbia CARES is doing our best to protect those we serve and follow Tennessee Department of Health/CDC guidance.
If you are in need of Columbia CARES services, we encourage you to contact us to ensure the best and safest way we can assist.
Columbia CARES remains closed to the public, however, there will be staff to accept/process mail and deliveries. Offsite and onsite HIV/HCV testing will resume on June 15, 2020. We plan to phase-in onsite case management services in July.
The Columbia CARES support group for June will resume. Clients should contact their case manager for more information. If you are a participant in this group or a client who needs to talk with someone, we encourage you to contact your case manager. Case managers will be available either at their desk or mobile phones during regular business hours.
Columbia CARES is not instituting an agency mandate requiring staff to work remotely, we support any staff member who chooses to do so. Case managers will have access to email, check phone messages, and their work mobile device to continue services in the best way possible.